The trailhead is a bit tricky to find. As you drive uphill on the unsigned road, keep an eye out for a road that heads steeply into the woods. This is the route to the trailhead.

Make sure to visit the kiosk. It explains what Lake Hancock is all about. There’s interesting history surrounding the body of water that lies below you, formerly known as Target Range Lake Hancock. The area is accessible only by permit.

Lake Hancock was established as an aerial target range for inert ordnance in 1943. Rockets and practice bombs filled with sand were dropped on the site. Aircraft would fly over Whidbey Island from the east, often descending in steep dives to drop their practice bombs. The airplanes would then continue west over Admiralty Inlet.

Use of the target range ceased in the 1960s.

In 1972 and 1973, tons of practice bombs and rockets were removed from the range. However, not all could be recovered. Although there is no evidence of live ordinance being used at the site, spotting charges used in inert ordnance have the capability to injure.

Today, development at Lake Hancock is limited to two small buildings that house cameras the Navy uses to determine the accuracy of inert ordnance dropped at the Admiralty Bay Mining Range to the west. Lake Hancock is occasionally used for the training of helicopter crews.

Distance: 1 3/4 miles

Destination: Loop trail

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation gain: Minimal

Getting there: State Route 20 through Coupeville. Continue 15 miles past town. Take Highway 525. In about four miles, look for an unsigned left turn. Go left and proceed up the hill. The road makes a wide arc before returning to Highway 525. Park by the information kiosk for Lake Hancock.

The Trek: After parking the rig, set out. Locate the trailhead just beyond a large madrona tree and make your way through the gate.

A long, straight stretch leads uphill to an intersection. Stay straight. The path to the right will be the return route.

The trail quickly narrows from double-wide to single track. It is bracketed by a thick growth of salal.

Salal soon gives way to ferns as the understory thickens.

The trail bends right before heading uphill. This time of the year, the going is muddy and any incline can be a slippery pursuit. Add to that the numerous trees littering the way and the going can be slow.

Hiking up another muddy slope, reach a stand of alder trees as the trail follows a ridgeline.

Proceeding downhill, the combination of mud, exposed rock and decaying leaves makes for unsure footing. At the bottom of the hill, one is greeted by a large mud hole. Venturing around the muck takes some fancy footwork.

Making a sweeping arc to the right, the trail again heads down a hillside.

Heading up the other side, a massive alder tree lays across the trail. Crawl over it and continue on.

Continuing on, the wind howls through the canopy. Trees creek and groan. Massive blackberry brambles now dominate the floor. The tangled mass, having long ago lost leaves and berries, now resembles rolls of barbed wire. During the summer, the area is impenetrable.

Eventually, the canopy thins and the trail opens up. Once again, salal borders the path.

At the next intersection, continue straight. Heading to the left leads to Greenbank Farms. It’s about a quarter-mile to Greenbank Farms.
The trail continues to descend.

It’s a short distance before the first intersection of this hike is reached. Proceed left and head back to the rig.