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Don’t worry about the barking dogs at the house near the trailhead. Their bark is worse than their bite. After making it past the dogs, hit the trail. One can easily make this loop hike with a little effort — and a map.

For the purpose of this hike, bypass the trailhead sign for the Short Trail. This will be the return route. Instead, trek around the large, locked gate on a portion of the Old Hoypus Hill Logging Road.

Along the trail, you are going to hear the calming chirps of birds and the buzzing of insects. You will also hear the calm-shattering roar of fighter planes racing overhead. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a busy place, and Hoypus Hill lies right in the flight path.

The Trek: Begin on the old logging road. You won’t be on the road for long. In about a quarter-mile, reach the junction of the North Fork Trail. Venture left, leaving the Old Hoypus Hill Logging Road.

It’s not long before the trail’s width narrows considerably. The thick vegetation that makes up the area’s understory pushes its way onto and over the path. Eventually, the trail breaks out from the clutches of the salal, blackberries, stinging nettles and wild rhododendrons. The path bends slightly right and proceeds up a slight incline.

There are plenty of large trees along the route. Douglas fir and cedars vie for access to sunshine. There are also trees that didn’t survive the winter storms. The high winds wreaked havoc with the area and the damage is extensive. Just keeping the trails open has been a big job.

Continuing along, a sign can be read through the brush. It proclaims the area as the New Leaf Plantation. It states the area was scarified in 1979, burned that same year and replanted in 1979-1980.

The underbrush soon becomes dense and the trail appears to lead through a tunnel of green. Breaking out of the thick vegetation at the junction for the Shady Way Trail, stay straight on the North Fork Trail.

The trail opens up again as a plethora of stinging nettles comes onto the scene.

The intersection of the North Fork Trail and Little Alder Trail is then met. Little Alder is one of the trails that connects to the Hoypus Point National Forest Area.

The North Fork Trail terminates here and becomes the Fern Gully Trail. Venture uphill on the Fern Gully Trail. The next junction is with the Julie Trail. It dives off to the right. Stay on the Fern Gully Trail.

The Fern Gully Trail is aptly named. The gully at the bottom of a small hill is packed with ferns. And, of course, stinging nettles. They seem to go frond in leaf. The nettles along this stretch reach nearly six feet in height and have the spines to match.

Reaching a fork, one can go either left or right as both trails reconnect in about 50 feet.

Leave Fern Gully below as the trail rises and falls as it twists around numerous trees. A root-strewn section of trail leads to the Hemlock Hideaway Trail (right) and Forest Grove Trail (straight) junction. Forest Grove is the other trail that leads to the Hoypus Point National Forest Area. It also connects to the Fireside Trail.

Take the Hemlock Hideaway Trail a short distance to the Slug Slough Trail. Yes, Slug Slough. Take the Slug Slough Trail to the right and get a view of Mother Nature’s handiwork.

Trees have been pulled from the ground by their roots. Massive root balls dot the landscape, while masses of twisted and shattered limbs tell of the carnage.

Head up a hill, then right through the middle of a huge tree that has had a section of its trunk removed with a chainsaw.

Thankfully, the Slug Slough Trail didn’t live up to its name (I saw only three slugs).

At the junction with the Big Marsh Trail, proceed right.

Big marsh means big mosquitoes. The buggers were plentiful through the section of thick and sticky mud. Venture into another gully, the home of a huge Douglas fir, and continue up the other side. Hoof along a ridge.

To the left, Big Marsh can be seen through the trees. Lilly pads and cattails dot the murky waters.

Burst out onto Old Hoypus Hill Logging Road and go right. It’s about 50 yards to the junction with the Short Trail. Take it left. The Short Trail winds downhill before ending at the rig.

Distance: 3 miles

Destination: Loop trail

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation gain: Minimal

Getting there: Highway 20 past Deception Pass Bridge and the entrance to Deception Pass State Park. After going through the light, continue a quarter-mile mile to Ducken Road. Turn east. In a half-mile, where the road splits, continue straight for 0.3 miles to reach the parking lot.