2023 Season Experience Update: B.Y.O.B. (bring your own bedding and bath supplies)
We setup cedar platforms with canvas tents on walk-in Moran State Park campsites.
You take it from there.
Is hiking at the top of your vacation to do list? If you’re like us, a trip to a new (or old favorite) spot is not complete without a great hike to help you really get immersed in the local nature! Orcas Island is the perfect spot for your next adventure – a Moran State Park day hike!
Natural wonders abound on this emerald isle in the middle of the Puget Sound. Cascading waterfalls, frolicking black tail deer, soaring bald eagles, and incredible seaside vistas are all common sights while exploring Orcas. You’ve got to explore Moran State Park when you’re on Orcas Island. Moran State Park is home to the highest point in the San Juan Islands, 35 miles of hiking trails, and our glamping tents!
Keep reading for our first of three favorite hikes in Moran State Park that are six miles long – or more!
North Trail to Mount Constitution Loop
approximately 6 miles
Drive 3.5 miles up Mount Constitution Road to the Cold Springs Trailhead. Follow the trail on the same side of the road that you’ve parked, and make your way past the picnic shelter and former cold spring. At the intersection with the North Trail, turn right and wander through mossy green forests alongside babbling brooks. Enjoy the picturesque little ponds scattered throughout the forest as you hike, and keep an eye out for black tailed deer, wood peckers and a variety of other wildlife.
The first 3.2 miles of this loop will offer some rolling hills, but will mainly take you downhill. When you come to the Mount Constitution Loop intersection, head up the switchbacks toward the summit of the Mount Constitution. If you’re looking for a quad burner and an elevated heart rate, you’re in luck! The hike is worth the 1.2-mile climb, as you’re rewarded with incredible views from the top of Mount Constitution.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of off-the-charts views, continue on the Mount Constitution Loop trail. Facing the tower, you’ll find this trail heading downhill to your left. Take time to enjoy additional views at different vantage points as you descend 1.3 miles back to the Cold Spring Trailhead, to complete your loop!
A hike this long deserves a cushy camp setup for a super slumber!
