Samish Overlook (Oyster Dome Trailhead)

The parking area sits on Blanchard Hill Road inside Blanchard State Forest and is Washington DNR's preferred starting point for reaching Oyster Dome — the agency specifically asks visitors to use this lot rather than the shoulder of Chuckanut Drive. The day-use area has vault toilets, picnic tables, and space for roughly 20 vehicles; a Discover Pass is required. Views from the lot itself are already worth the drive: the Samish and Skagit river deltas spread out to the south and west, so riders who aren't up for the hike still get something to look at.

The trail to Oyster Dome follows a section of the Pacific Northwest Trail through second-growth alder, cedar, and Douglas fir before climbing to the rocky promontory on the western slope of Blanchard Mountain. The dome's sheer cliffs look out over Samish Bay, the San Juan Islands, the Skagit River flats, and the Olympic Mountains on clear days. On breezy afternoons, hang gliders and paragliders launch from an adjacent ramp at the overlook — a reason on its own to pause before or after the hike.

The access road in from Barrel Springs Road is unpaved, with potholes, and gets muddy after rain. Low-clearance sportbikes may want to check conditions first; the lot fills fast on sunny weekends, so an early start improves the odds of finding a spot.