Oyster Dome Trail

Oyster Dome is another very good, lesser known hike. The payoff is excellent with a clearing at the top that allows you to relax and enjoy a beautiful view of north Puget Sound. The hike is not overly strenuous. However, there are definitely a few, very steep inclines that made me huff and puff. It is a very good exercise. The paths are also well maintained. I slightly rolled my ankle but it was due to a wrong step rather than an issue with the road. I would have avoided it completely if I were wearing hiking shoes rather than running shoes. The trailhead is on the milepost 10 marker on Chuckanut Drive, which is off of exit 231 on I-​5. It takes a little over an hour to drive north to the beginning of the trailhead from Seattle. You will park right on the side of the road. In addition, you will need the related annual or daily pass to park. When we arrived at the beginning of the trailhead, we saw a sign in a car that read «Oyster Dome or Bust» from a bachelorette party. My friends and I had the same mission statement. There was no bust.
If you are hiking in Washington or visiting Seattle and looking for recommendations, please see

This is a decent hike but is no longer a secret by any means. There is a lot of traffic on this trail but still great view.

Gorgeous views to be had at the top of the Oyster Dome trail! However this is a very popular hike so prepare for crowds.
Parking fills up real fast! We went on a Saturday morning, arrived at 9 am and there were already a lot of vehicles parked on the road (no parking lot). It also feels a little like your car might tumble down the edge of the bay as the spaces are narrow!
The hike was extremely pleasant, when we went it was nice and dry. You gain a lot of elevation in the beginning and then it turns into a gentle walk for a bit. Don’t be fooled by this stretch, it gets much steeper right at the end climbing up to the actual viewpoints but you will be rewarded by a stunning view if it is a clear day. Budget some time to spend stretched out in the sun at the top with you lunch. You won’t want to leave. :)
We saw lots of dogs enjoying the trail and a TON of hikers. This may be the busiest hike I have done but worth a trip.

Oyster Dome is a brilliant trail, with a steep entry from Chuckanut Drive, which requires you to park on the street (which can be busy on weekends, particularly after 9am.) If you get a parking spot down there, you are sure to encounter a trail of two tales. Firstly, the trail is steep, and it’s rough from that start point. It’s rocky, muddy, and very woody. You are on Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Land, so along the way, you will encounter trails that are more efficient, rather than built for hikers. WTA (Washington Trails Association) has been working on reworking the network of trails and is much nicer than before.
After the halfway point, the second half of the trail is a gentle decline and a gentle upward trek, until the last bit, where to the top, it’s just a little steeper. The view is pretty good!
I suggest if you want to get to the view faster (less climbing), take the 5 miles trailroad, by way of barrel springs road, via the Algers exit on I-​5. There is a complementary view at Sharpe Park, just south, at Sara’s Head viewpoint, with much less hiking… but then again, what’s the point, if you are sweating and sore at the end; I mean it’s a hike. and Oyster Dome will do it.

Fantastic hike! Very steep, extremely muddy. But, well worth the vista at the very top! There were a few times I wasn’t sure if I would actually make it but, We did! The hike is great for well behaved dogs, everyone we passed by was courteous and in good spirits. We highly recommend this to nature lovers & outdoor enthusiasts !

This hike kicked my butt, but was 100% worth it! There is a constant gradient and the last stretch really pushes you. Well worth it though and gets pretty crowded on summer days. You can always stop at the first look out it you’re looking for a great view without the huge trek.

This was a tough hike for sure with the amount of incline. Somehow I managed, maybe the mini breaks where I chugged a bit of my smoothie with protein (peanut butter to be exact) helped give me the burst of energy I needed to suddenly run up some of the inclines. Nonetheless, the view is so worth it at the very top ledge! There are even chipmunks at the top that were sneaking treats out of people’s bags. :) There were a couple of ledges so it’s nice to just chill and eat a snack/​lunch while taking in the pretty view.
There’s no parking lot; you have to park off the side of the narrow road where the trail starts.

My friend and I got to the trail around 9:30a on a Saturday. Parking is along the street. The trail was pretty popular as there was steady traffic as we headed down the trail back to the car. We spent about a half hour at the top, then headed to Lily Lake. We were going to hike to Lizard Lake but the trail was not well defined. The trail write-​up at
is accurate. Round trip I think the trail is 6.5 miles (or 3.25 miles one way). The first mile is steep and gets you warmed up quickly. The last 0.5 mile is super duper steep… I would recommend some hiking poles. Also, there are several stream crossings. While waterproof boots were not necessary in order to cross the streams, they are certainly an added bonus. Views are great! It’s definitely worth the hike on a clear day!
I’m an avid hiker and have been on some great trails. While this hike is good, has a great view, and I’d recommend it… based on scenery, etc. it’s an average trail in this WA area.

6 mile hike total.
Only hard in the beginning and before the view point. There are steep hills but if you run up then you’ll save energy!
Parking is limited. Street parking on the narrow roads so be careful. Also it’s hard to find the entrance, it’s a little opening with no sign.
The view is worth it so don’t give up! There are little creeks, mini waterfalls and huge rocks as you hike up!