Looking for more great things to do on Orcas Island?
Check out my Explorer’s Guide to Orcas Island.
LOCATION
Moran State Park, Orcas Island, Washington
LENGTH
You have two choices! Do the full 6.2 mile loop, or do a roughly 3 mile out-and-back hike to the summit. The shorter option still gives you the satisfaction of hiking to the summit. The best views of the entire hike are along this stretch, but continuing on the loop gets you deeper into the solitude of the forest on a trail less-traveled.
DIFFICULTY
Moderate/Strenuous — This is a well-maintained, packed dirt trail, but watch for tree roots and the occasional blowdown. If you do the loop counterclockwise as suggested, your uphill elevation gain will be fairly gradual, with a few short, steep sections. The steepest part comes when you depart Mount Constitution and descend toward Twin Lakes — be prepared for a mile of downhill switchbacks.
WE HIKED IT
June 2020, about 7 hours with a leisurely picnic stop at the summit and an often (very) slow four-year-old hiker
CURRENT INFO
Check out the Washington Trails Association (WTA) website or Day Hiking the San Juans & Gulf Islands by Craig Romano for more detailed trail info and directions. Important note: we did only the Cold Springs Loop portion of the trail. You can also hike to Mount Constitution from either Cascade or Mountain Lakes. The full lollipop hike from Cascade Lake adds nearly an additional four and a half miles round trip, and additional elevation gain.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Don’t forget to hang your Discover Pass or Moran State Park camping receipt in your car window. Mount Constitution lies within Moran State Park, so a parking pass is required. You can also purchase a day pass at the summit.
- An outhouse is available at the trailhead and restrooms are located at the top of Mount Constitution. The restrooms are located in the same building as a small gift shop and information center.
- Potable water is available at the summit.
- There are trail signs at trailheads and intersections, often with mileage listed, but no maps. Bring a hiking guide or park brochure for reference.
- If you’re not up for a hike, you can drive to the summit of Mount Constitution. From here, enjoy the amazing views and climb to the top of the stone tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
- Pets on leash are welcome.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
Views, views, views! On a clear day, you can see as far as Mount Rainier, with close-ups of Mount Baker and the San Juan islands stealing the show.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
There’s a cool stone tower at the top of the trail. When we took this hike, the tower was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it has reopened and we enjoyed the views from the top on our visit in 2022. T loved finding baby hemlock trees sprouting from the moss. This was a good distraction from the fact that this hike is lo-o-ong for a four-year-old! The promise of ice cream after the hike helped keep both our boys motivated.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
Orcas Island is best as an overnight destination. Check out Midway Campground and its neighboring campgrounds, Northend and Southend, all found within Moran State Park. Good hikes abound! We also hiked to Cascade Falls and the beach at Obstruction Pass during our stay.
The town of Eastsound, including Clever Cow Creamery and other fun stops, is only a 25-minute drive away. For more suggestions, check out my Explorer’s Guide to Orcas Island.
Our Experience
It was our first full day on Orcas Island and the weather was clear. In other words, it was the perfect day to hike Mount Constitution! When staying multiple nights in one location, I’m a fan of doing the longest hike first, when possible. When you have kids, you can then assure them that the worst is already over! It may be a small consolation, but it can make a big difference with small, reluctant hikers.
You can drive to the top of Mount Constitution, which is a great option for those who can’t hike. I, however, wanted to approach the summit on foot. We drove to the small parking area at the Cold Springs trailhead. Only one other car was there; most visitors either drive to the peak, or take a longer hike from Cascade or Mountain Lakes.
I chose to start at Cold Springs because it is less than two miles from the summit, a doable hike for our family. It also provided us with two options after we reached the top. Option one: an easy hike back down the same route to the trailhead. Option two: a longer hike with more elevation losses and gains to complete the Cold Springs loop.
The trail got off to a great start on a steady, but not too steep, climb through the forest. Right away, I noticed an amazing variety of moss alongside the trail, probably at least a half dozen distinct species. Soon, my eyes were drawn away from the forest floor as the trail opened up to the first of many incredible views. Below us lay Mountain Lake, surrounded by dense green forest. Beyond it, the Salish Sea shimmered, dotted with tree-capped islands. Distant mountain peaks appeared to the south, while closer at hand, Mount Baker rose in all its snow-clad glory.
Michael and I were taken in by the views, and T happily took a break to sit on one of the rocky balds. J, on the other hand, was a little concerned about heights. He couldn’t wait to get back into the woods, well away from any ledges.
The trail switchbacked through the trees for the final climb. T was convinced this was too much for him, and it took some doing to get him up to the summit. His older brother even carried him piggyback for the last few switchbacks, which, quite frankly, was more than I was willing to do!
Ultimately, we made it. We found a vacant picnic table and enjoyed one of the finest picnic views I have ever experienced. The break was just what we needed, rejuvenating us for the trek ahead. Unfortunately, the stone tower at the summit was closed due to coronavirus. The boys were bitterly disappointed. I suppose no matter how tired you are from hiking, there is always enough energy to climb the stairs of a tower, at least if you happen to be four or nine years old.
Since we couldn’t expend any extra energy stair-climbing, Michael and I discussed our return options. Dare we try the longer loop? This route follows a long, steep trail that leads down the opposite side of Mount Constitution, followed by an uphill climb back to the trailhead. Could the kids manage it? And could we manage the kids without regretting it? We took a few six mile hikes with J when he was a few years younger, when T was only a baby. This, however, would be T’s first time hiking so far on his own two feet. I doubted that J would be willing to give him any more piggyback rides.
Ultimately, we decided to go for it. This was met by an initial outcry from the younger members of the family. They were not keen on any option that added more miles to our trip. But we promised that if they were good, strong hikers, we would treat them to ice cream at Clever Cow Creamery in Eastsound. A deal was struck.
After using the wonderfully clean vault toilets (yes, really!), we headed across the summit parking lot and continued on the trail leading to Twin Lakes. We planned to turn onto a different trail before reaching the lakes, but this started us off in the right direction. Sure enough, the trail was steep, and we were glad not to be one of the few hikers we saw headed uphill. The switchbacks continued for just over a mile, while the kids ran and pretended to be ninjas in the forest (I think they missed the memo that ninjas are supposed to be quiet).
Eventually, we reached a crossroads with a sign pointing us in the direction of Cold Springs, another 3.2 miles away. Our hike was almost halfway done, but now it led uphill again, although at a gentle slope. Michael and J forged ahead, while T and I went at a slower pace, stopping to feel the moss, then eat snacks, then examine the baby hemlock trees sprouting among the moss, then eat more snacks.
Those baby hemlock trees (and the snacks) were my saving grace. There were many moments when T was convinced he simply could not go on, that his legs absolutely could not carry him any further. Yet somehow, fortified with additional fruit gummies, he made it. He was fascinated by the numerous hemlock cones scattered across the forest floor, and the tiny trees drew his attention away from his tired legs. I carried him a couple of times, but only for about 50 feet. As is so often the case, T was stronger than he knew, and he made it almost entirely on his own.
We met no other hikers on this section of the trail. Finally, after a good deal of stops and starts and snacks, we heard voices again. Michael and J were not far off, and we had finally made it to the end of the trail. With the family together again, we passed by the wooden picnic shelter that we had discovered not far from the trailhead parking that morning. Our car was waiting for us just beyond it.
Of course, Michael and J had waited for us for at least 45 minutes by this time. “Where have you been?!” J exclaimed when we first made contact. I explained about the baby hemlock trees and the snacks. And also, how proud I was of T for having made the full journey, how proud I was of both the boys. We set a new family record, and enjoyed our ice cream while basking in the satisfaction of a trail well-hiked.
