Miles: .3 mile loop
Elevation Gain/Highest: 34ft/3852ft
Map: Manning Park & Skagit Valley Park, BC
Favorite Eats After Hike: Pack A Cooler
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
My hike:
7/20/2018 While up in Canada in Manning Park for some trail work with the Pacific Crest Trail Association, I had an opportunity to do some short and easy hiking inside the park close to our campground and the resort. Having hiked here on the PCT in 2013 from Oregon, it is enjoyable to return and explore the area further. This was my second time to so, in 2016 we camped in the park and hiked the Skyline 1 and Windy Joe Lookout trails. The Beaver Pond Nature Trail was one of four I had a chance to wander this year. The Dry Ridge Trail, Paintbrush and Heather Trails were a few others.
The Beaver Pond Nature Trail is a short loop to a tranquil body of water nestled below Windy Joe Lookout along BC 3 just a short distance from Manning Park Resort. It is the perfect leg stretcher and whole family adventure for when you have just a brief time to explore the outdoors.
From the trailhead, you drop down in elevation (but not much!) to run next to Beaver Pond. Keep your eye out for dragonflies skittering on top of the pond’s mirror-like surface and eager frogs perched at the shoreline hoping to snatch up dinner.
There is a small wooden viewpoint about 400ft in where you can stop to take in Windy Joe reflected in the pond’s surface. From here you can continue and complete the loop on a trail that returns along the road and back into the trees or wander back the way you came.
Directions: From the Manning Park Resort, turn right (east) BC 3 and drive about .5 miles. Look for the sign and turn right onto a short gravel road. The parking lot is spacious and there is a privy available.
For more trails near here, check out my Outside The U.S.A page!
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..
Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
Find out what’s been happening outside the blog:
If you have a question you don’t want to post in the comments, you can ask them here: