Mt. Erie Hiking Meditation

Join Red Cedar Zen Community for our annual spring Circumambulation of Mt. Erie hike.  This celebration of the encouraging energy of springtime is close to the traditional date for the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday.  Our route will follow a very moderate trail for approximately 7 miles clockwise around this prominent small mountain situated near the shore of the Salish Sea.

The hike begins at 10am and we will probably be done by about 2 or 3pm. Carpools from Red Cedar Dharma Hall leaving at 9am or meet at the trailhead.

RSVP and use the registration system to indicate where you'll meet the group.

During this mostly silent meditation hike we will stop at various points along the way for chanting rituals.  Our first stop will be at the “Poet’s Tree”, a grand Douglas Fir matriarch of the local forest.  Please feel free to bring a short poem to share in celebration of the local areas' history of hermit Zen poetry as part of our ceremony at this stop.

Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, bring at least two liters of water, trail snacks, and a lunch.

2018 Traffic Alert - delays on Campbell Lake Road -Alternate Route

• Proceed along Highway 20 into Anacortes.  
• At the roundabout, head north on Commercail (main drag) 4 blocks.  
• At the first light (32nd St.), turn LEFT (west) for ~1/2 mile. 
  
• At H Avenue, turn LEFT.  H Avenue becomes Heart Lake Road.
• Pass Heart Lake (on your right).
• Quickly bear left onto drive for Mt. Erie. 
• Park

Usual Directions to Mt. Erie:

• I-5 to Hwy 20,

• West on 20, over Swinomish Channel Bridge until signal/turnoff for Whidbey Island.

• TURN South on Hwy 20 towards Whidbey.

• Road drops towards Campbell Lake (visible ahead).  Stay right and turn right on Campbell Lake Road.

• Drive Campbell Lake Road along base of Mount Erie.

• Road will curve right at Lake Erie Grocery and becomes Heart Lake Road.

• Drive Heart Lake road, past two prominent old growth fir, about a mile until signs for Mount Erie.

• Veer right into parking area for Sugarloaf trailhead.

• That's where we will meet.  If you get to Heart  Lake, you've gone too far.

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To come on this hike please RSVP with the registration form. Click the "Register" button to the left to start the process. There is no charge for this event but please consider making a donation to the hike leader (details on Dana Paramita here) using the Dana page. Unlike our "indoor" retreats dana is not generally collected during the event but donations in one form or the other are always welcome.

Please contact Wilderness Programs Coordinator Bob Penny at bobpenny1253@gmail.com or 360-927-5702 with questions and see our Wilderness Programs webpage for an overview of this program.