Joining Aspire for our Cypress Island trip in the San Juan archipelago combines ‘choose your own adventure’ style running with relaxation, incredible ocean views, delicious home-cooked meals and beach camping with late night bonfires.
Adding the Cypress Island trip onto our roster of trips opened up an opportunity for folks to enjoy a different landscape at their own pace. The island has over 20 miles of volunteer-maintained trails and 3,800 acres of designated Natural Resource Conservation Area managed by the Department of Natural Resources. These beautiful trails and natural spaces see much less traffic than other neighboring islands.
Coming in by charter boat on Friday evening, we set up base camp along Pelican Beach as we settle into the weekend. After devouring a delicious dinner on the beach followed by dessert and drinks, you’ll gear up to explore the trails at your own leisure the following day. Aspire provides recommendations of our favorite spots and options with varying lengths and difficulty. Then we set you free, with a map in hand, for an epic day of exploration.
Some highlights of the day include running along Strawberry Bay, going for a swim in Bradberry Lake, and heading to the southernmost tip of the island at Reef Point. Upon return from your adventure, we gather at Pelican Beach for appetizers and another mouth watering dinner to swap tales over. The day is capped by hiking out to Eagle’s Cliff to enjoy what may be the best place to watch the sunset in all of the San Juan Islands.
Looking out over the water, you’re gifted with spectacular views and the serenity of the island while watching the sun go down. The night winds down with more stories, drinks, and dessert shared around the campfire.
Waking up along Pelican Beach on Sunday, we offer up our best coffee and breakfast. The trip ends with a few more hours to hit the trails, go swimming, or paddle board before shipping back to the mainland. This is a great chance to run to some of the spots you may have missed the previous day or relax the muscles with a cold water dip!
Meeting up again around noon, we enjoy one last meal together on the beach. Our boat arrives for our return to Anacortes, and we enjoy the boat ride through the islands. Whether the trip was spent discovering new trails or relaxing along the beach, everyone leaves feeling recharged from their ideal weekend getaway.
Kara Folkerts is a plant powered trail runner, sustainable travel advocate, yoga teacher, and passionate about all things travel, sustainability, health, and outdoor movement. Originally from Canada, Kara has spent the last few years living and travelling in various places across the globe, guiding trips and going on personal expeditions before joining the Aspire crew in 2020. She writes about her experiences and adventures on her blog at www.karafolkerts.com.