La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

If you are heading towards Whatcom County or Canada and you are not in a hurry, Chuckanut Drive is a wonderful alternative route.

Chuckanut is a winding road that goes along the Pacific coast and features beautiful forestry and spectacular views of the ocean and islands because at some points, it’s right at the edge of the continent. The southern part of the 20-mile drive features beautiful views of Mt. Baker in the distance and Blanchard Mountain nearby. You are surrounded by beautiful farmland and have the pleasure of seeing many fenced in farm animals and enormous flocks of birds.

As you get closer to the coastline, the road becomes much narrower because the mountains and foothills to the east slope right down to the road you are on. When Chuckanut was first created in October 1915, dynamite was used to break through the rocky slope of the foothills. You can witness how difficult this must have been when you drive alongside the rocky wall on your right.

In 1910 construction began using convicts from the Walla Walla Penitentiary who were put to work on the road while being monitored by armed guards. The convicts were not skilled at road construction and the road was hard to build as it required heavy rock work. Parts of the roadbed had to be blasted out of the cliffs overlooking the water. Still the convicts were able to complete more than five miles of roadway along its southern end in Skagit County.

A ceremony was held Oct. 23, 1915 to celebrate completion and in 1921 Chuckanut was designated a State Scenic Byway.

Chuckanut Drive is the site for many moving events, involving groups of bicyclers, motorcyclers, and joggers. Because it is surrounded on many parts by very big trees, there are sometimes slowdowns after large tree branches fall down and block the road. This time of year there are many traffic halts until crews arrive to pick up timber.

If you are in a hurry to get to Whatcom or Canada, you are better off taking the I-5 freeway. But if time is on your side, sit back and enjoy a beautiful ride up Chuckanut Drive. And if you just want a peaceful getaway, head up to Larrabee State Park where you can launch your boat or your kayak or spend the night in your RV or just sit at the edge of the continent and watch the tide roll in as you look out at the islands in the bay.