Shine Road

The Hood Head & Squamish Harbor Run offers a dynamic coastal jogging experience, blending sandy and rocky beach sections with stretches along Shine Road. You'll be treated to stunning views of the Hood Canal, especially from the picnic areas within Shine Tidelands State Park, and pass by the scenic Squamish Harbor. The highlight for many is spotting the unique driftwood dragon at Point Hannon on Hood Head, a quirky landmark that gets reconstructed each year.

This moderate 7.5-mile (12.1 km) route, with 795 feet (242 metres) of elevation gain, typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes to complete. A crucial tip for planning your run is to consult tide charts; a "minus tide" is highly recommended for navigating the beach sections around Hood Head without getting your feet wet. The trail is accessible year-round, but checking the tides will ensure the best experience.

What makes this route stand out is its blend of natural beauty and a touch of local artistry. Beyond the Hood Canal views and the Squamish Harbor viewpoint, you can even catch glimpses of the Hood Canal Bridge and the San Juan Islands from Point Hannon. The yearly reconstruction of the driftwood dragon adds a unique, evolving feature to this already picturesque jogging trail.