Walkabout 2022 Slideshow
On the Walkabout we stay off the roadways as much as possible crossing public and private (with permission) lands. It is a private event open to members (anyone can be a member - just sign up below.) We hike through woods and pastures in groups over two days. One group does it in one day.
Our hope is that we are able to demonstrate the benefits of trails connecting our island. To that end, in 2018 the route from the Ferry to the Village was opened to the public for a period of 30 days. Property owners and walkers rated this Trail Trial as “strongly positive.” We hope to consolidate the trial into a permanent route in the future. If you are interested in becoming a Lopez Trails member, please join our group.
Just under 30 intrepid hikers started from the Ferry Landing on our first hike in 2013. We hiked across private lands, public parks, conservation lands, commercial lands, easements and driveways; through the Village to the School, into Lopez Hill, down Lopez Sound Road (where you can’t drive on it), on roadways and beaches all the way to the southern shore.
Again in 2014 and 2015, around 75 hikers in three groups made the same trek. One group began from the North, a second from the South. They met at the end of the first, had a wonderful party, then continued to the finish on the second day. A third group hiked the entire Walkabout route in one day. Rain dampened the numbers but not the enthusiasm in 2016. We had our usual numbers again in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The 2020 Walkabout was cancelled because of the Covid outbreak, and the number of participants for the 2021 Walkabout were scaled back, again because of Covid concerns. Assuming Covid trends continue to improve, the 2022 Walkabout is scheduled to take place as normal on August 27th and 28th 2022.
The Walkabout is one approach to demonstrating the benefits of a network of interconnecting trails on Lopez. We hope that over time, residents will come to accept access thru private and other properties for the purpose of walking, biking, and riding throughout Lopez. Many other countries allow this access. We think Lopez is an ideal place to build trails for our community to share.
