Walk along the banks of the mighty Skagit. . . listen to a full chorus of birdsong in a restored wetland. . . see busy beaver engineers at work. . . watch the wild Nooksack elk herd graze. . . learn about and view protected eagle habitat . . . connect with an historic trail up Sauk Mountain . . . all at areas protected by Skagit Land Trust!

Skagit Land Trust preserves important land for wildlife habitat, but also for people to experience and enjoy. Get a firsthand look at the work Skagit Land Trust does by visiting some of these properties.

You want to learn...

Looking for birds? Head on over to Green Road Marsh, a restored wetland site where you can spot multiple species from the roadside sign.

If you’ve driven up highway 20, you may have seen Hurn Field. It is well known for the herd of elk often found grazing in the field, and the gravel pullout with educational signs is the perfect place to watch from.

Mud Lake offers easy viewing access off highway 9. There are often some birds to find, and the sign talks a bit about the area’s ecological value and history.

Head out east and check out our sign at the Cascadian Farm farmstand.

Our beautiful easement on Fidalgo Bay is completely visible from the boardwalk across the water - and our sign in the middle helps put the property in context. Look in the water for creatures, and keep an eye on the boardwalk itself - you might find a lizard!

You want to take a walk or hike...

The Cascade Trail runs through several properties we own or have purchased and transferred to other groups. If you head out to Lyman and park at Nichols Bar Park (which we helped purchase before transferring it to Skagit County Parks), you can take the trail east to Lyman Slough where people have been known to hold many a summer picnic, or you could take the trail west to Minkler Lake, a property with extensive wetlands. You’ll know you’ve hit land trust property when you see the Skagit Land Trust signs off the sides of the trail.

Visit Anacortes Community Forest Lands, one of the largest protected urban parks in the country with miles of trails.

Follow a new interpretive trail at Cumberland Creek designed by Emerson High School students. Walk along the loops to the banks of the Skagit River and visit a unique “oxbow” pond rich with wildlife.

Tope Ryan used to be an easy walk, but beavers have made short work of the trail system. Bring your rubber boots if you come to walk in and look at the beaver lodges up close and see the huge changes that one creature can cause in a landscape. Please be careful – there are hidden ditches in the fields underneath the grass, and some spots in the stream are unexpectedly deep due to the beavers digging channels. Avoid crossing any streams you cannot see the bottom of, and watch out for fencing that has been flooded.

Put on some hiking shoes and head out to Guemes Island, where we have collaborated with Washington Trails Association to build a beautiful 2 mile stretch of trail that leads from the base of Guemes Mountain to the top, a unique mountain bald habitat overlooking the Sound and other islands. If you aren’t looking to drive (or don’t want to risk the parking lot being full), consider biking from the Guemes Ferry.

If you’d rather head up into the Cascades, try Barr Creek, a property near Rockport with a trail leading to a waterfall. Skagit Land Trust volunteers completed most of this trail in 2010. If you’re up for a longer hike, there is a trail that connects to the Sauk Mountain Trail as you continue past the turnoff for the waterfall. Please make sure that you know what to expect before heading up the trail.

You want birdwatching...

Bet on seeing some inland waterfowl at Cumberland Creek, including wood ducks, raptors and songbirds. There's plenty of habitat on this 200 acre peninsula.

Stake out a spot during migrations and find waterfowl on their way at Green Road Marsh. You might also see bald eagles, vaux's swifts, and myriad nesting birds in this restored wetland.

Keep your eyes out for the wood ducks nesting in our wood duck boxes at several land trust properties, including Tope Ryan, Cumberland Creek, and Minkler Lake.

We hold an annual heronry tour at a private property we hold an easement on - check back at the beginning of the year for more information, or view images from our heron cam.

You want to fish...

Angling for a new fishing spot? Cast a line in one of our lakes or streams! Try Cumberland Creek, Lyman Slough, Minkler Lake, or Tope Ryan.

You want to see wildlife...