Vist our Events Page to see a full list of upcoming guided walks, events, and volunteer opportunities

Take a hike! Visit our Lands We Protect Page for a list of properties to explore

Skagit Land Trust's History and Mission

Skagit Land Trust conserves wildlife habitat, agricultural and forest lands, scenic open space, wetlands, and shorelines for the benefit of our community and as a legacy for future generations.

Skagit Land Trust was founded in 1992 by three visionary leaders and 32 Charter Members. The Trust is a respected local organization and is recognized as an innovative leader in conservation. The staff, board members, and 400 active volunteers are joined by over 1,700 family and business supporters (members) to protect the most important and beloved places in Skagit County. Today, the amount of land and habitat protected by the Trust has grown to over 10,000 acres, including more than 48 miles of shoreline. The Trust is currently working on a dozen new projects under the guidance of a Conservation Strategy that helps protect the best, most at-risk, and beloved lands first.

In 2009, Skagit Land Trust became one of the first land trusts in the nation to receive official accreditation from the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission and received renewed accreditation in 2015 and 2020. Accreditation recognizes the Trust's dedication to following rigorous standards and practices established by the national commission to ensure the long-term viability of the organization and protection of the areas that we conserve.

Core Values

To accomplish our work Skagit Land Trust works in a manner that reflects fundamental shared values. We believe in:

Sound Ecosystems. The basis for all our conservation work begins with the understanding that a high quality of life requires diverse and resilient ecosystems.

Sustainable Stewardship. We strive to be good land stewards committed to the long-term sustainability of native species and natural ecological processes.

Engaged Volunteers. Only with the passionate and dedicated efforts of volunteers at all levels of our organization will we be able to fully accomplish our goals.

Involved Members and Community. We value our members’ ideas and support and strive to keep all members engaged and our greater community informed and involved.

Effective Collaboration. We recognize that the best conservation is accomplished by working with a diverse array of people, communities and organizations towards common goals.

Integrity. We adhere to the highest ethical standards in carrying out our mission, strive for transparency in our operations and accept full accountability for the decisions we make.