Skagit Wildlife Area
Each year, from fall to spring, this area is a bird paradise, with snow geese and trumpeter and tundra swans overwintering in huge numbers. There are several access points in the wildlife refuge. The Headquarters area has a 2-mile trail, and Big Ditch, Wylie Slough and Fir Island are also popular walking access areas.
Winter walks planned to see the gorgeous migrating snow geese, trumpeter and tundra swans are a good way for your kids to get outside. The Skagit Wildlife Area has numerous access points that allow you to walk dikes along the shore of Skagit Bay. Do note that from October through January is hunting season, and it is best to avoid visiting during that time. Before you go, read up about the birds and the migration journey they make. No wonder they are hungry! For several months Skagit dikes and fields are full of the white birds feeding, soaring, and landing. The humming and whirring sounds they make are fascinating to kids, but on a clear day your reward will also be the views of the North Cascades and Mount Baker hovering above the bays and mud flats.
Driving Directions:
Take Interstate 5 to Exit 221. Go west from the freeway and turn right on to Fir Island Road, following the sign for Conway/La Conner. In 1.8 miles, turn left onto Wylie Road and follow for 1 mile to a T-intersection and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sign. Turn left and follow the signs to either of the two parking lots. Recent Trip Reports
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How did I not know this was so close to my house? It's easy to find, and a great place to bring you...
How did I not know this was so close to my house? It's easy to find, and a great place to bring your dog. Take a friend, because it's the perfect hike to walk next to each other and gab. For more pics and a story, read my blog. http://kellbell-whywouldany[…]/04/skagit-bay-estuary.html
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Overgrown | Mudholes
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It was a beautiful day for my 15th hike this year to The Skagit Wildlife Recreation Area on Fir Is...
It was a beautiful day for my 15th hike this year to The Skagit Wildlife Recreation Area on Fir Island in Skagit County, Washington. There were several long dikes to walk along where you can check out lots of birds through out the area. I saw Blue Heron, Sand Piper, Canadian Geese, Bald Eagle and lots of others I can not name. I am not an avid birdwatcher but it was still a great place to hike.
A peaceful place to come with the kids and have lunch and if you sit on some of the benches along the trail and be patient you will see lots of birds. All and all a great day and a great place. I have been told that if you come out here earlier in the season you can see a lot of migrating birds that are mostly gone by now. I will try this later on in the season when there are more migrating birds. You can lauch small boats into the slough so I might bring out the kayaks next time I come out here. Be aware that this is a hunting area from September to March so you will hear guns going off during this time. Check out the whole video of this hike you will get a suprise toward the end or checkout over 160 others I have done on my youtube channel at lmm3181 or click on this direct link of this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tED93xfmL44 As always get out see this beautiful state Enjoy your hiking! Mike Day hike
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Driving around to about 5 of the wildlife viewing areas here, I took a hike along Big Ditch to see w...
Driving around to about 5 of the wildlife viewing areas here, I took a hike along Big Ditch to see what I could find. (jean - I must have been there before you got there.) Sorry to have missed the snowy owls when they were here, I did recognize the log perches from Bob and Barb's last month's report.
Meadowlarks, pipits and sparrows were abundant, plus a red-tailed hawk, a harrier and an immature eagle, though there were more of those at Fir Island, as well as trumpeter swans and a most entertaining short-eared owl. It was- and usually is- along Fir Island road that some twenty thousand snow geese flew over my car, a sight and sound to be cherished. Day hike
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Hike with kids. No loop trail though as stated in Joan Burton's book. Trail to slough is first bra...
Hike with kids. No loop trail though as stated in Joan Burton's book. Trail to slough is first branch going south from westward leading trail. No hunter activity that I noticed. Beautiful, sunny day. Egrets & snow geese. Great trail for kids to do a sketch book. A little boring, but great for young children and close to Seattle.
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We had been told that there were 2 snowy owls at Big Ditch so we drove there to see if we could find...
We had been told that there were 2 snowy owls at Big Ditch so we drove there to see if we could find them. To reach Big Ditch from I-5 take exit 221 (Lake McMurray/Conway). Turn south onto Pioneer Hwy. Drive 4.6 miles. Turn right (west) onto Old Pacific Hwy. Immediately turn right (west) again onto the unmarked gravel road. Drive 0.6 mile to the parking lot. A Discovery Pass is required here. We turned right to walk the dike along the canal. This is a pleasant walk along a salt marsh with many reeds, cattails, and pretty reflections in the canal. At about 1/4 mile we spotted the first owl. Soon we saw the second. They were about 300 yards from the dike. Bob walked from the dike across the reeds to get a closer view of the owls which were across the water. We were camped at Bayview SP so returned Saturday AM to view them again.
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 Snow geese making their annual migration to the Skagit estuary. Photo by Alan Bauer.
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