Disclaimers

Quick-and-dirty version

Access: 4th Street SE (area info)
Round Trip: 5.6 miles
Elevation Range: 0′-20′
Essential Gear: none
Dog-Friendly: yes

The Road

It's a 0.75-mile walk on the pavement to the bridge if starting from the main lot below Interstate 5. There is a dirt lot 0.25 miles ahead, with signs indicating no parking past that point.

The Trail

The loop trail had a missing link for 450–500 feet in the north end. So, from the trailhead past the bridge, one can go north for one mile until the path abruptly ends at the inlet of Union Slough.

We didn't take the north trail along the east edge by Steamboat Slough, since it looked incredibly brushy from the fork. But it could also be the rain that made us feel unmotivated to explore.

Our Route

1. From the trailhead past the bridge, go north for one mile to the trail's end before turning around.
2. Continue south past the trailhead to the fork in 800 feet and hike half a mile east across the island.
3. On the east end by Steamboat Slough, go south and round the southern edge back to the trailhead in a little over one mile.

Highlights

• A quiet stroll with wildlife (most waterfowl) sightings through the lower third of the island.

Lowlights

• A brushy trail along the east rim, but wide enough to dodge the prickly blackberry vines.

I parked near the Langus Boat Launch, directly across from the Everett Animal Shelter. The main bathrooms are locked, but there is an (unstocked) porta-potty just outside the building.

The paved path to the bridge is lovely once you get beyond the road noise. From the bridge I first headed north, up the west side of the island. This is a NWR, hunting allowed, but no hunters were out today.

The path is open and easy walking, with a few benches along the way. I made it all the way to the breach, which is too deep to wade. The really nice bench in that area was taken, so I headed back.

I came back two days later with a fried and we hiked the trail south from the bridge. It is walkable, but somewhat over grown in places and easy to snag your clothes. Unless you just want to say you did it, you might want to skip it until it is cleared.

When that trail loops north and reaches the cross-island path, it continues north up the east side. However, that trail was so overgrown, we opted to cut across the island instead. Such a pretty wetland crossing!

The tide was heading out. It 's a very pretty trail systems and would be much prettier with more water and a rising tide. All the waterfowl were napping on the mud. 

There are no toilets once you leave the Langus parking area, but there are bushes.

Nice easy paved trail along the river and to the wildlife reserve.  We started to do the south loop after crossing the bridge but We turned around when the trail was too rutted and muddy and did not look ankle friendly .The resident Harbor seal was still by the dock where we've seen him for years.  wonder how old he is?

The facilities were closed but there is a Porta potty by the building.

The Porta potty across the bridge was gone.

My son and I tried this today — I just wanted people to know that the loop as described on this page is nearly impassable. The guidebook entry on this page really needs to be edited accordingly.

When attempted counterclockwise, a decent trail peters out before the hard left turn at the south end of the island, becoming a rough bushwhack with a fair amount of blackberry plants.

The east-west trail across the island is fine and recommended.  The loop is not. The guide also describes the option of going around the north end of the island.  We did not try, but it is likely impassable as it looks even worse than the south trail.  

Just a heads up, roadwork is being done on one of the bridges and there is a detour to the other bridge. When getting there from Marine View Drive you have to go down Broadway until you find a place to turn around and head back north. My advice would be to exit earlier off 5 and go up Broadway. Watch for the exit to the park off the bridge, it's open and coned. If you want directions just plug in Everett Animal Shelter, sewage treatment plant or Langus Park. We parked at the furthermost parking spot, walked up to the trail start under the freeway so we could make a loop. The trail is all paved until you get to the footbridge. We took the trail cutting straight across the estuary, as others have mentioned the trails going around are so overgrown as to be uneven and hard to navigate thru. Not too many birds today, some ducks, and some geese flying toward the Skagit. Stop at Langus Park and use the restroom there.