Skagit County Hidden Gems

Padilla Bay Shore Trail

This 2.25 mile dike-top bicycle and pedestrian pathway connects to Bay View State Park and is a great place to take the family to see birdlife, feel the saltwater breeze, and a safe place to stretch your legs.

This trail gives you views of a very important part of our ecosystem known as an estuary. It is a diverse, minimally disturbed, and biologically productive place for plant and sealife to flourish.

The grass you see growing along the slough is eelgrass, an important native grass harboring small salmon, crab, and other invertebrates that, in turn, are food for the eagles, herons, otters and seals.

Bird-viewing is phenomenal along this trail, so bring binoculars.

To get there: Take I-5 Exit 230 for Anacortes. Take Highway 20 West and stay in the left-hand lane as you exit. Turn left at the light to stay on Highway 20 West. In 7.3 miles turn right onto the Bayview Edison Road. There will be a brown sign for Bayview State Park and one for Padilla Bay Preserve. In 0.7 miles come to the south trailhead. Turn left into the parking lot just beyond the locked gate. There is a portable toilet and room for about 10 cars.

Pioneer Park

When visiting La Conner, don’t miss this gorgeous urban park!

Pioneer Park is located at the southwest corner of La Conner on a wooded hill overlooking the Swinomish Channel.

It boasts a few short hiking trails marked by lush greenery and wildflowers and serves as a convenient connection to the new Conner Waterfront Park.

Once you've found parking and are ready to explore, look over the posted trail map for a general orientation. As in any urban park, you are free to meander on your own. Or, for a more structured experience, the route suggested will get you to all the most interesting places.

The park has a rustic bandstand occasionally used for outdoor performances, a covered eating area, restrooms and is easily accessible from the Rainbow Bridge.

Wildflowers such as buttercups, fringecup, avens, salal, and nootka rose are early season blooms. Later, these will be replaced by goatsbeard an weedy asters.

As you hike you likely will see squirrels and hear the calls of ravens. Sightings of robins are common.

Little Mountain Park

Located only 5 minutes from downtown Mount Vernon, with 10 miles of trails!

A trip to Little Mountain Park is sure to be rewarding for everyone, no matter age or ability. Whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll on a well-groomed forested trail, a rugged mountain biking route, or a paved wheel-chair accessible nature interpretive trail that overlooks Mount Vernon, you are sure to find it here.

Locals have been visiting these trails for years. Since 2009, volunteers have spent over 17,000 hours making the park what it is today. The latest addition came in 2021 when the Mountain Bike Skills Course opened to the public.

Little Mountain Park is open daily, 10:00am to dusk. To get there: Take I-5 Exit 225 to Anderson Road. Turn East onto Anderson Road (becomes S. Laventure Rd) and proceed 1.0 Mile to Blackburn Road. Turn Right onto Blackburn Road and continue for 0.3 Miles to Little Mountain Road and follow the road to the right. Proceed 0.4 Miles to the Little Mountain Park entrance on the right.

There is a parking lot just inside the entrance or you can drive all the way to the top for a scenic overlook.