Burlington Rail-Trail

Directions:
West end - From I-5 take exit 231. Go 1 mile east on SR 20 and turn right on North Regent Street.
East end - Continue on SR 20 for 1.5 miles and turn right on Lafayette Road. There is no parking area at this end.

Features:
A short community trail between SR 20 and the active Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The trail is crushed limestone.

Other Info:
Eventually there are plans for this trail to connect with the Cascade trail.

Cascade Trail -- Sedro-Woolley to Concrete

Directions:
From Seattle, drive north on Interstate --5, take Exit 231 (Burlington) and head east on the North Cascades Highway (SR 20). There are three trailheads.

Sedro-Woolley traihead (about 5 miles from I-5) junction of Route 20 and Fruitdale Road) On the right it is well-signed. Information, a toilet and horse trailer parking are available.

Grandy Creek trailhead (about 16 miles from start of trail) - on the left at the junction of Baker Lake Road (a toilet and horse trailer parking available).

Concrete trailhead (about 40 miles from I-5) - begin at the Senior Center (horse trailer parking is also available). There are other access points such as on Challenger Road where you bypass the urban area and pick up the trail -- if you can find roadside parking and are not blocking anyone's driveway.

Features:
This is a Rails-to-trails graveled and dirt multi-use path with views of farms, the Skagit River, and the North Cascades. The stretches between trailheads is a little far for many disabled folks to handle. However, there may be additional parking on intersecting roads for those of us who need shorter stretches. My preference with the scooter would be to head toward Concrete and return on the gentle downgrade when my batteries are weaker. The Seattle PI article on the section near Concrete indicates that If you can find parking along Challenger Road you can cut 1 mile off the stretch that goes through the urban area of Concrete. This would make a shorter trip through a scenic area. (Some stretches of the path are rather soft gravel which might be more difficult for wheelchair users.) Secluded woodland stretches at Minkler Lake and along the banks of the Skagit River west of Lyman.

Sedro-Woolley trail head to Baker Lake trail head - The trail leaves Sedro-Woolley paralleling SR 20 for a while and then heads away from the highway through quieter stretch of woods and farmland. Generally the path is bordered by a thick grove of deciduous trees with some clearings. East of Lyman the trail crosses a small bridge over an old oxbow of the river and the trail then skirts the river. Views of the Cascade Mountains here with a picnic bench along side the river. After Lyman you will pass more trees and farms until you reach the community of Hamilton.

Near Hamilton you might enjoy some birding activity at Carey's Slough. Photo courtesy of the Bellingham Herald

Soon after Hamilton the trail crosses SR 20, paralleling it to Concrete. There are more big evergreen trees now as the trail makes its gradual climb along the hillside.

Baker Lake trail head to Concrete trailhead - The last four miles of this section from Rock Cut to Concrete may be regarded as the most scenic stretch. The trail, bordered by sword ferns, climbs gradually through stands of evergreens and occasional bigleaf maples with some viewpoints of the Skagit and several small streams tumbling down from banks above. You might spot elk at Hurn's Pasture, Sauk Mountain and the Cascade foothills from the Challenger Road heights west of Concrete.The last mile passes through urban area of Concrete with views of Sauk Mountain.

Dogs are allowed on leash. This trail has lots of equestrians.See trail information and more photos from Skagit County Parks and Recreation Department, (360) 336-9414.

Other Info:
You might want to coordinate this trip with the annual Bald Eagle Festival, which takes place the first weekend in February in Concrete. There are eagle viewing points along state Route 20 at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport and at mileposts 99 (overgrown brush) and 100 at Sutter Creek (interpretative signs here).

Howard Miller Steelhead Park provides excellent viewing of eagles on the Skagit from a bridge that crosses the river as well as a trail along the river (not sure how accessible this is). In addition to bald eagles, you can see spawning salmon, or the remains of dead, spawned-out salmon—food source to the eagles. The Park has camping facilities, a boat launch, water and a flush toilet. To get there take exit 230 off I-5 at Burlington and follow signs for Highway 20 traveling east. Continue through the town of Concrete to Rockport, approximately 38 miles from I-5. Follow the signs to Howard Miller Steelhead Park—right on State Route 530 and right into the Park (before the bridge).

The Bald Eagle Interpretive Center, located just outside the Park on Alfred Street at the Rockport Fire Hall is open from 10 am to 4 weekends (and Monday holidays) December 21—February 17 pm and December 26—January 1. Guided interpretive walks begin from the center and leave at 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. The Interpretive Center is wheel chair accessible and there is also a portable toilet.

Directions to Milepost 100 Rest Stop: Follow directions to Howard Miller Steelhead Park, but stay on Highway 20. Continue past the State Route 530 turnoff another two miles to Milepost 100. You are now approximately 40 miles east of I-5 on Highway 20. The Rest Stop is on your right. This convenient Rest Stop provides wonderful views of the Skagit River and accessible observation opportunities of wintering bald eagles. The wide gravel beds edging the river, and convenient perching branches, make it a perfect spot for eagles to gather. The Rest Stop is well maintained and offers plenty of parking, picnic tables and portable toilets.

Rockport State Park a 670-acre camping park in old-growth forest. The park is located eight miles east of Concrete, Wash at milepost 96. It has an accessible Utility campsite and dump station. The restrooms are not accessible. It is closed Closed Oct. 28 through April 3.

The state has a fishing access boat launch site at Hamilton with a gravel parking area and usable restrooms (not fully accessible). From Burlington go east on SR 20 to Milepost 75 in Hamilton. Turn right at Cockerham Rd and follow to the Skagit River and boat launch site. Fishing for Dolly varden, bull trout, and chum.

Baker River Trail

Directions:
From Sedro-Woolley head east on Highway 20. Turn left onto Baker Lake Road, about 4/10 of a mile past mile marker 82. Drive 26 mostly-paved miles north taking a left on Road 1168, just before the end of Baker Lake Road. Trailhead is well-marked.

Features:
The first mile of this 6 mile round trip hike is wheel-chair accessible. Trail users are rewarded by a forest of gigantic Western red cedar and big leaf maple trees, rich green moss and shaded ferns on the forest floor. The trail follows Baker River and offers views of looming Mount Blum, Hagan Mountain and Whatcom Peak. Extensive beaver ponds can also be spotted and if you're quiet and patient, the critters themselves show up. For those that can take the entire trail, it ends at Sulphide Creek about three miles in. Four campsites are located near the creek. Despite this trail's seeming remoteness, it never climbs above 1,000 feet, and is thus passable nearly year-round. A great viewpoint for fall colors.

Other:
The trail enters North Cascades National Park. Pets aren't allowed within the park.

There are a couple of nice forest service campgrounds at Baker Lake: Horseshoe Cove Campground, 20 miles up Baker Lake Rd has accessible restrooms and partially accessible camp sites and water access. Shannon Creek Campground, 28 miles up Baker Lake Rd has accessible restrooms and campsites plus spectacular views of the North Cascades throughout the campground. The topography is challenging here. Both campgrounds offer swimming in Baker Lake.

Shadow of the Sentinels

Directions:
From Sedro-Woolley, follow State Route 20 east for 17.0 miles to milepost 82. Turn left (north) on the Baker Lake Highway (Forest Service Road #11). Continue on the Baker Lake Highway for 15.0 miles. The trailhead and parking area are located on the right past the Komo Kulshan Guard Station.

Features:
Shadow of the Sentinels is a barrier-free .5 mile interpretive trail winding through the heart of an old growth forest. Huge Douglas fir and cedar trees tower above a forest floor of ferns, moss, and berry bushes. There are signs along the route explaining the dynamics of this 500-year-old ancient forest. The trail is constructed of asphalt and boardwalks with grades no greater than 8%.

Other:
An accessible toilet is located at the trailhead. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for each vehicle parked at the trailhead. Pets are not allowed on any trail in North Cascades National Park except the Pacific Crest Trail, where they must be on a leash.

Skagit View Trail - Raser State Park

Directions:
From Interstate 5 drive north and get off at the exit to state Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) at Burlington. Drive east to Sedro-Woolley, about 14 miles. Turn right on Lusk Road and drive 3/4 mile to Cape Horn Road, turn left and drive two miles to the park entrance.

Features:
128 acres of the park is an old farm site with an additional forty acres across the road. Rasar State Park is a year-round camping and day-use area with a prime viewing spot for bald eagles. The paved trail decends from the day-use area down to a meadow. Although this is designated wheel-chair accessible, some users may need help getting back up this section since it is a fairly long grade. There is a bench midway down for walkers to rest.

Elk can sometimes be seen in the meadow, which is still a working farm. There is another bench at the end of the meadow. The trail wanders through a rain-forestlike setting of ferns and moss, cottonwoods, cedars, alders and Douglas firs. The paved path ends at the Skagit River. (See above photo of the river at the end of the paved section.) A non-ADA trail heads in both directions along the river. These trails eventually loop back through the forest to the parking lot.

Across the highway from the park are two short trails you can sample. The Sauk Springs Trail is a short loop that passes a hugh cedar tree, and the Skagit View Trail (another short loop) is wheelchair accessible.

Other:
Raser State Park is open year-round for camping and day use . The park has two ADA utility campsites, three ADA-accessible restrooms (two with showers), and accessible shore access. See Washington State's section on Raser State Park. See PI article on the park and trails.

Symbols

	An agency or a trip evaluation has rated all or part of the trail as wheelchair accessible.
	There is some terrain greater than a 5% grade. A wheelchair user may require assistance on portions of this trail. Accessible for power mobility devices.
	No Dogs are allowed on the trail.