Couldn't resist checking out this option after some plant shopping chores in the Skagit Valley.  My first time here so I dutifully followed the WTA directions.  They need correcting as the "public fishing" signs are actually darker "public hunting" ones, but the season for that is now over.  You also have to go straight through a slightly weird crossroad junction before arriving at the entrance.  We parked in the larger lot on the right.  Outhouse style restrooms very gloomy and a bit stinky, but otherwise serviceable.  One thing I recommend is to check the large maps (one shown), at the back of the picnic shelter before you take off so you can orient your self to all the waterways here.

The "trail" is the top of the gravel bank behind the locked gate.  It's hard packed and easy travel.  It seemed like the tide was out as the water level was low with lots of mud.  I'm not a bird person but the wading birds seemed mostly concentrated in this first area.  As the description mentioned out and back I was not expecting the Y junction we found about a half mile or so in.  We stayed to the left (I found out after this id the "spur dike trail"), and soon the gravel was replaced by a wide grassy track (there is a short spur there with nice viewing bench).  As we progressed further out toward the water this track shrunk to a single width path with some muddy areas with shrubs and trees on either side - lots of song birds here.  Finally we arrived at a broken bench with no obvious forward track.  There is a downed tree to sit on here as well - it's a nice spot with wide views out to the Olympics.  I did try a few paces beyond that but the fallen reeds were covering squishy marsh areas so I retreated.

On the way back we enjoyed the ever changing dynamic of the clouds with distant mountains fading in and out.  Baker is dominant and very regal with new snow to low elevations.  The beige mud, punctuated by snags and carpets of dead reeds gives this whole area a slightly haunted look but the immense views with ever changing light definitely makes this trail one to repeat.  Hawks were riding the thermals and herons all over attending to their fishing business.  Spring is almost here with shrubs just starting to leaf out and the warmth from the sun tempered the breeze to the point we were stuffing our jackets back into our packs.  There is a large obvious nest in a tree but we could not see any owners, something to look for.

On our return we hiked over to the other parking lot as well, not much else to see there but it did put our final mileage over three.  After checking the maps in the picnic shelter we decided next time we will also explore to the end of the other Y as it's not too far.

I’m still getting used to Wiley Slough since they reopened it last fall. I keep telling myself the updates are good for salmon, so that’s a good thing. Even though a lot of trees and shrubs, home to little birds, were cleared away.
I miss the big eagles nest but I guess that’s just the way it goes. Lots of friendly birdwatchers today. I didn’t hear any guns. Maybe hunting season is over.
I took my mom and we had a good time. We sat on the bench for a while and I attempted a little watercolor painting. I thought she might paint but she just gave me some tips instead. 😂

We had a wonderful time at Wiley Slough today! So many birds! We saw 8 eagles, 2 great blue herons, mallards, green winged teals, northern pintail, chickadees and spotted towhees. We also saw 2 river otters playing! That was a highlight! We also saw a juvenile eagle up close (maybe 10 feet away when it landed above us) on the grassy trail near the shore. Mount Baker was stunning today, too! This trail is accessible to all. The trail is gravel and flat almost the entire time. The sunshine felt amazing. 

What a beautiful day to wrap up 2024. I started with the birdwatchers at the East 90. There were some sweet little owls and a bunch of bald eagles. Welts Samish was super muddy. You would need rubber boots to walk here.
I moved on to Wiley Slough. No mud here. More bald eagles and herons here. You could see everything from Mount Baker to Mount Rainier.

After our time at Hayton Reserve we went to Wiley Slough which reopened after the restoration project on 10-11. I have included a link below which describes the restoration which raised the dike to control flooding. Anew boat launch and parking area was added. We wanted to see what the " new look" was. There were not many others walking the area and very few birds! We saw a Northern shrike, a kingfisher, towhees, 2 herons in the far distance, many blackbirds, a few ducks and harriers. We talked to an 81 year old man who had been coming to the area since he was 11 and he told us many interesting facts about the changes in 70 years.