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.
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