Maps of the trails that snake through the area are available at the Josh Wilson Road parking lot. Or pick up a copy of the Skagit County Walking & Trail Guide at local chambers of commerce or park and recreation facilities. The trails are double-wide gravel, making them user friendly — and popular. Watch for bicyclists as well.
Signs at the trailheads warn hikers and bikers to remove valuables from their vehicles. Vehicle break-ins are a common occurence.
Distance: 4.5 miles or more
Destination: Loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: None
Getting there: Highway 20 to Higgins Airport Way. This is the entrance to the Port of Skagit County. Take the first left onto Ovenell Road. Take the first right into the gravel parking lot. To start at the north end, continue on Higgins Airport Way. Before Higgins Airport Way connects with Josh Wilson Road, turn right into the paved parking lot. Parking is also available at the port offices/airport terminal building.
The Trek: The Port of Skagit County trail system covers about 10 miles. Beginning at the north end, trails extend from Josh Wilson Road to the Bayview Business and Industrial Park to the Skagit Regional Airport. From the south, they begin at the corners of Ovenell and Farm To Market Road.
Pick your route and set out.
To start at the southern end of the trail system, park in the gravel lot off Ovenell Road. From the lot, proceed west, paralleling Ovenell Road.
Several trails branch to the right, the first of which is encountered as one exits the parking lot. It can be a return route, as can the trail encountered about 50 yards farther on.
For the purposes of this writing, go straight. In about 0.4 of a mile, another trail veers right. Take it and proceed across a busy street.
At the next junction, go right. The trail follows a stream bed off to its left, while thickets of blackberry brambles and trees border the trail on the right. After a long straightaway, break into a clearing that borders Higgins Field. High fences separate hikers and bikers from the airport’s busy tarmac.
The trail curves sharply to the left before bending back to the right directly in front of a runway. After another bend to the left, the trail enters the forest. The sun is blotted out along this stretch by the forest’s thick canopy.
Birds fly about along the way, skipping from one branch to another.
Meandering through the lush greenery, it is about 1.3 miles before the trail breaks left, once again paralleling Ovenell Road.
Continuing on, hike past the first left but take the second. It’s a short distance before the trail parallels the runways.
Walking its 1.05-mile length, the trail eventually bends to the right. At the intersection of Crosswind Drive and Higgins Airport Way, one must decide which way to proceed.
One can cross Crosswind Drive and extend the trek. (There are several duck ponds and more trails.) Or go right to complete the loop.
Going right, the trail is bordered by dense forest on the right and flood control culverts, lined up one after another, on the left.
It’s .22 of a mile before a fork is reached. Right leads into the woods and around the west side of the large wetlands. If you choose this route, the next left leads back to the car.
Going left at the fork leads over a pair of small, arching footbridges spanning several small streams draining from the wetlands. This way provides a bit more intimate view of the expansive wetlands as you return to the rig.
Port of Skagit County Trail
Vince Richardson
Part of the trail borders a vast wetlands.
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