We invite you to participate in
the variety of free guided trail walks on Camano Island. Walks are the first
Saturday of the month, November through May from 9:50 am to noon.
The pace is
moderate and the walks take place rain or shine. Walks are cancelled if there
is snow or extremely high winds. Walkers are asked to wear clothing appropriate
for weather conditions including sturdy shoes or boots.
Each trail has its own
unique natural features as well as added enhancements such as educational kiosks,
benches, bridges, boardwalks, viewing platforms and interpretive signage
provided by FOCIP over the years. A naturalist will be along on these walks to answer your questions and offer
information about the flora and fauna.
We hope you will choose to spend the first couple of hours of your busy Saturdays walking in the
peaceful environment of our Camano trails. Bring your
family, and invite neighbors and friends to join you.
Participants will
receive a complimentary brochure listing all of the winter walks and other
FOCIP and Backyard Wildlife Habitat activities. A FOCIP Camano Trails Booklet containing maps
and information about the Camano Island trails is available to participants for
a suggested donation of $1.00.
Please no dogs for these community guided walks.
Saturday, Nov. 3:
Camano Island State Park
Meet at 9:50 at
the picnic shelter near the boat ramp at Camano Island State Park. Park pass
required, but for those without, a temporary is provided bv FOCIP. The walk includes 2 elevation gains of about
50’ with the rest of the walk fairly level.
The trail is 2.6 miles long with excellent views of Saratoga Passage and
Elger Bay including a walk through a beautiful “fern grotto” and ravine.
Saturday, Dec. 1: Four Springs Lake Preserve
Meet at 9:50 in the parking area of Four Springs, Proceed
from East or West Camano Roads on Camano Hill Road and turn north on Lewis Lane
which is located just west of the Camano Ridge Road. See this beautiful preserve with a walk on
the perimeter trail including the wetland trail. The perimeter trail includes
two 50’ fairly steep hills with benches at the top. The distance of the walk is
approximately 2 miles. A tour of the
day-rental Four Springs House, Meadow room and Barn is available.
Saturday, Jan 5: Elger Bay Preserve
Meet at
9:50 a.m. at the junction of Elger Bay Road and Dry Lake Road just north of the
Elger Bay Elementary School and Elger Bay Store. This is a fairly level trail with one 50’
gain toward the middle of the walk. The beautifully signed Elger Bay Nature
Trail with a side trip to the beaver marsh platform highlight the walk. The
walk is a 2.3 mile round trip and completed by noon.
Saturday, Feb 2: Cama Beach State Park
Meet at 9:50 at Ivy Road and Dry Lake Road junction. You
may access Dry Lake Road from Elger Bay Road north of Elger Bay Elementary
School or Monticello Road that intersects West Camano Road and Elger Bay Road. Parking
is on the Ivy Road cul-de-sac. We will
walk from the N.E. section of Cama down hill to the Cut Off Trail and then walk
the new Marine View loop Trail, followed by the Bluff Trail and Old Entrance
Trail 2.7 miles total. Shuttles will be
available for those wishing a ride back to Ivy. Option to walk back to Ivy would
make the walk 3.9 miles total. The walk
is completed by noon.
Saturday, Mar 2: Camano Ridge Forest Preserve
Meet at 9:50 at the Camano Multi-Center on East Camano
(the "Blue Building", next to Tennis Courts) for the 3.3 mile walk. There will be a
brief stop at the Kristoferson Beaver Marsh during the return to the parking
area. The first ½ mile of trail has a 200’ gain. Trails on top are fairly level
and include a forest loop.
Saturday, April 6: Cama To CISP
Meet at 9:50 at Ivy Road
and Dry Lake road junction. You can access Dry Lake Road from Elger Bay Road or
Monticello Road. Walk from the Cama
trailhead to the south beach of Camano Island State Park enjoying the downhill
and level terrain with great views. Shuttle cars will be available to return drivers
to the trailhead. If you wish you can walk back. The walk is 3.3 miles one way.
Saturday, May 4: Iverson Spit Preserve, Kristoferson Creek
Habitat, English Boom Historical Park
Participants should arrive at Iverson Spit Preserve at 9:50 a.m. Iverson
Spit is accessed from East Camano Drive via Russell Road east to Sunrise road
then south to Iverson Beach Road. Follow Iverson Beach Road east down to the
beach area and drive north to the end. After a short level mile walk with views
of Port Susan Bay, a beaver activity area, and the “Hobbit Trail” drivers will
leave there and caravan to Kristoferson Creek Habitat for a short visit. The
caravan directions to the next stop at English Boom Historical Park will be
handed out at Iverson Spit. The walk
at English Boom Historical Park is about a mile in length on a marsh trail
along Skagit Bay. Baker view, interpretive boards and a boardwalk are some of
the special features of this historical park.
