Trail Project Update – Phase 1

We’re excited to share the first steps in creating new trails at the SWIFT campus! Thanks to the dedicated work of the Port of Skagit and the City of Sedro-Woolley, we’ve received approval to start building Phase 1 of the planned trails.

This fall, volunteers from Skagit Trail Builders will help build the first three trails – just over a mile of new path – on the west side of campus. We’ll begin with the Winfield Trail* and then move on to the South Knoll Trail* (see map).

In 2026, we plan to continue with more volunteer work parties to finish the South Knoll Trail and start the Norlum Trail*. What happens after that will depend on funding and permits for Phase 2.

The overall goal is to expand the Northern State Trail System with connections to Olmsted Park, Northern State Recreation Area, and local neighborhoods.

We are excited to get started!

About the Phase 1 Trails

Winfield Trail (0.3 miles)

This winding path will pass some of the largest trees on campus and the former site of Winfield Hall. Built in 1924 utilizing patient laborers, Winfield Hall once housed nurses, staff, and later patients in a program that supported off-campus employment.

Winfield Hall was named after Superintendent James Winfield Doughty, who served as superintendent at Northern State Hospital for 27 years, from 1914 to 1941.

The building was torn down in 1996, but who knows… we may come across remnants while working!

South Knoll Trail (0.4 miles)

The South Knoll Trail climbs to a scenic high point, weaving through historic parts of the campus where physicians once lived. The route begins at a set of old stone steps, passes near the former campus quarry, and continues into the forest, making it both a challenging and super fun build.

Norlum Trail (0.25 miles)

The final trail in Phase 1 will be the Norlum Trail, named for the spur railroad line that brought materials and fuel to the campus during its early years. “Norlum” was the name of the railroad stop, short for Northern Asylum.

A portion of the trail will follow the railroad grade before traversing the western flank of Goat Hill.

_{*please note that trail names may change as we move forward with the project!}

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Volunteer with Us!

1. Help open up parts of the historic campus that haven’t been accessible to the public before.
2. Work along Brickyard Creek, a beautiful, forested corridor with old-growth trees.
3. Create connections to the larger Northern State Trail System and nearby neighborhoods.
4. Gain experience and appreciation for the process of building natural surface trails.
5. Support ecosystem restoration efforts tied to salmon recovery in the Skagit watershed.
6. Hang out with cool people who love their community, being outside, and enjoy trails.

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