Northern State Hospital opened in 1909 as an asylum for the mentally ill, growing to become the largest institution of its kind in Washington State. At its peak in the 1950s, it housed over 2,100 patients.
When funding dried up in 1973, the hospital closed abruptly, dislocating countless patients and eliminating more than 500 local jobs – a devastating end to what had begun as an important public health initiative.
Decades later, the original 1,100-acre site found new purpose. In 2018, Skagit Trail Builders partnered with local agencies to repurpose segments of the grounds into the Northern State Trail System, creating miles of trails for the community.
Our newest trail follows Brickyard Creek through some of the property’s largest trees, passing the former site of Winfield Hall. Built in 1924 with patient labor, this dormitory housed nurses, staff, and later patients participating in an off-campus employment program.
The building was demolished in 1996, but its concrete foundation remains, slowly disappearing beneath moss and alders. As we’ve cleared for the trail, we’ve uncovered fragments of the past: a rusty furnace, hexagonal bathroom tiles, and terra-cotta drain pipes.
We are proud to help transform this landscape. Twice a month, volunteers gather to build multi-use trails that serve the diversity of users in our community; cyclists, runners, families, and people seeking solitude in the outdoors.
We are creating spaces where our everyone is welcome to roam, reflect, find peace, and heal on their own terms.
Learn more about the history of Northern State Hospital:
A Path from the Past to the Future
Skagit Historical Society
View our Trail Project!
Skagit Trail Builders is a program of United General District 304.
The trails at Northern State Recreation Area are the result of our partnership with Skagit County Parks and Recreation, the Port of Skagit, the City of Sedro-Woolley, and our incredible community of volunteers!
Skagit Trail Builders 
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