Author Archives: Skagit Trail Builders

Trail Update: Freezing Temps and Sunshine! Building Quarry Trail on January 24.

In spite of freezing temperatures, we had a solid turn-out of 22 volunteers at our January 24, 2026 work party. We had a late-breaking change to our work party plan, shifting our focus from final capping on section 3, to prep, rock walls, and restoration on section 2. (Love those kind of details? (Read theContinue reading “Trail Update: Freezing Temps and Sunshine! Building Quarry Trail on January 24.”

Trail Update: Our Work Party plan for Saturday, January 24, 2026…Building Quarry Trail!

Join us Saturday, January 24, 2026 as we are continue building Quarry Trail on Port of Skagit property to expand the Northern State Trail System! About the Project Quarry Trail connects with Sedro-Woolley’s newly developed Olmsted Park, creating loops with Brickyard Creek Trail and Winfield Trails, passing landmarks from the Historic Northern State Hospital. WeContinue reading “Trail Update: Our Work Party plan for Saturday, January 24, 2026…Building Quarry Trail!”

Trail Update: Good times building Quarry Trail…photos and video from our Jan 10, 2026 work party

For planning purposes, Quarry Trail is divided into 3 sections (see map below). On January 10, 2026, our volunteer crew made excellent progress! The trail surface is nearly complete on Section 3; out-sloped, drained, and compacted for sustainability and trail user’s enjoyment. Our restoration crew did their magic so this segment of trail looks likeContinue reading “Trail Update: Good times building Quarry Trail…photos and video from our Jan 10, 2026 work party”

Trail Update: New Year, New Trail!

The plan for our Jan 10, 2026 volunteer work party We are continuing our work on Port of Skagit property expanding the Northern State Trail System. In November 2025, we completed our work on Winfield Trail. Our December work party was cancelled due to the flood event; however Port staff completed the lawn crossing andContinue reading “Trail Update: New Year, New Trail!”

Skagit Flooding 2025: How you can help with disaster relief and recovery

We canceled our volunteer work party scheduled for December 13, 2025 due to the historic flood event brought on by this week’s atmospheric river. Flooding in lowland areas has prompted road closures, and forced many in our community to close their businesses and evacuate their homes. Instead of volunteering with us, we encourage you toContinue reading “Skagit Flooding 2025: How you can help with disaster relief and recovery”

December 13 Work Party Cancelled

Dear Friends and Supporters, We are cancelling our volunteer work party scheduled for Dec 13. The rain this week has been extreme, flooding lowland areas and prompting road closures. While our work at the Port of Skagit SWIFT Center property does not present a direct safety concern to our volunteers, we recognize that current drivingContinue reading “December 13 Work Party Cancelled”

Trail Update: Work Party plan for December 13, 2025

Saturday, December 13, 2025 Volunteer Work Party Plan Today’s goal! Build the connection between Winfield Trail and South Knoll Trail. We’ll be crossing the lawn up to the rock wall/Brickyard Creek road crossing. Guest Groups: Sedro-Woolley High School Earth Club and HKP Architects — 8:45 am Sign-in at the trailhead: Please note the new parkingContinue reading “Trail Update: Work Party plan for December 13, 2025”

Building Trails for Community Health

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 localContinue reading “Building Trails for Community Health”