Author Archives: Skagit Trail Builders

Trail Update: Photos from our trail day with the Mountaineers GoHike Team.

Saturday, May 23, 2026… 36 volunteers gave 239.2 hours! The day started out a little cloudy but warmed up to a beautiful spring day. Volunteers enjoyed the sunlight filtering through the delicate green leaves as they worked on final capping and restoration of Norlum Trail. Mountaineers GoHike Course Participants joined us for a day aContinue reading “Trail Update: Photos from our trail day with the Mountaineers GoHike Team.”

Trail Update: Norlum and Spike’s Trail (Work Party plan for May 23)

Background May 9, 2026 was our team’s first work party on Norlum Trail, our second phase of expanding the Northern State Trail System at SWIFT Center. Tentative plans are to connect Norlum Trail to Goat Hill, follow the perimeter of Port property along Hansen Creek. (This phase is funding dependent. More information will be releasedContinue reading “Trail Update: Norlum and Spike’s Trail (Work Party plan for May 23)”

Trail Update: Expanding the Northern State Trail System with Norlum Trail

Exploring Norlum Trail Loop In early April, Skagit Trail Builders and the Port of Skagit team walked the roughed-in route of Norlum Trail Loop. This is our second phase in expanding the Northern State Trail System at SWIFT Center. Norlum Trail will eventually connect to Goat Hill and a future bridge near the Powerhouse Building.Continue reading “Trail Update: Expanding the Northern State Trail System with Norlum Trail”

Trail Update: Join us for our final work party on the Thompson Pond Loop Trail on April 25, 2026

🧡 Finishing the Thompson Pond Loop Trail 🧡 Join us Saturday, April 25, 2026 for a day of rock, rakes, and restoration! About the Project The Thompson Pond Loop Trail at Olmsted Park is our latest addition to the Northern State Trail System.  This easy 1/3 mile loop around the pond is hard-packed, mostly levelContinue reading “Trail Update: Join us for our final work party on the Thompson Pond Loop Trail on April 25, 2026”

Northern State Hospital History: Resources

As we work on the new trail system at Northern State Recreation Area, we are often asked about the history of Northern State Hospital. Northern State Hospital was designed by Seattle architects, Saunders and Lawton. The grounds were designed by the Olmsted Brothers Architecture Firm. The purpose was to be a place of compassion, rest,Continue reading “Northern State Hospital History: Resources”

Trail Update: Work Party Plan for April 11, 2026

Our work on the Thompson Pond Loop Trail at Olmsted Park continues on April 11! On March 28 we were joined by youth volunteers from Kidz-N-K9s 4-H. We put them to work excavating the trail routing on section 2 on the east side of Thompson Pond. Our plan for April 11 is to re-focus ourContinue reading “Trail Update: Work Party Plan for April 11, 2026”

We are honored!

💚 A milestone moment for our team! On March 25, 2026 we were honored to be recognized by Mayor Julia Johnson, the Sedro-Woolley City Council, the Port of Skagit, and United General District 304 for our work on the Northern State Trail System. This recognition belongs to the volunteers, partners, and community members who makeContinue reading “We are honored!”

Trail Update: Work Party Plan for March 28, 2026 at Olmsted Park

Adapting to the Elements and Making Progress at Olmsted Park! Our plans for the March 14 work party evolved thanks to several days of heavy rain. But, as it turns out, the weather gave us exactly what we needed. With water actively flowing down the hillside toward the pond, we were able to clearly seeContinue reading “Trail Update: Work Party Plan for March 28, 2026 at Olmsted Park”