Category Archives: Hill Creek Trail

2025: Putting the Final Touches on Hill Creek Trail, Pumphouse Trail, and Elk Trail

While we completed work at Song Sparrow Bridge in the spring of 2025, we also put the final touches on the Northern State Trail System. With excellent weather and record-setting turnouts, our dedicated volunteer crews tended to the details that make this trail a peaceful escape into nature. We held several “special sessions” with smallContinue reading “2025: Putting the Final Touches on Hill Creek Trail, Pumphouse Trail, and Elk Trail”

2024-2025: Song Sparrow Bridge and the Connector Trail

The site for Song Sparrow Bridge was identified for a trail crossing during the planning phase in 2018. We were thrilled when permitting was granted in 2024! Note: At that time, it was referred to as both “North Bridge” and “Hill Creek Bridge.” It was renamed by the Parks Department in 2025. Master Trail BuilderContinue reading “2024-2025: Song Sparrow Bridge and the Connector Trail”

2019: Breaking Ground on Hill Creek Trail

During the winter of 2018-2019, we broke ground on Hill Creek Trail at Northern State Recreation Area. 🤓 (Side note! At the time, it was being called the “Pumphouse Trail” because of the historic pump house it runs adjacent to. In May 2025, it was renamed Hill Creek Trail). It connects to the north andContinue reading “2019: Breaking Ground on Hill Creek Trail”

Trail Update: Record-Setting Attendance at our Final Work Party of the Season

We concluded our build season with record-setting attendance! Fifty-six volunteers brought their enthusiasm, energy, and positive vibes to the final workday of the 2024-2025 build season, June 28, helping us achieve our goals. 🌿 We completed the planned restoration work at the Pump House Bridge, planting ferns and spreading topsoil. 🌿 We successfully raised andContinue reading “Trail Update: Record-Setting Attendance at our Final Work Party of the Season”

Trail Update: Work Party Plan for Saturday, June 28

Only one volunteer work party (June 28) left before we break for summer. ☀️ Over the summer our leadership team will finish up the wind phone, a few small projects identified in our scope of work, and our build plan for fall. In September we will dedicate one more volunteer session to preparing the trailContinue reading “Trail Update: Work Party Plan for Saturday, June 28”

Video: Beautiful rock work and fern plantings at the Pump House Bridge

What is the difference between a path that gets you from point A to point B and a trail that brings you joy and fills your soul? Beauty! On Saturday, June 14, twenty eight volunteers joined us for a day of trail beautification. One team worked on Pump House Loop, raking up organic debris fromContinue reading “Video: Beautiful rock work and fern plantings at the Pump House Bridge”

In the News: A New Trail by Jack Hartt

A New Trail Jack Hartt May. 29 2025 Originally published by Hiking Close to Home and Anacortes Now We venture a little east of our islands for this week’s hike… Before white folks, streamside wetlands and rolling hills filled this land above the plains of the Skagit flats. Beavers created ponds; salmon swam the streams;Continue reading “In the News: A New Trail by Jack Hartt”

Trail Update: New Map and New Trail Names

Great news for trail users! With our work on the Hill Creek / Pump House trail system nearly complete, the county has done a final survey and produced a new map with mileage notes. And, along with the new map, came refreshed names. Please note the changes: Total mileage….about 3 miles! (We had been guessingContinue reading “Trail Update: New Map and New Trail Names”

Trail Update: Thanks to the Mountaineers Go Hike team for a great day of trail work!

Volunteers from the Mountaineers Go Hike Course joined us for an great day of trail stewardship on May 24 and helped us accomplish sooooooo much! We are VERY confident we will fulfill our Scope of Work on Skagit County Parks and Recreation property before we break for summer (plus a few extra details we’ve identifiedContinue reading “Trail Update: Thanks to the Mountaineers Go Hike team for a great day of trail work!”