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”
Category Archives: Northern State Trail System
Trail Update: Rainy days make for muddy work!
It’s October, and the rain has arrived! “If we hadn’t packed rock into the clay soil, we would have just been sliding all over the place!” Executive Director Jim “JT” Taylor reported. On Saturday, October 11, we were joined by seventeen (17) hardworking and resilient volunteers who made the best of an extremely wet workdayContinue reading “Trail Update: Rainy days make for muddy work!”
Trail Update: Growing the Northern State Trail System in 2025-2026
Trail Project Update ā Phase 1 Weāre 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, weāve received approval to start building Phase 1 of the planned trails. This fall, volunteers from Skagit Trail BuildersContinue reading “Trail Update: Growing the Northern State Trail System in 2025-2026”
Wind Phone On North Knoll Trail
In partnership with United General District 304’s grief support program Rooted: Grieving & Growing Together and Skagit Parks and Recreation, Skagit Trail Builders is supporting the installment of a Wind Phone on Hill Creek Trail.
Community Support at the Song Sparrow Bridge Ribbon Cutting
We are proud to be part of an amazing community that recognizes the health benefits of parks and trails and wholeheartedly supports outdoor recreation! On September 19, we celebrated the completion of our work at Northern State Recreation Area with an open house at the Port of Skagit SWIFT Center and a Ribbon Cutting CeremonyContinue reading “Community Support at the Song Sparrow Bridge Ribbon Cutting”
Trail Update: Stewarding Our Trails on September 13
You may have heard that that September 13 was our last volunteer work party on property managed by Skagit County Parks and Recreation. We were joined by 41 community volunteers including 21 people from the Mountaineers Go Hike Course. These volunteers come from all over Western Washington to explore and steward our local trail systemContinue reading “Trail Update: Stewarding Our Trails on September 13”
Trail Update: September Events!
š¼ September 13 Our final work party at Northern State Recreation Area! We will be focused on trail stewardship activities like managing vegetation and decommissioning unsanctioned trails. š September 19 Hosted by Skagit County Parks and Recreation, the Port of Skagit, and the City of Sedro-Woolley. Join us for an open house at the SWIFTContinue reading “Trail Update: September Events!”
Song Sparrow Bridge Ribbon Cutting September 19, 2025
Press Release from the City of Sedro-Woolley: Ribbon Cutting for Song Sparrow Bridge September 19, 2025 The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the Song Sparrow Bridge, a remarkable new addition to the regionās trail network, on Friday, September 19. Festivities begin at 1:00 p.m.Ā atĀ 1960 Thompson Road with refreshments and updates onContinue reading “Song Sparrow Bridge Ribbon Cutting September 19, 2025”
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 Bridgeā and āHill Creek Bridge.” It was renamed by the Parks Department in 2025. Master Trail BuilderContinue reading “2024-2025: Song Sparrow Bridge and the Connector Trail”
Skagit Trail Builders 