Winter walks explore Camano’s beauty

Participants of last season’s winter walk explore a trail near Elder Bay on Camano Island. Friends and neighbors can spend a pleasant couple of hours one Saturday a month walking with Friends of Camano Island Parks (FOCIP).

A monthly series of moderately paced, guided walks on Camano Island trails begins the first Saturday of November and continues through May.

Walks start at 9:50 a.m. and are completed by noon.

The walks take place rain or shine but are cancelled if there is snow or extremely high winds.

Walkers are advised to wear appropriate clothes for the weather and sturdy shoes or boots. Each trail has its own unique features including added enhancement such as educational kiosks, benches, bridges, boardwalks, viewing platforms and new signage.

The season starts on Nov. 7 on the trails in Camano Island State Park, with its wonderful water views and forests. Other walks feature beaver marsh areas, a protected salmon stream habitat with viewing platforms and much more, at Four Springs Lake Preserve, Elger Bay Preserve & Nature Trail, Cama Beach State Park trails, English Boom Historical Park, Iverson Spit Preserve, and Camano Ridge Forest Preserve. One of the walks will take participants from the N.W. corner of Cama Beach State Park to the south beach area of Camano Island State Park on the Cross Island trail.

A naturalist will offer information about the flora and fauna.

Participants will receive a complimentary brochure listing all of the winter walks and other FOCIP activities. A FOCIP trail booklet containing maps and information about the Camano Island trails is available to participants for a suggested donation of $1. These booklets are also available at the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce, downtown Stanwood, Camano Chamber of Commerce at Terry’s Corner, WSU Beach Watcher office at the Camano Annex, the Coastal Community Bank at Terry’s Corner and T. J. Bucks in the Camano Plaza.

No dogs please on these guided walks. When you visit the trails on your own, dogs must be on a leash. Please be a considerate dog walker who carries a doggie poop bag.

• Nov. 7 — Camano Island State Park:

Meet 9:50 a.m. at the picnic shelter near the boat ramp at Camano Island State Park. The walk includes two elevation gains of about 50 feet with the rest of the walk fairly level. The three-mile walk features excellent views of Saratoga Passage and Elger Bay and a walk through a beautiful “fern grotto” and ravine.

• Dec. 5 — Four Springs Lake Preserve:

Meet at 9:50 in the parking area of Four Springs (enter from Camano Hill Road and turn north on Lewis Lane which is located just west of the Camano Ridge Road). See this beautiful preserve with a walk on the perimeter trail including the wetland trail. The perimeter trail includes two fairly steep 50-foot hills with benches at the top. The distance of the walk is approximately two miles. A shorter more level option will be offered. A tour of the Four Springs House, Meadow Room and barn is available.

• Jan. 2 — Elger Bay Preserve:

Meet at 9:50 a.m. at the junction of Elger Bay Road and Dry Lake Road just north of the Elger Bay Elementary School and Elger Bay Store. This 2.5 mile round trip is a fairly level trail with one 50’ gain toward the middle of the walk. The beautifully signed Elger Bay Nature Trail with a side trip to the beaver marsh platform is part of the walk.

• Feb. 6 — Cama Beach State Park:

Meet at 9:50 at Ivy Road and Dry Lake Road junction; Access from Elger Bay Road north of Elger Bay Elementary School or Montecello Road, which intersects West Camano Road and Elger Bay Road. Parking is on the Ivy Road cul-de-sac. We will walk from this N.E. section of Cama to the Cranberry Lake trail, followed by a walk to the the beach area to explore the Welcome Center Loop trails and the old entrance trail. Total mileage is about 3.5 miles. Level with some gradual downhill areas. Shuttles will be available to return drivers to their car. • March 6: Camano Ridge Forest Preserve:

Meet at 9:50 at the Camano Multi-Center on East Camano for the 3.3 mile walk, with a brief stop at the Kristoferson Beaver Marsh on the way to the trailhead. The first half mile of trail has a 200’ gain. Trails on top are fairly level and include a forest loop.

• April 3 — Cama To CISP:

Meet at 9:50 at Ivy Road and Dry Lake road junction and walk from the Cama trailhead to the south beach of Camano Island State Park enjoying the downhill and level terrain with great views. Shuttle cars will be available to return drivers to the trailhead. If you wish you can walk back. The walk is 3.3 miles one way. • May 1 — Iverson Spit Preserve, Kristoferson Creek Habitat, English Boom Historical Park:

Participants should arrive at Iverson Spit Preserve at 9:50 a.m. Iverson Spit is accessed from East Camano Drive via Russell Road east to Sunrise road then south to Iverson Beach Road. After a short, level, mile walk with views of Port Susan Bay, a beaver activity area, and the “Hobbit Trail,” drivers will caravan to Kristoferson Creek Habitat for a short visit. The walk at English Boom Historical Park is about one mile in length on a marsh trail along Skagit Bay. Interpretive boards and a boardwalk are some of the special features of this historical park.

For more information about the walks or Friends of Camano Island Parks call 387-0889, or 387-4000, or 387- 7903.