Beaverton Marsh Preserve

Project Background*

The vision for the Beaverton Marsh Trail is to develop a non-motorized recreational and transportation trail from John O. Linde Community Park, through the Beaverton Marsh Preserve, and to the terminus of Halvorsen Road for benefit of the people of San Juan County.

The trail is intended to support a healthy and active community, provide opportunities for interpretation of historical, cultural, and ecological resources, and serve as a living classroom for local schools.

Beaverton Marsh Preserve History

Beaverton Marsh Preserve is a joint project of the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank (CLB) and the San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT). The preserve has been assembled through six separate transactions between 2000-2023. The 483-acre property was acquired to protect its cultural, environmental, low-intensity recreational, agricultural, and scenic qualities.

The most recent acquisitions placed emphasis on development of trails for recreation and transportation, envisioning the beginning of a non-motorized link between the Town of Friday Harbor and inland portions of San Juan Island. A trailhead was developed at the westernmost part of the preserve with old forest resource roads primarily serving as recreational access with additional short recreational trail development. A new trail was constructed which connects the eastern part of the preserve with John O. Linde Community Park located in Friday Harbor.

The preserve is located immediately to the NW of the Town of Friday Harbor. It includes 80% of the largest wetland complex within San Juan County which includes two rare bog remnants. 30 acres of the northernmost portion of the preserve is leased for agricultural purposes.

*This page will be updated intermittently as project design information is confirmed. If you have any questions, please email Special Project Manager, Rachel Dietzman at racheld@sjclandbank.org.