Public access blossomed over the summer months thanks to the addition of two new trails on Land Bank preserves.
Spencer Spit Preserve | Lopez Island: In collaboration with Washington State Parks, your Conservation Land Bank added a new forest stroll to the Lopez community trails portfolio. Accessed through the existing Spencer Spit State Park trail system, the 0.75-mile hiking trail connects the Land Bank’s 18-acre Spencer Spit Preserve to Spencer Spit State Park.
Volunteers from the Lopez Community Trails Network and American Hiking Society built the trail over several summer days, alongside staff from the Land Bank and State Parks. Highlighting natural features such as a glacial erratic, the trail meanders through big leaf and Douglas maples, western red cedars, and large Douglas-firs. A short loop at the end rewards hikers with views of Flower Island from atop a shoreline bluff. Roundtrip hike from the State Parks entry is about 3.75 miles.
The woodland trail is day-use and pedestrian access only, with trailheads located at the Spencer Spit State Park entrance and near day-use parking. The only access to the new trail is through Spencer Spit State Park. A Discover Pass is required for vehicle parking, located at the Park’s day use area or at the entry roundabout. The Lopez Island Library has Discover Passes available for checkout and State Park free days occur throughout the year.
Beaverton Marsh Preserve | San Juan Island: Expanding the Preserve’s current Dragonfly Loop Trail, the Pintail Trail is a rustic, half mile spur traversing forest and mossy balds, sprinkled with viewpoints over Beaverton Marsh. The construction took place during some of the extreme summer heat; stewardship staff was lucky to have the help our local “Trail Blazer” volunteers for all the hours they invested in construction, as well as the REI Employee Volunteer trip, Islands Conservation Corps (ICC) and Washington Conservation Corps (WCC).
Look for the Pintail Trail sign along the Dragonfly Loop Trail at the eastern part of the preserve. The eponymous trail will be an excellent place to view pintail ducks and other migratory waterfowl over the winter!