A Vehicle Use Permit is REQUIRED on ALL WDFW Lands Purchase Vehicle Use Permit About Vehicle Use Permit

The Skagit Wildlife Area is located on and adjacent to Skagit Bay between the mouths of the north and south forks of the glacier-fed Skagit River. The size of the Wildlife Area is about 13,000 acres located predominantly in Skagit County, with lesser portions being in Snohomish County. The headquarters is approximately two miles west and one mile south of Conway, about eight miles south of Mount Vernon, and sixty miles north of Seattle at 21961 Wylie Road, Mount Vernon. Interstate 5 runs north and south through the nearby population centers just 2.5 miles from the headquarters area, making access by auto ideal.

This area is primarily tidelands and intertidal marsh habitat. The upland portions of the area are largely diked segments of the delta. Most of the area has an elevation of five feet or less.

A plant checklist has been established for the area. A bird checklist includes 180 species. The Skagit Delta is one of the major waterfowl wintering areas in the Pacific Flyway. Shorebirds are one of the groups that is numerous, diverse, and important in the ecology of the intertidal zone. Birds of prey include osprey, bald eagles, marsh hawks, red-tailed and rough-legged hawks, short-eared and barn owls, and the occasional golden eagle. The mammal checklist includes only 18 species. Less work has been done collecting these data, but black-tailed deer, coyote, raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver, and muskrat are regularly seen. River otter, red fox, and harbor seals may occasionally be sighted. Also numerous are small rodents such as mice, shrews, voles, and moles. Reptiles identified include the garter snake and painted turtle, while amphibians include several frog and salamander species. Common shrimp, and ghost and brown shrimp are abundant, and the eastern soft shell clam has historically provided a valuable sport clam digging resource on the area. The rivers and estuarine systems provide very valuable habitat for many anadromous fish species. Included are chinook, chum, and silver salmon, steelhead, Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, and black crappie.

The Skagit Valley is the gateway to a variety of outdoor recreation. Fishing is a major activity throughout the area, and the Wildlife Area and nearby valley are the most heavily hunted waterfowl areas in western Washington. Pheasant release is an annual activity, popular with a small, but enthusiastic number of hunters. Non-consumptive users have long outnumbered hunters and fishers. Hiking, birdwatching, photography and canoeing are important attractions. Local secondary schools make trips to the area each year, while Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Audubon Society groups, and many other organizations make regular, periodic visits. There are six developed access sites and 12 footbridges that are maintained throughout the Wildlife Area.

Find a bug or error in the system? Let us know about it!
© 1999-2005 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
E-mail <webmaster@dfw.wa.gov>