Elk can often be seen at hurn field from the scenic pullout off Highway 20.

Hurn Field Conservation Area is the result of several different parcels that were acquired by Skagit Land Trust. The first parcel  purchased in March, 1999 was the result of a successful fundraising campaign. In 2013 and 2014, additional acres within the Skagit River floodplain were acquired with funding from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and match from Seattle City Light. Additional parcels were added in 2019 and 2024, bringing the total protected area to 135 acres.

Ecology

There are 2 open areas on the property. The main field, which is visable from the scenic pullout is hayed by a local farmer. The main pasture and SE field are utilized by a portion of the Nooksack elk herd for winter forage. House Slough, which lies east of the main field, provides great aquatic habitat for species such as amphibians, beaver, and birds. It also provides rearing habitat for salmonids.The remainder of the Conservation Area is primarily wooded with a mix of hard wood and conifer trees.

 House Slough provides excellant habitat for a variety of wildlife.

Stewardship

One of the main goals for this property is to maintain the open pastures for elk grazing habitat. Additiionally, stewardship efforts at Hurn Field involve improving the forested areas of the property by removing invasive species and installing native plants. In 2020, 500 plants were installed in one of the newer parcels with the help of volunteers and the Washington Conservation Corps. Interpretive signs describing the importance of this property to fish, wildlife and people were installed in 2007 and can be seen from the wildlife viewing pullout off of Highway 20. 

Ron, one of our volunteer Land Stewards for Hurn Field, helped us plant native trees and shrubs in January 2020. 

Click here to view information about the land stewards for this and other Skagit Land Trust properties.

Access

Hurn Field Conservation Area is most easily accessed via a scenic pullout off of Highway 20. We ask visitors refrain from walking out into the field from the pullout to avoid disturbing wildlife.

Visitors are also welcome to walk through the forest on the property to reach the shoreline of the Skagit River. Please review maps of Skagit Land Trust and public ownership in advance of your visit to avoid tresspassing on adjacent privately owned land, which is mixed in with lands open for public access (we recommend looking on Skagit County's iMap for property boundaries). Click Here for a Google map link.