Marblemount - Skagit Land Trust

[48.50552,-121.4803]

Property Type: Trust-Owned
Date Added: 2019

Marblemount
67 acres
Open to the Public, Featured Property
Fishing
Hiking & Walking

Get Directions

Conservation Story

Marblemount Conservation Area is located along the north bank of the Skagit River, west of Marblemount near Corkindale Creek, and features a 67-acre riparian forest. The land was primarily protected for its diverse aquatic and forest habitat supporting salmon and other wildlife species.

Marblemount Conservation Area features a loop hiking trail, including interpretive signs, like the one seen here. Coast Salish Tribes use the 13 moons lunar calendar to demonstrate the connections between plants and animals in our environment in relation to the change of the seasons. River access through the this Conservation Area allows for fishing access and salmon viewing during spawning season.

A portion of the conservation area was purchased in 2019 with a grant from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board. The remaining portion was donated in 2020.

One of the interpretive signs at Marblemount Conservation Area, the 13 moons lunar calendar is used by multiple Coast Salish Tribes.

Site History and Ecology

Marblemount Conservation Area includes 3,000 feet of riverine shoreline in the Upper Skagit River Watershed, where the river historically migrated across the glacial valley. At this location, the river is home to all 5 species of Pacific salmon and 3 species of trout: chinook, sockeye, coho, pink, chum, steelhead, cutthroat trout, bull trout, and rainbow trout.

The property and adjacent lands also provide habitat for the endangered gray wolf and northern spotted owl. Bald eagles, beavers, coyotes, deer, cavity nesting birds, waterfowl, and many locally common amphibians are all known to utilize the property. 

The property helps sustain critical ecological processes by providing space for flooding and river migration, supplying coarse woody debris, and aiding in nutrient production. This portion of the Skagit River is a designated  Wild & Scenic River,  granting it a right to exist for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

*This pink salmon carcass was found on the property in a shallow slough off the main Skagit River.*

How to Get There

Marblemount Conservation Area is located 3 miles west of the town of Marblemount on Highway 20. Look for the private road labeled Ponder Roses on the Skagit River side of the road. Visitors can park at the gravel area just before the gate. Walk down the driveway behind the gate, and take the first left. Pass a tall metal shed on your right and continue on until you see the trail split. This is the beginning of the loop trail; either direction will take you to the river.

Access

Please visit this property! It is open for public access, which has been developed via a 1.25-mile-long loop trail and a partially covered gathering area. There is a small parking lot located at the gate that can accommodate 2-3 cars. Find more information about this trail on Washington Trails Association’s website.