SJI Trails Committee KNOW YOUR ISLAND walks, January through October, 4th Saturday of each month. Walks will take place rain or shine so come prepared. For more information, call 360-378-5646.
KNOW YOUR ISLAND WALKS 2012
Sat. Jan. 28, 1-4:00pm. Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park. Walk the trail from the Visitors’ Center to South Beach. Learn cultural, historical and environmental history of the area. Meet and park at American Camp Visitors’ Center. Length is 2 mi. RT; terrain is grass and gravel path. Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes welcome.
Sat. Feb. 25, 1-4:00pm. Meet Boyd Pratt, local historian and author to walk from the Roche Harbor Hotel to the Mausoleum, learning history of the area. Meet in front of Roche Harbor Hotel. Park on lower road that leads to the boat ramp and market. Length is 2mi. RT. Terrain is paved road and wooded path. Rating is easy-to-moderate. Dogs on leashes welcome.
Sat. Mar. 24, 1-4:00pm. Meet Marilyn O’Conner, Director, Port of Friday Harbor, to “Walk the Port” (airport to boat harbor) learning history and local color. Meet and park at Skagit Valley College parking lot. Length is 2 mi. RT. Terrain is sidewalks, wooded trail and pavement. Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Sat. April 28, 1-4:00pm. Meet Doug McCutchen, Land Steward for the San Juan County Land Bank and Boyd Pratt, local historian and author. “They clear-cut all the forests to feed the lime kilns…or did they?” Learn history, mystery, and myths about the limestone mining and lime production on San Juan Island, and how our unique natural history played an important role in its success. Meet and park at Lime Kiln State Park. Length is 1.5 mi. RT. Terrain is wooded trail. Rating is easy-to-moderate. Dogs on leashes welcome. A Discover Pass is required for parking at the State Park. They will be available on site. Payment may be made by cash or check please.
Sat. May 26, 1-4:00pm. Meet Sandy Strehlou, Town of F.H. Coordinator of Historic Preservation and Kevin Loftus, Director of San Juan Historical Museum. Take the first ever tour of Post War Architecture Friday. Also known as Recent Past Architecture; 1945-1960. Discover why these familiar and often under-appreciated buildings are considered historic and important to our heritage. The walk ends with a private tour of the more distant past at the San Juan Historical Museum with eight buildings each holding displays and exhibits. Park at the Courthouse Parking Lot and meet under the heritage black walnut tree in front of the SJC Courthouse. Length is 2.mi. RT. Terrain is sidewalk and museum grounds. Rated easy. NO DOGS, please.
Sat. June 23, 1-4:00pm. Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park, to walk at English Camp, learning about life in the camp, where the officers lived and about its historical and cultural history. Meet and park at English Camp parking lot. Length is 1.5 mi. RT. Terrain is wooded trail and grass. Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Sat. July 28, 1-4:00pm. Meet Mike Buettell, Roche Harbor resident and volunteer trail builder, to walk and explore the Briggs Lake Trail in the Roche Harbor Highlands. Meet and park at the intersection of West Valley and Roche Harbor Roads. Length is 4 miles RT. Terrain is slight uphill and downhill sections on service roads. Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Sat. Aug.25, 1-4pm. Meet Eliza Habegger San Juan County Land Bank steward. Walk the King Sisters Preserve trail and learn about agriculture and the Preserve. Farmer Rob Waldron will give a special talk and off-trail tour of the farm operation. Meet and park at 3827 San Juan Valley Road where the road takes a 90-degree turn to the north. Look for the orange cones at the open gate. Length is 1.5 mi. RT. Terrain is roadside trail and farm field. Rating is easy. NO DOGS PLEASE due to the presence of livestock.
Sat. Sept. 22, 1-4pm. Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park, to walk Mitchell Hill, the newest piece of our island’s National Historical Park. We will see work done by the Trails Committee and Island Rec in conjunction with the Park and generous volunteers. Meet and park at the English Camp parking lot to walk up toward the cemetery and cross the south face of Young Hill, using the new connector trail, a part of the Mitchell Hill Trail Network. Length is 3mi. RT. Terrain is wooded trail. Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.
Sat. Oct. 27, 1-4pm. Meet Dona Wuthnow, Director of County Parks, to walk San Juan County Park. Learn about its cultural and natural history highlights, featuring the newly restored Brann Cabin, believed to be the only homestead cabin on the island in its original location on public land. Meet and park at the San Juan County Park office on Westside Road. Length is 1mi. RT. Terrain is road and rustic trail. Rating is easy. Dogs on leashes welcome.
This is the last walk of the season. Watch this site for next season’s schedule.
