Padilla Bay Shore Trail Walk

To attend, click here to register and obtain detailed information.

Join the Mt Baker Group of the Sierra Club on a leisurely paced, flat walk along the Padilla Bay Shore Trail (4.5 miles round trip). Starting at the south end, this dike-top trail follows the southeastern shore of Padilla Bay, with views of primarily shallow, intertidal mud flats. Padilla Bay is in the National Estuarine Research Reserve, and is special because of its large seagrass meadows.. Difficulty level: easy.

The Padilla Bay Shore South Trailhead is about 3.5 miles south of the Interpretive Center along Bayview-Edison Road. Trailhead parking spaces are limited, and carpooling is encouraged, must be self-organized as Sierra Club cannot arrange carpools for liability reasons. Those who wish to carpool may meet up at 1:45pm at the Breazeale Interpretive Center, located at 10441 Bayview Edison Rd. Dogs are welcome on the trail, and must be on leash. We'll be following Leave No Trace principles. Water and gender-specific, multi-stall restrooms are available at the interpretive center. Bring binoculars if you have them!

We will meet at the South Trailhead, located at 13010 Bayview Edison Road. We will walk north along the trail to the north end and then back (4.5 miles round trip). There is no elevation gain as the trail is on the dike top. We will take 2 hours leisurely pace for the walk. The Shore Trail is a crushed gravel trail on a portion of the Padilla Bay dike. On the one side are farmland and on the bay side we will follow a slough with remnant salt marsh and then intertidal mudflats where the slough empties into Padilla Bay. At times there are water fowl in the bay, salt marshes, and farmland drainage ditches. The trail is open and exposed to sun, wind, and weather with no shelter available.

Directions: From Bellingham, follow I-5 South and take exit 230 toward WA 20/Burlington/Anacortes. Turn left onto State Route 20W/WA 20W. Turn right onto Laconner Whitney Road. Continue to Whitney Bayview Road, and continue to Bayview Edison Road, and in 0.6 miles, the Padilla Bay South Trailhead parking will be on your left. A Google map showing the red-pinned location of the Padilla Bay Shore Trail's south trailhead can be seen here.

COVID-19 - No vaccine or tests are required for this outing. You may be walking with people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated. You are welcome to wear a mask if it makes you comfortable. Please stay home if you are sick or experiencing any COVID symptoms.

Waiver - All participants in Sierra Club activities are required to sign a standard Participation Agreement when rsvping or at the trailhead. You can review the agreement form at the trailhead or here.