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Destination HISTORY: Skagit Bay Estuary and Craft Island

Destination HISTORY: Skagit Bay Estuary and Craft Island A sandy beach is the hearty – and muddy - hiker’s reward near Craft Island. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) Skagit Bay Estuary trailhead at the west end of Rawlins Road. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) Lush vegetation in the estuary at the mouth of the Skagit River. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) The marsh is muddy and studded with deep puddles and ditches that require rubber boots and a sure footing, and which are often impassable at high tide or in the rainy season. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) Tideflats at the edge of Skagit Bay. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) A relatively dry trail leads to the top of the hill on Craft Island. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) Ika Island is visible from Craft Island, across the mouth of the North Fork of the Skagit River. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) US Navy aircraft often fly low over the estuary on approach to NAS Whidbey Island to the west. (Feliks Banel/KIRO Newsradio) Aerial image from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife shows former channel location of North Fork of Skagit River. (Courtesy Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife) Since 2009 or so, the Skagit River has cut through the tideflats not far from Craft Island. (Courtesy Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife) A vintage image from a 1906 history book shows boats the mouth of the Skagit River; it’s unclear if this is the North Fork or South Fork. (Public domain) A vintage image from a 1906 history book shows a farm at the mouth of the Skagit River; this appears to be the North Fork. (Public domain)
Destination HISTORY: Skagit Bay Estuary and Craft Island