The Skagit Islands and the San Juan Islands provide some of the best whale watching opportunities anywhere in the world, offering protected waters and a huge variety of wildlife, which include our three pods of resident Orca whales. Anacortes and La Conner are perfect departure points for whale watching and wildlife cruises. Looking for a Skagit tour idea – add whale watching to the top of your list!
Featured Websites:
Blue Kingdom Tours
Island Adventures
Outer Island Excursions
Spirit of Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours
Deception Pass is one of the most visited attractions in Washington. Learn about Deception Pass, the Bridge, and the surrounding area on a Deception Pass Jet Boat Tour aboard the Island Whaler offering a unique ride on a seated open deck boat with a 360° unobstructed view. Enjoy the thrill of the fast jet boat through Deception Pass with a knowledgeable interpreter pointing out wildlife such as bald eagles, seals, porpoises, and maybe an occasional whale. Learn the tales of characters who navigated these waters and the splendor of this National Historic Landmark on a one-hour tour.
Feast your eyes and your taste buds this April! San Juan Cruises will be offering daily Crab Lunch Cruises departing La Conner to Deception Pass aboard its largest vessel, the Victoria Star. Boarding on the historic La Conner waterfront at the Channel Lodge’s dock, the 2.5 hour lunch cruises include a full Dungeness Crab and Tuscan Herb Chicken buffet. Beer, Wine, Cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase from the ship’s bar.
This cruise is the perfect way to enjoy lunch and towering scenery before or after visiting the majestic tulip fields to the east of La Conner in Skagit Valley!
Skagit Guided Adventures offers 2-hr, 3-hr and 4-hr cruises. The 2-hr cruise, thru the sheltered waters of Fidalgo, Guemes, and Cypress Islands, offers you the opportunity to see our year-round resident Alcids: Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinocerus Auklet and the highly endangered Marbled Murrelet. Other seabirds, sea ducks, shorebirds, raptors are seen as well. And of course, we are always on the lookout for Orcas, porpoise, seals and river otters. The 3-hour visit to Vendovi Island Preserve gives you plenty of time to continue birding on your own and explore the island’s forest, beaches and grassy meadows on its well-maintained 3-mi trail system. Lookouts and beaches offer stunning vistas of the San Juan Islands, the Salish Sea, Mount Baker and the North Cascades for you to enjoy your picnic lunch. Vendovi Island is located between Guemes and Lummi Islands and is owned by the San Juan Preservation Trust. The 4-hr cruise, along the exposed waters of Fidalgo, Lopez and Whidbey Islands, offers you the unique opportunity to see some of the 30 pairs of Tufted puffins that nest on Smith Island April – September.
Mt.Erie is one of few places with great rock climbing overlooking the ocean with a spectacular view. What better way to get an introduction into the sport and hobby of rock climbing. Open to everyone and all abilities, AdventureTerra offers classes you can sign up for that only require being 7 years or older, no experience is necessary. Choose a half-day or full-day adventure that will teach you and give you the experience of basic outdoor rock climbing. Rock climbing gives you the option to challenge your limits and increase your confidence.
Anacortes offers several choices of sea kayaking adventures to choose from. With both families and seasoned travelers in mind, our tour companies have created a variety of sea kayak tours to match your needs, budget, and available time. Whether you are looking for a kayaking day trip, a family kayak tour, or a longer multi-day sea kayaking expedition, Anacortes is a great place to start.
Join us on a sea kayaking trip and enjoy an incredible day as we search for Porpoise, Seals, Eagles, Orca Whales, and much more!
Featured Websites:
Anacortes Chamber of Commerce – Kayak Tours
Located in Anacortes, the “Gateway to the San Juan Islands”, Anacortes Yacht Charters has established itself as the leading charter company with the largest selection of power and sailboats available for charter in the San Juans and Gulf Islands. You may decide to charter as far north as Desolation Sound or Alaska, with our friendly reservation staff waiting to make your yachting vacation fulfill all your expectations.
Rent a kayak or canoe from Float Skagit for a fun and adventurous experience for the entire family! Float Skagit launches from two locations in Skagit Valley and provides for a relaxing and beautiful Skagit River float. Float Skagit offers equipment rental and shuttle service to popular drop of points on the lower Skagit River. They offer half or full-day trips as well as fully customizable options.
Want to move faster than a canoe or kayak? Experience the Skagit River with the fast-moving, fast stopping shallow water SJX jet sled on a Skagit River Tour. This tunnel-hull design boat can navigate in as little as 4″ of water giving you a real up close and personal experience of the river and surrounding wildlife! Join us on tours from La Conner, Washington, up the Skagit River via the North Fork and back. These tours take you 7-8 miles upriver toward the North Cascades. Learn about the history of the Skagit River Valley and see a lot in a little time on this fun-filled river tour!
PNW Exploration is a family-run premium electric bike rental company located in La Conner at 107 S Second St at the La Conner Country Inn.
Skagit Guided Adventures offers small group day Day Hikes, Wildflower, Birding, Tulip & Farm Tours around Skagit Valley, Mount Baker, the North Cascades, Fidalgo Island, and Anacortes.
Skagit Valley’s deep and fertile alluvial soils are rated by USDA as among the best in the world. The Skagit Valley farmers grow the barley varietals, Skagit Valley Malting takes these new varieties to bring out taste and flavor, and then all 11 of the Skagit Valley Breweries use the malt to make great craft beer.
The Skagit Farm to Pint Passport Tour includes a map and passport to collect stamps. Once you have collected all your stamps, you are awarded a pint glass at the last brewery you visit. Pick up a passport at the breweries, Skagit Visitor Info Centers, and a select number of lodging establishments that offer “Bed & Brew” packages.
Looking for a convenient way to attend the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? Have you thought about looking into tulip festival tours? We have consolidated a list of tulip festival tours with links to their website for the most up-to-date tour information.
The Skagit County Historical Museum has created a heritage barn tour including 55 historic registered barns. These self-guided tours include the build date, roof-style, agricultural use, and in many cases, the family history of many Skagit County pioneers.
Architecture is the key, but these magnificent structures dotted throughout the countryside take you to a simpler time. Each barn — whether it’s an English Gambrel, Broken Gable, or Salt Box style — is as rich in anecdotal history as it is in the patina of worn wood. Some barns are more than 100 years old, some were used for cattle and dairy farming, and most are still in use. You will be delighted with the history and beauty of your historic barn tour in Skagit Valley!
We hope you enjoy viewing these amazing structures – and learning about their wonderful histories. Please do not enter private property. The barns are viewable from the roadway and are not available for touring the inside of the barn or on private property.
Tea and Tour combines the aura of English Tea with charming bicycle tours showcasing the farmland and historic towns surrounding Willowbrook Manor English Tea House and Farm Stay. Guests will begin their country experience with Tea & Scones, followed by a bicycle tour of their selection. Comfortable e-bikes make the ride easy. We also have groovy beach cruiser bikes. Tours range from 8 to 12 miles on comfortable bikes and flat terrain.
The Cascade Trail is magical and the history the tour shares makes the experience one to remember!
At 10,781 feet Mount Baker is truly one of the most picturesque mountains in all the Cascade Range. Baker has the second largest glacial system in the lower 48 States second only to that of Mount Rainier. In 1998 Mt. Baker’s annual snowfall exceeded the world record held on Mount Rainier since the early 1970′s with an amount of 95-feet. The mountain is the third-highest mountain in Washington State and the fifth-highest in the Cascade Range. Climbing Mt Baker presents a fantastic objective for those seeking a challenging climb in a pristine alpine environment. Climbing Tours meet in Sedro-Woolley.
Featured Website: Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce – NW Mountain Shop & Guides
Skagit Valley recently was rated by Sunset Magazine as the #5 place in the Western United States for a unique rafting trip – be sure to add this to your Skagit tours itinerary!
Triad River Tours begins the trip at the Marblemount Boat Launch, where you receive a safety talk and prepare equipment. The rafts are then taken upriver to Goodell Creek, where you start the journey. The Skagit River offers a mix of Class 2 and Class 3 rapids, providing an exciting experience for both beginners and families. The trip includes games, discussions about nature and wildlife, and opportunities for swimming. The trip’s highlight is the Class 3 Shovelspur rapids, also known as the S-Bends, which offer an exhilarating but manageable challenge. After the rapids, the river slows down, allowing for relaxation and storytelling. The trip concludes at Copper Creek, where restrooms are available, and the guides shuttle the participants back to their cars in Marblemount. The passage emphasizes the importance of safety, following instructions, and respecting the river while enjoying the adventure. The trip is recommended for those seeking a stress-free and beginner-friendly rafting experience, with options for exploring local cafes and hikes afterward.
Join Pro Guide Wayne Ackerlund for Bald Eagle Scenic Tours, Guided Photography Trips, as well as professionally guided gear-fishing or fly fishing trips for Salmon, Trout, and Steelhead. We offer Washington Steelhead Guide, Washington Salmon Guide as well as Dolly Varden and Cutthroat trout fishing on the Skagit and Sauk rivers.
Want to explore the northernmost national park in the US? The North Cascades National Park was established in 1968 and it encompasses 504,781 acres (2,042.78 km2) of pristine mountains, glaciers, valleys, temperate old-growth forests, rivers, and turquoise-colored lakes.
From I5 take the North Cascades Scenic Highway (SR 20 East), following the Skagit Wild & Scenic River System, for about 75 mi. Along the way, make these stops to see for yourself what makes this park so special:
Once there, you can hike on a variety of trails that suit all hiking levels, swim, kayak, take a boat tour, and camp. During the summer months (when the road is open) you can continue on the Cascade Loop. Or, if you turn around, make sure to stop at Cascadian Organic Farms to sample a delicious scoop of blueberry ice cream.
Summer temperatures can soar into the 90s and 100s, increasing the possibility of forest fires and heat stroke. Track the weather at Diablo, WA to prepare for your trip. Winters with heavy snowfall can cause early road closure of SR 20 and delay its reopening. Check The North Cascades National Park website to plan your visit and for updates on road and trail closures.
Skagit Guided Adventures offers small group Day Tours into the heart of the park to experience its protected wilderness and majestic landscape!
Looking for an outdoor getaway this summer? Visit the rich beauty of the North Cascades through Skagit Tours, brought to you by Seattle City Light, North Cascades Institute, and the North Cascades National Park Service.
Skagit Tours provides a recreational and educational experience for people of all ages. You can choose from four different tours and register for an array of leisure activities throughout the Skagit area: Diablo Lake Boat Tours, North Cascades Explorer Tours, Powerhouse Tours, and Newhalem Walking Tours.
Featured Website: North Cascades Institute
