Explore Skagit Valley in Spring - Visit Skagit Valley - North Cascades National Park to Farmlands to Salish Sea

Explore Skagit Valley in Spring

People visit Skagit Valley in spring from over 85 countries.  If you live in Seattle, Vancouver, BC, or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, we have the perfect Spring Road Trip planned for you with a simple drive!

  1. Watch our Skagit Road Trip video by clicking the PLAY button!
  2. Check out the Skagit Loop itinerary from either Seattle or Vancouver BC (from the south or the north).
  3. Listen to the LOOP music mix and let’s go and Read our Spring Road Trip blog post by Scott Kranz!

Skagit Roadtrip Loop via Seattle – Hop off I-5 at exit 221 and venture west through Conway and Fir Island, passing a thousand acres of daffodils and tulips.  Stop off in La Conner to enjoy museums and the boardwalk along the channel.  Before you go, check out the La Conner Daffodil Festival and Skagit Valley Tulip Festival bloom map and events, and pick up a Skagit Farm to Pint passport if you enjoy craft beer!
TIP: Look for the biggest ice cream cone in the valley along the way to La Conner.
TIP: Rent or bring your bike and ride from La Conner to Mount Vernon, visiting breweries and wineries along the way.
TIP: Check out the waterfront park and Pioneer Park.

After La Conner, meander north past historic barns and farm stands and catch Hwy 20 west to Fidalgo Island and Anacortes, where you can ditch your car for a “lowland” hike in the Anacortes Forest Lands – the early spring flowers at Whistle Lake are beautiful.  Don’t forget to drive over Deception Pass Bridge and explore the beautiful beaches on the Salish Sea!
TIP:  Don’t miss the Anacortes Spring Wine Festival.
TIP:  Pick up an Anacortes Community Forest Lands trail map if you want to explore more.  You can ride your bike on many of the trails too.  Free Deception Pass maps right over the bridge.
TIP: Book a tour:  Deception Pass Boat Tours, Whale Watching Tours, Fishing Tours, Scuba Tours

Next, head east on Hwy 20 and then north to the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center and onto the quirky town of Edison.  From Edison, head up Chuckanut Drive for an amazing hike to Samish Outlook or Oyster Dome.
TIP:  See how many eagles you can count along the way to Edison and tell everyone you hiked on the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT).
TIP:  Visit a shellfish farm and eat some oysters.
TIP: Pick up a baguette of bread in Edison.

Let’s head to the uplands! Grab provisions in Burlington and head east on Hwy 20 to the old logging town of Sedro-Woolley.  Stop in for a stroll through the historic downtown, or walk or bike part of the 22.5-mile Cascade Trail.  Next, continue east and look out for the Elk viewing field and then drive a bit further up-valley to Concrete and Marblemount and hike around Rasar State Park and Rockport State Park.
TIP: Rasar State Park has a great beach on the Skagit River to enjoy lunch.
TIP: Baker Lake is stunning, with many spring hike offerings.
TIP: Outlet mall in Burlington

Follow Hwy 20 back down the Valley and take I-5 or Burlington Blvd to Mount Vernon to enjoy the Skagit Riverwalk park in historic downtown.
TIP: Check out local foods at the Co-op and the Farmers Market
TIP: See what’s happening at the historic Lincoln Theatre
TIP: Drive or hike to the top of Little Mountain to view the fields of flowers, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympics from 934 feet up.

The Skagit Valley Road Trip loop is designed for a weekend.  Check out our Places to Stay from Hotels, to cozy B&B’s to Farm Stays!

Skagit Roadtrip Loop via Vancouver, BC – Catch Hwy 20 at Exit 230 and head east to the old logging town of Sedro-Woolley. Stop in for a stroll through the historic downtown, or walk or bike part of the 22.5-mile Cascade Trail.  Next, continue east and look out for the Elk viewing field and then drive a bit further up-valley to Concrete and Marblemount and hike around Rasar State Park and Rockport State Park.
TIP: Rasar State Park has a great beach on the Skagit River to enjoy lunch.
TIP: Baker Lake is stunning, with many spring hike offerings.
TIP: Outlet mall in Burlington

Follow Hwy 20 back down the valley to Burlington and grab provisions in Burlington. Afterward, take I-5 or Burlington Blvd to Mount Vernon to enjoy the Skagit Riverwalk park in historic downtown.
TIP: Check out local foods at the Mount Vernon Co-op and the Farmers Market
TIP: See what’s happening at the historic Lincoln Theatre
TIP: Drive or hike to the top of Little Mountain to view the fields of flowers, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympics from 934 feet up.

Catch I-5 south for a few miles, take exit 221 to Conway, and venture west through Conway and Fir Island, passing a thousand acres of daffodils and tulips.  Stop off in La Conner to enjoy museums and the boardwalk along the channel.  Before you go, check out the La Conner Daffodil Festival and Skagit Valley Tulip Festival bloom map and events!
TIP: Look for the biggest ice cream cone in the valley along the way to La Conner.
TIP: Rent or bring your bike and ride from La Conner to Mount Vernon, visiting breweries and wineries along the way.
TIP: Enjoy lunch at the waterfront park right below Pioneer Park

After La Conner, meander north past historic barns and farm stands and catch Hwy 20 west to Fidalgo Island and Anacortes, where you can ditch your car for a “lowland” hike in the Anacortes Forest Lands – the early spring flowers at Whistle Lake are beautiful.  Don’t forget to drive over Deception Pass Bridge and explore the beautiful beaches on the Salish Sea!
TIP:  Don’t miss the Anacortes Spring Wine Festival.
TIP:  Buy an Anacortes Community Forest Lands trail map if you want to explore more.  You can ride your bike on many of the trails too.
TIP: Book a tour:  Deception Pass Boat Tours, Whale Watching Tours, Fishing Tours, Scuba Tours

Next, head east on Hwy 20 and then north to the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center and then onto the quirky town of Edison.  From Edison, head up Chuckanut Drive for an amazing hike to Samish Outlook or Oyster Dome. Then take Chuckanut Drive back to I-5 to head for home.
TIP:  See how many eagles you can count along the way to Edison and tell everyone you hiked on the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT).
TIP:  Eat some oysters.
TIP: Pick up a baguette of bread in Edison.

The Skagit Valley Road Trip loop is designed for a weekend.  Check out our Places to Stay from Hotels, to cozy B&B’s to Farm Stays!

Skagit Valley in Spring Tours, Events and Things to Do

skagit valley in spring

 

March: Elk Field Viewing
March: Snow Geese and Swan Viewing
March: La Conner Daffodil Festival
April: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April: Anacortes Spring Wine Festival
March-April: Bike Tours
March-May: Sea Kayaking Tours
March-May: Salish Sea Boat & Fishing/Crabbing Charters
March-May: Stand-Up Paddle Boat Tours
March-May: Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Tours
March-May: Breweries, Distilleries, Wineries
April – May: Whale Watching and Porpoise Tours
April – May: Deception Pass Boat Tours
April – May: Farmers Markets
April – May: Take a Ferry Ride
May: Skagit River Poetry Festival