Need a break from the outbreak? Want to do a little bird watching? Need to exercise those large skeletal muscles? How about the tranquility that comes from hearing only the sound of wind in the trees and birdsong in a setting that could have been lifted straight out of The Wind in the Willows? We’ve got your venue just inland from the Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Area. It’s known as Wiley Slough, and the cost of admission is a Discover Pass.

From wherever you are in the Magic Skagit, Wiley Slough is probably just minutes away. Take Interstate 5 to Exit 221, just south of Mount Vernon. Go west from the freeway and turn right on to Fir Island Road, following the sign for Conway/La Conner. In 1.8 miles, turn left onto Wylie Road and follow for 1 mile to a T-intersection and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sign. Turn left and follow the signs to either of the two parking lots. Bring your binoculars and your Audubon Guide. You’re going to see some birds.

The AllTrails website describes Wiley Slough Trail as “a 2.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Conway, Washington that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September.”

There are a plenty of great places to hike in the Skagit Valley while social distancing, but it’s hard to beat Wiley Slough based on the sheer number and diversity of the feathered friends you’re likely to encounter. In fact, according to the website eBird, there were no fewer than 150 different species recorded since the beginning of this year. The sightings include a variety of gulls, golden and bald eagles, American kestrels, ring-necked pheasants, ruddy ducks, western meadowlarks, tundra swans, cormorants, Eurasian wigeons, peregrine falcons, Vaux’s swifts, barred owls, western tanagers, blue winged teals, hairy woodpeckers, purple martins, yellow headed blackbirds…the list goes on and on.

Whenever my wife and I have hiked Wiley Slough we’ve been treated to the sight of nesting bald eagles; and during our most recent excursion, a bald eagle swooped down low and slow, settled on a tree in front of us, and commenced grooming. It’s times like these when a good pair of spotting glasses can get you up close and personal with our nation’s emblematic raptor. That sight alone is worth paying the additional bucks for a Discover Pass when it comes time to renew your vehicle registration. 

On your way home from an invigorating stroll amidst the aquatic splendors of Wiley Slough you might consider stopping at Snow Goose Produce to pick up dinner — or indulge in what the fresh produce stand describes as an “immodest” scoop of ice cream served on a freshly homemade waffle cone. Trust me, one scoop is all you’ll want if you have any intention of doing justice to dinner. And if you’re looking for a little something on tap, the Rexville Grocery is just a minute or two further up Best Road as you head in the direction of La Conner. It’s nice to know that for less than the cost of a cheap date, relief from a sudden case of cabin fever is close at hand.

Stay safe…it’s a crazy world out there!