When Rasar State Park opened to the public eight years ago, it didn’t take long for it to build an adoring base of visitors. With almost a mile of frontage on the glacial-fed Skagit River, four miles of trails, 41 campsites, shelters and facilities friendly to both children and the disabled, how could the park not be popular?
Its location, only 20 miles east of Mount Vernon and its year-round offerings, also make it a favorite destination.
Rasar serves as an example of how good planning and designing can also enhance a park’s desirability. Occupying land that formerly served as pasture and woodlots, planners set out to develop a park that was sensitive to the environment while retaining some historic uses.
Parts of the park remain a working farm, preserving scenic views and keeping land open for wildlife. Campsites were developed in the second growth forest. The sites are well-spaced with plenty of regenerating forest surrounding them. Aesthetically this park is a gem: Structures were constructed reflecting the architecture of the CCC-era but fully modernized so that all citizens (young and old, robust and challenged) can enjoy them.
Rasar’s location in the lower Skagit Valley means that it sees very little snow during the winter months. Therefore, the campground remains open all year, offering a quiet retreat during this time of year. There are two Adirondack (3-sided) shelters available if your tent isn’t quite waterproof. And, as in many state parks, there are utility sites if you prefer to RV.
Rasar is named for the family that donated a majority of the 169-acre property to the state in 1986. But we Northwesterners aren’t the only ones who benefit from the family’s generosity. Hundreds of bald eagles call the Skagit River Valley home from early fall to early winter. Rasar protects important habitat for them and other wild critters such as deer, elk, muskrat, otter, elk and a wide array of birds.
Whether you enjoy bird watching, fishing or merely peaceful nights under the stars, you will find it all at Rasar – especially during the quiet solitude of winter.
– Craig Romano of Seattle is the Trails Editor for Outdoors NW. |
