On a recent, quick, surprise trip to Washington State, we hiked the out and back 4.4 mile Padilla Bay Shore Trail.
This moderately trafficked multi-use trail is easy and would be a fun way to learn about shore life (husband remembers visiting here on a school road trip years and years and year and years ago 😛 Ok, not THAT many years ago. We’re still kind of young…ish.).
Those aren’t pebbles… gastropods (aka sea snails) can be found everywhere when the tide is out.
Remnants of an old dock and sweeping views of Padilla Bay, with Anacortes on Fidalgo Island in the distance.
The Padilla Bay Shore Trail borders a farm on its east, with the ocean on its west side. This old building is what remains of what was known as a ‘stump farm’, which was land purchased cheaply after the area was logged (early 1900s) then converted into a farm.
Photography tip: forget your zoom lens at home and you’re guaranteed to see a Great Blue Heron, which will look tiny on a wide angle lens. 🙄
Padilla Bay Shore Trail Overview
- Coordinates: 48.480324, -122.473060
- Fees: FREE
- Length: 4.4mi Out & Back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Usage: Moderate
- Pets allowed: Yes, on leash
- Camera info: Canon 6D, Canon 16-35 2.8L II
