The Heart of San Juan Island Opens for Public Access June 15th!

Saturday, June 15, the heart of San Juan Island officially opens for day-use public access. Over nearly 20 years, the Land Bank has endeavored to conserve portions of Cady Mountain - piecing together six separate transactions between 2003 - 2022, culminating in 470 acres protected.

Identified by The Nature Conservancy as an important climate resiliency area, the 2021 addition boasts high diversity wildflower areas along with extensive Madrona and Douglas-fir forest and several intermittent streams and was the key piece to providing trail connection from Cady Mountain Preserve to the National Historical Park’s English Camp and Roche Harbor Highlands trails system.

The Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust partnered on the 2021 addition to the Cady Mountain conservation area - joining forces, funds, and each other’s complementary strengths to protect the property. Through the San Juan Preservation Trust, 50 donors contributed over $500,000 to help the project succeed.

Meander the Preserve’s 1.5-mile trail from the new trailhead at Three Corner Lake Road to the scenic lookout above West Valley Road on your own or join a scheduled guided tour! Tour details can be found on the Land Bank’s online calendar. (link below)

Due to limited on-site parking, the Land Bank has organized a roundtrip shuttle bus from Friday Harbor to the Preserve. You can catch the shuttle at the County Courthouse parking area located at the corner of Second Street and Blair Avenue. The shuttle will pick up and drop off on the half hour, starting at 10:45 am.