Background

High-Level Project Progress

2013

Island organizations' endorsements
GIFT falls under the Guemes Island Library’s 501 (c) 3 status

2014

Trail proposal submitted to Skagit County
Conducted an inventory of all features along the pathway, at Public Works' request

2015

County survey of Guemes Island Road
Anacortes Parks Foundation Grant

2016

Trail included in County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

2017

600 signatures of support

2018

Skagit Land Trust added as a partner; Jack Hartt joins GIFT

2019

Reach $10,00 in donations

2020

SWITMO (Skagit-Whatcom-Island Trail Maintenance Organization) offers their excavator and operators to help with trail construction

2021

Legal documents finalized and signed by all 3 private property owners along the route, providing trail access across their properties.
Trail included in Skagit County's Six Year Transportation Improvement Program.
Completed initial segment of the trail along the Guemes Island General Store with SWITMO's help and a team of island volunteers. This fantastic community effort was documented in an article on the front page of the Skagit Valley Herald.

2022

Skagit County Parks & Recreation Department approves $25,000 for the trail in the 2022 County Parks budget, targeted to cover County-required engineer drawings and construction permits, primarily.

2023

Additional County resources assigned to trail project, bringing expertise in surveying, wetland protection, land use, engineering, and permitting.
Wetlands identified in 2 locations near the trail’s path.
Additional surveying completed to further facilitate trail design, wetland protection, and permitting.

2024

Reach over $30,000 in donations
County engineering drawings completed; broader County review process intitated.

Other

Consulted with the Skagit Council of Governments
Attend many meetings with Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments
Created a website to document the project and inform our audience
Established a bi-annual (at least) newsletter to keep our supporters updated on progress
Conducted many, many (and still conducting) fundraisers and community outreach

Whew! We're getting there!

One step at a time - how appropriate for a trail, right?

And so we keep on keepin' on.......

Partners and Supporters

Since 2013, the Guemes Island Ferry Trail (GIFT) committee has partnered with Skagit County Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments to develop a plan and secure the necessary surveys, drawings, permits, resources, and funding to build the trail.
Jack Hartt joined the GIFT team via Skagit Land Trust. We are grateful to Skagit Land Trust and are fortunate to have Jack’s expertise as an Environmental and Land Use Consultant, Washington State Parks Manager, and published trail aficionado/guru, to provide technical trail support to our team and to act as a liaison between the County and GIFT teams.

GIFT has secured the endorsement and support of the following Island organizations:

Guemes Island Library
Guemes Island Property Owners Association
Guemes Island Community Center Association
Guemes Island Firefighters Association
Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee
Guemes Island Community Church
Guemes Island Environmental Trues

Other trail partners include the Linnemann family, the Omey family, and the Humble family who have all provided legal trail access across their properties.

The support of this project by community organizations and island neighbors is especially meaningful. Your support will benefit the entire Guemes community - and community is what makes this island special and what will make this project a success. Thank you!

Original Trail Proposal

This proposal is for the construction of a trail along Guemes Island Road from South Shore Road at the Guemes Island Ferry dock to Schoolhouse Park, a distance of approximately 1.4 miles. The Guemes Island Ferry Trail (GIFT) committee envisions this pathway to run along the east side and parallel to the road.

Draft Trail Route

The trail layout at the link below is a draft and subject to change based on future conversations with the owners of the multiple private parcels involved, with employees of the Skagit County Planning, Public Works, and Parks departments, with the public, and with GIFT members.

County Survey #1

County Survey #2

SWITMO

Volunteers Digging In!

Volunteers - You Rock!

Initial Segment Along the Store

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