Scenic landscape with tall pine trees, grassy fields, and a cloudy blue sky.

Beaverton Marsh Preserve

A peaceful wetland sanctuary rich in wildlife, wildflowers, and forested trails!

Green tree icons, one with a pine shape and one with a round canopy, on a white background.
Silhouette of a green bird perched on a branch against a white background.
Simple green flower icon with three blossoms on white background.
Trail signs in a forest for the "Red-Tail Trail" and humorous dog sign. The trail sign features a bird and the dog sign humorously reminds dog owners to keep dogs on a leash.
Forest pathway with trees and a moss-covered rock.
Entrance sign at Beaverton Marsh Preserve beside a wooden boardwalk surrounded by trees and vegetation.

The Land Bank’s Beaverton Marsh Preserve is the largest wetland complex on San Juan Island—and likely in all of San Juan County. This protected area offers a peaceful hiking experience through dense forest, wetland edges, and open areas that change dramatically with the seasons. It’s an excellent spot for birdwatching and quiet nature walks, with frequent sightings of great blue herons, wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds, and black-tailed deer.

Trails wind through forested areas and along the marsh’s edge, where visitors can spot seasonal changes in vegetation and wildlife activity. In spring and early summer, wildflowers such as common camas, buttercups, and shooting stars brighten the rocky balds, drawing butterflies and other pollinators. Salmonberries line many trails, offering a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife. Most trails are flat and easy to navigate, making the preserve well-suited for families and casual walkers. Bicycles and horses are allowed on most trails.

A recent addition to the preserve, the Redtail Trail, is a half-mile gravel loop that connects directly to John O. Linde Community Park via a 72-foot boardwalk. This scenic route offers sweeping valley views and provides convenient, car-free access from Friday Harbor. It also marks the beginning of a broader effort to link San Juan Island’s trail systems more closely with town.

Trail Details

Distance: Varies, with easy walking loops and wetland access points

Difficulty: Easy; mostly flat trails with minimal elevation change

Family-Friendly: Yes, ideal for nature walks and wildlife viewing and dogs are allowed on leash

How to Get There: Access the main preserve via Halvorsen Road off Roche Harbor Road; parking available at the trailhead
The Redtail Trail is accessed from John O. Linde Community Park via a 72-foot boardwalk.

Facilities: No restrooms or picnic areas at the main preserve. Restrooms and picnic tables are available at John O. Linde Community Park, which provides access to the Redtail Trail.

Accessibility: Some trails may be seasonally muddy. The Redtail Trail offers a gently graded, accessible gravel path suitable for a wide range of users.

Features: Expansive marshlands, forested trails, excellent birdwatching, diverse wildlife, and seasonal wildflowers including camas, buttercups, and shooting stars

Moss-covered rocks with pink wildflowers in a forest setting, surrounded by green foliage and trees.
Forest path with tall trees and green foliage under a blue sky with clouds.