Skagit Headquarters

Skagit Headquarters is a popular boat launch located on Freshwater Slough in Mount Vernon, providing convenient access to the Skagit Estuary and Skagit Bay. The site features an ADA-accessible loading ramp alongside the standard boat ramp, making it suitable for a range of paddlers and boaters. This access point serves as the primary gateway to the Island Unit, which is accessible only by water, as well as portions of the Skagit River estuary.

From this launch, paddlers can explore extensive waterways including tidal sloughs, salt marshes, and shallow water habitats. The nearby Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses over 11,000 acres of seagrass meadows, tidal flats, and sloughs, offering scenic paddling opportunities. Note that this area is popular for waterfowl hunting, so paddlers should be aware of seasonal hunting activity and take appropriate safety precautions, particularly during hunting season.