Little Mountain Park

A trip to Little Mountain Park is sure to be rewarding for everyone, no matter age or ability. There is a new trail to explore for every hike and endless combinations for a different bike ride or trail run each time. Come in the morning for trail running before breakfast. Drive to the summit in the afternoon for a picnic at the south viewpoint overlooking central Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain Range. Or visit the north viewpoint and watch a summer sunset over the San Juan Islands and North Puget Sound. There’s a wheel-chair accessible, interpretive Nature Trail; a paved road taking you from the bottom of the mountain to the picnic area and overlooks at its top; and miles of trails great for hiking, mountain biking, running, or walking your dog.

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South Viewpoint

Located at the summit parking lot, this covered observation deck offers panoramic views of the lower Skagit Valley, Puget Sound, Camano & Whidbey Islands, and Olympic Mountain Range.

© 2016 Peter Wheeler

NATURE TRAIL

This 1/4 mile long, baby-stroller friendly interpretive trail begins at the East Trailhead leading to a bridge crossing over a seasonal creek, a shaded picnic table, and the start of the Cairn Trail which connects to the rest of the Park's trail system. 

NORTH VIEWPOINT

This paraglider styled platform near the summit parking area overlooks the cities of Mount Vernon & Burlington with Padilla Bay, North Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and Mt. Baker beyond.


Little Mountain Park is beautiful and accessible all year long. A lot of the hiking spots areas near the Seattle area get snowed over or become difficult to reach in the winter, but the trails on Little Mountain are always available. Few hiking spots near Seattle contain such a variety of trails and you could spend nearly the whole day on Little Mountain and not hike every one of them. Cascadia Weekly’s Best of Skagit 2016 issue listed Little Mountain Park as Skagit Valley’s best spot for hiking, and that’s true in all seasons.

Experienced mountain bikers can test their skills on the switchbacks on the Bonnie and Clyde’s Trail or Sidewinder, while the La-Z-Boy Trail is great for a leisurely hike or walk up the first mile of the mountain. A trail runner looking for a challenge might consider the Up Only Trail – being one of the steepest climbs in the park, it’s name is both a description and a cautionary tale.


© 2017 Peter Wheeler

HIKING

The Park contains such a variety of hiking trails and you could spend nearly the whole day on Little Mountain and not hike every one of them.

© 2017 Peter Wheeler

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Little Mountain has over 6.5 miles of single-track bike trails plus, there’s the 1.4 mile road for those who prefer a smooth, quick way up to save their energy for the ride down.

© 2017 Peter Wheeler

TRAIL RUNNING

Little Mountain’s trail network is well designed for runners, offering various 5-6 mile “loop” routes with opportunities to change course every half mile, or so.

One of the things that makes the Pacific Northwest great is the dedication local communities all around the Puget Sound give to protecting opportunities for hiking and other outdoor recreation. Little Mountain Park is a great example of that kind of effort.  Since 2009, hundreds of volunteers have spent over 17,000 hours making the park what it is today.

MVPF volunteers have donated over 17,000 man-hours since 2009, building, improving, and maintaining the now 10+ miles of trails at Little Mountain Park. Photo © Peter Wheeler


Photos of Little Mountain Park

Driving Directions to Little Mountain Park

3000 Little Mountain Rd, Mt Vernon, WA 98274

 

MAIN ENTRANCE* | @Little Mountain Park RoaD
48°24'04.3"N 122°18'14.6"W

3000 Little Mountain Rd, Mt Vernon, WA 98274

  • Take Exit 225 / Anderson Road

  • Turn East onto Anderson Road (becomes S. Laventure Rd)

  • Proceed 1.0 Mile to Blackburn Road

  • Turn Right onto Blackburn Road

  • Proceed 0.3 Miles to Little Mountain Road

  • Turn Right onto Little Mountain Road

  • Proceed 0.4 Miles - Little Mountain Park entrance on the Right

*Little Mountain Park Road is open daily from 10:00 AM to Dusk.


 

East TRAILHEAD | @Nature trail
48°23'52.0"N 122°17'41.9"W

  • Take Exit 225 / Anderson Road

  • Turn East onto Anderson Road (becomes S. Laventure Rd)

  • Proceed 1.0 Mile to Blackburn Road

  • Turn Right onto Blackburn Road

  • Proceed 0.3 Miles to Little Mountain Road

  • Turn Right onto Little Mountain Road

  • Proceed 0.9 Miles - East Trailhead on the Right


 

South TRAILHEAD | @silver arrows archery
48°23'07.4"N 122°18'17.8"W

From Interstate 5 Northbound

  • Take Exit 224 / Old 99 S

  • Turn right onto Mt Vernon Rd S/Old Hwy 99 South Rd

  • Proceed 0.1 Miles to Cedardale Road

  • Turn Left onto Cedardale Road

  • Proceed 0.2 Miles to E Hickox Road

  • Turn Right onto E Hickox Road

  • Proceed 1.2 Miles to Silver Arrows Bowmen / Little Mountain Park

  • Turn Left into Parking Area. Look for South Trailhead kiosk ahead.

From Interstate 5 Southbound

  • Take Exit 225 / Anderson Road

  • Turn Left onto Anderson Road

  • Proceed 0.1 Miles to Cedardale Road

  • Turn Right onto Cedardale Road at roundabout

  • Proceed 1 Mile to E Hickox Road

  • Turn Left onto E Hickox Road

  • Proceed 1.2 Miles to Silver Arrows Bowmen / Little Mountain Park

  • Turn Left into Parking Area. Look for South Trailhead kiosk ahead.


When Mount Vernon was created in 1877, it was in the middle of a vast forest and the idea of city parks would have seemed ludicrous.  But when the popular Carpenter’s Creek area was logged off and subsequently devastated, it was obvious that some land required preservation.  On January 16, 1924, citizens of Mount Vernon voted overwhelmingly (547 of 648 votes cast) that the city should purchase a park site.

English Camp 5 crews clear-cut the park area, circa 1915. The Little Mountain forest has been regrowing for the last century.

That same year, the English Logging Company, owned by town co-founder Edward G. English, donated 240-acres of land on and around Little Mountain to be preserved as park land.  In addition, for over four years, Mr. Thomas K Chambers, his wife Nellie G. Chambers and the Women’s Club (of which Mrs. Chambers was president) worked toward arranging further adjacent land donations and purchases that eventually led to a 480-acre park.  Some of the money was raised by salvaging huge cedar stumps from the shores of Carpenter’s Creek and selling the resulting cedar shingles.  On March 20th, 1929, Mrs. Chambers presented the deed to the additional 240-acres to the City Council and was paid one dollar in return.  She requested that the park be named “English Park” in honor of Edward G. English who had been particularly active in promoting the park.

Courtesy Jessica Bylund and Kari Hock, authors of "Mount Vernon: Images of America", Arcadia Publishing 2013

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