Submitted by the Lopez Community Trails Network

Saturday, June 3 is National Trails Day with hundreds of events scheduled around the United States including our own Lopez Island. Each year Lopez Community Trails Network hosts an information booth at the Lopez Farmers Market from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to share our appreciation for trails, local hikes and foster stewardship. This year’s partners will be there and include, San Juan County Parks Department, Washington State Parks, Lopez Island Conservation Corps, San Juan Islands National Monument, San Juan County Land Bank, Public Health and others.

This year’s National Trails Day activities will be a hike through Lopez Hill guided by the San Juan County Land Bank, Lopez Land steward, Tim Clark. This hike starts from the farmer’s market at 2 p.m. There will also be two guided hikes led by members of the Lopez Community Trails Network from the ferry to the village and then back to the ferry. This hike will be mostly off public roads passing through seven private parcels, Odlin Park, and Upright Head Preserve. Check LopezTrails.org for times.

Finally, there’s a local beach cleanup for Iceberg Point. Volunteers can meet at the Market to sign up, carpool and depart the Lopez Village Market by 10:30 a.m.

Come and meet all the partners and your friends who support trails. Also, meet and share with people who would like to create trails to cross our island away from traffic and throughout our scenic island. You can also sign up for an LCTN membership and be eligible for the annual Lopez Walkabout, a hike the length of the entire island (18 miles) usually held at the summer’s end. The walkabout has been a very special event and experience for those who have had the opportunity to walk a portion or even the entire length of this path across public and private lands. Please come by, sign up and be a big part of this year’s National Trails Day event: supporting trails and the benefits trails provide for us all. See ya there.