Trip Report: Northern State Recreation Area
This recreation area is nestled in the fertile valleys outside of the town of Sedro-Woolley at the foot of the North Cascades. It was a state asylum "farm" that was in operation from 1909 until 1973, when most of the property was closed and later turned over to become a recreation area filled with hiking/walking trails and a disc golf course. You can explore the remains of the old dairy buildings near the parking lot, or you can walk further afield and find a few more ruins sprinkled around the property, namely old electrical sheds and a creepy pump house. For a somewhat sunny December hike with no snow, this was an easy choice. It is actually more strolling than hiking, considering that the majority of the trails are old road beds and there is no elevation gain. There are some pretty areas that feel more "wild" if you follow the main road/trail and bypass the bridge that leads to the area of the hospital that is still in use. Back here, we found a prett