Hayton Reserve

Photography

Best light

Morning lightOvercast

Recommended focal length

400–800mm

• Snow geese and swans use the fields from fall through early spring; white birds on gray days need a careful histogram so the highlights don't blow out.
• A flock lifting on its own is the photo to wait for. Never walk toward birds to make them fly.
• Shorebirds work the restored estuary; a rising tide can push them closer to the dike.
• Leave before dark. The unit closes at dusk, which cuts off the end of the winter evening window.

Access

Parking

WDFW lot on the south side of Fir Island Road, about 2.7 miles west of the South Fork Skagit River bridge in Conway.

Trails

A short, flat dike-top trail with benches looks over the restored estuary and Skagit Bay. Part of the trail is paved.

Restrictions

• A Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass is required.
• The unit is a game reserve: hunting and trapping are prohibited here, though neighboring land is hunted from mid-October through late January.
• Closed during hours of darkness.
• Stay on the entrance road, parking area and dike trail. The fields and estuary are closed so the birds can feed undisturbed.

Before you go

• Lens: 400–800mm. Pack spare batteries; cold drains them fast.
• Review the access restrictions above and any posted closures.
• Check the weather and, on the shoreline, the tide forecast.
• Keep a respectful distance. If an animal changes its behavior, you're too close.