Hat Island Natural Resources Conservation Area

Coastline view.

Hat Island is one of the eastern most islands in the San Juan group, located in Padilla Bay between Anacortes and Bayview. Douglas fir, Pacific madrone and Pacific yew are the dominant tree species. Passers-by view grass headlands of sloping terraces composed of blue wildrye, red fescue, camas and clover. This 91 acre conservation area provides habitat for bald eagles, seabirds and shorebirds.

Features Protected: Roemer's fescue - field chickweed - Prairie junegrass grassland community, and Douglas-fir/salal-oceanspray forest community
Ecoregion: Puget Trough (Skagit County)

Science, Research and Monitoring

Public and private universities, other research institutions and individual researchers may contact DNR to propose a research project at the site. If you are interested in pursuing research at Hat Island NRCA, contact David Wilderman, natural areas ecologist, at david.wilderman@dnr.wa.gov

View of the island at sunset.

Environmental Education and Public Access

While no formal educational programs are currently available at Hat Island NRCA, the island is ideally located in the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Sanctuary to provide research and education opportunities. The site has no developed public access facilities. For more information, contact the DNR Northwest Region natural areas manager.