Outdoor classes and activities in and around Snohomish County

Published 1:30 am Sunday, January 22, 2017

Eagle watch: See hundreds of eagles on the winter salmon runs. Weekends through Jan. 22, volunteers with the Eagle Watchers program will be posted along the upper Skagit River to help visitors learn more about the wintering bald eagle population. Volunteers will be available to answer questions about bald eagles, salmon and the Skagit watershed at Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 52804 Rockport Park Road, Rockport, and the Marblemount Fish Hatchery, 8319 Fish Hatchery Road, Marblemount, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Binoculars and spotting scopes available for visitor use. For information, go to www.fs.usda.gov/mbs.

Free park-ing: State Parks free day dates for 2017 are: March 19 (State Park’s 104th birthday), April 15, April 22, June 3, June 10, Aug. 25 (National Park Service 101st birthday), Sept. 30, Nov. 11 and Nov. 24. Discover Pass not required to visit parks on designated days by vehicle. More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

Grizzly: The Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center will host a grizzly bear restoration presentation at 1 p.m. Jan. 29, 52809 Rockport Park Road, Rockport. Fewer than 10 grizzly bears are left in the North Cascades, making it the most at-risk bear population in North America. Learn more about the future of this threatened species and steps that can be taken to ensure a healthy outcome. Free. RSVP requested. Hosted by the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport and sponsored by the Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Coalition. The Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center is open weekends through January during the peak of bald eagle migration and provides opportunities to learn about the Skagit River ecosystem. There are still bald eagles are on the Stillaguamish River. More at www.skagiteagle.org; srbeatic@frontier.com; 360-853-7626.

Recreate: The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington on President’s Day, Feb. 20. The waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trailheads and visitor centers. Fees for camping, cabin rentals, heritage expeditions or other permits still apply. The fee waiver does not apply to SnoParks, although they might be located on national public lands. Other free days are: National Trails Day, June 3; National Get Outdoors Day, June 10; National Public Lands Day, Sept. 30; Veterans Day Weekend, Nov. 11-12. More at www.fs.usda.gov.

Snowshoe with a ranger: Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass, the Mountain Loop Highway and Glacier. Times and dates vary by location. All skill levels welcome. Trips for special events and school groups can also be scheduled. Reservations are required though same-day sign-ups are possible; snowshoes are provided. More at www.fs.usda.gov/mbs.

Winter Starlight Beach Walks: Discover the creatures that live in the beach by joining the adventure of nighttime low tide exploration under the stars at the Edmonds beach walk, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Feb. 7. Meet at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station, 200 Admiral Way, Edmonds. Sponsored by WSU Beach Watchers and the Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee. Hot beverages provided. Bring a flashlight and wear warm layers, rain gear and sturdy footwear or rubber boots. For information, contact Yolimar Rivera at yolimar.rivera@wsu.edu or call 425-357-6029. No need to RSPV. Free street parking.

Permits: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is taking applications for long-term priority use permits for outfitting and guiding services to operate for up to 10 years. Services needed for mountaineering and climbing, skill and rescue training, backcountry skiing and snowboarding, stock trips, environmental education, hunting and snowmobiling. Priority deadline is Jan. 31 with applications accepted until Feb. 17. More at www.fs.usda.gov.

Parks open: More than 90 state parks will remain open (at least on weekends and holidays) for winter camping and day use this season. About 18 other parks will close until spring. For winter schedules online: parks.state.wa.us/158/Winter-Schedule. Even if a park is open, it might have its water shut off, fewer open restrooms and some boat launches removed. Most parks offer off-season rates. Deception Pass State Park is still taking camp reservations. Go to www.parks.state.wa.us and follow link to “reservations.” Some parks have yurts and cabins. For more: www.parks.state.wa.us/yurts andcabins.