Adventure Speaker Series: The talk will be led by Rudy Giecek, known for his “Cascade Hiker” podcast, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11, Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St., Marysville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Entry is $5 at the door. Call 360-363-8400 or go to www.marysvillewa.gov.
Snowshoeing basics: Get a rundown on snowshoeing at a free workshop at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at Alderwood REI, 3000 184th St. SW, Suite 952, Lynnwood. REI staff will go over gear selection and where to go to get started. Space is limited. More at www.rei.com/events.
Lynnwood Fly Fishing Show: New rods, reels, gadgets and tools will be on display at the eighth annual Lynnwood Fly Fishing Show, Feb. 15-16 at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. The event will also include seminars, casting demonstrations, fly-tying and films. Tickets are $15 for one day and $25 for two days; active military with ID is $10. More at www.flyfishingshow.com or call 814-443-3638.
Green Everett: The next Green Everett Partnership work party is from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 15 at Johnston-Kelly Park, 49th Street SW and Forrest Drive, Everett. Help improve Everett’s parks and natural areas by removing invasive species, planting trees and maintaining plants. The Green Everett Partnership is a collaboration between the city parks department and Forterra, formerly the Cascade Land Conservancy. Call 425-238-0065 or go to www.greeneverett.org.
Day hike: Join the Everett Hiking & Backpacking Committee on Feb. 16 for on an easy walk along North Creek Trail in Everett. The hike is 4.8 miles, but it will be a slow pace with time to look for wildlife or take pictures. Meet at 9 a.m. at McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. Bring an umbrella if it’s raining. RSVP at www.mountaineers.org.
Get wild: The Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks, hosts presentations the third Wednesday of the month. The next presentation, “Firewise Gardening and Habitats,” is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Island County Multi-Purpose Center, 141 NE Camano Drive, Camano Island. Kristin Marshall, senior habitat restoration specialist with the Snohomish Conservation District, will give tips for how to reduce the extent of wildifre damage to homes and backyard wildlife habitats. Call 360-387-2236 or go to www.camanowildlifehabitat.org.
Basic snowshoe: Join the Everett Snowshoe Program on a 7.5-mile snowshoe hike Feb. 22 along Mountain Loop Highway. The hike will include a 1,300-foot elevation gain and narrow trail that follows a creek up to the base of Bald Mountain. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the Marten Creek Trailhead, about 9 miles past Verlot Public Service Center, 33515 Mountain Loop Highway, Granite Falls. More at www.mountaineers.org.
The Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival: This event, set for Feb. 22-23, focuses on migratory birds. See wintering trumpeter swans and snow geese in the Stanwood area, as well as on Fir Island near Conway. Sign up for birding classes, seminars and bus tours. More at www.snowgoosefest.org.
Free park-ing: The next day to visit Washington state parks in 2020 without an entrance fee is March 9 (the state park system’s 107th birthday). Other free dates are March 19 (State Park’s 107th birthday), April 11 (Spring Day), April 22 (Earth Day), June 6 (National Trails Day), June 7 (Fishing Day), June 13 (National Get Outdoors Day), Aug. 25 (National Park Service’s 104th birthday), Sept. 26 (National Public Lands Day), Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) and Nov. 27 (Autumn Day). More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Snowshoe treks: The U.S. Forest Service is leading interpretive snowshoe walks Fridays through Sundays through March 29 at Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass and the Big Four Picnic Area near Granite Falls. The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Snowshoe Program is for all ages and experience levels. Snowshoes are provided. Call 425-783-6050 or go to www.fs.usda.gov/mbs for more information.
Wallace Falls State Park: Washington State Parks recently installed a parking lot camera at the popular state park near Gold Bar off U.S. 2. The parking lot often exceeds capacity during high volumes of traffic at certain times of the year. View the camera at www.parks.state.wa.us/289/Wallace-Falls.
Big Four Ice Caves Trail: The U.S. Forest Service has closed the popular 3.2-mile hiking trail for the season. Erosion damage to a footbridge crossing the South Fork Stillaguamish River led rangers to remove a section of the bridge on the trail. The Big Four Picnic Area and elevated boardwalks may still be used at this time, but the seasonal winter closure will close vehicle access to the trailhead in the near future. More at www.fs.usda.gov.
Find your favorite park: The Washington State Parks Foundation has launched a new website designed as a starting point for outdoor adventures. The website features an interactive map of Washington’s 124 state parks, along with virtual tours, park information and trip reports. Virtual tours provide a 360-degree view with navigational tools and a walk-through of state parks, trails, campgrounds, retreat centers, interpretive centers and vacation houses. More at www.waparks.org.
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