Cady Mountain

Cady Mountain offers a quiet, forested trail system rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. Located in the heart of San Juan Island, this area is part of one of the largest contiguous conservation areas in the archipelago—an “island within an island” where wildlife and deep-forest species can thrive.

The 2021 addition to the Cady Mountain Preserve, acquired by the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, expanded this protected area by 142 acres and now serves as a key link in a broader trail network. It connects Cady Mountain to the National Historical Park’s English Camp, Mitchell Hill, and the Roche Harbor Highlands, providing hikers with access to a wide range of backcountry terrain.

Identified by The Nature Conservancy as an important climate resiliency area, this landscape includes high-diversity wildflower meadows, extensive Douglas fir and madrona forests, intermittent streams, and habitats that support a range of native plants and wildlife. Along the trail, hikers may encounter calypso orchids, satinflower, prairie star, and shooting stars, along with healthy stands of Western red cedar and Western hemlock. A highlight of the trail is a single, ancient Pacific Yew—estimated to be 250 years old—marking the path like a quiet sentinel.

While the trail does not reach the mountain’s summit, it offers a deeply immersive experience through one of San Juan Island’s most ecologically significant and mature woodland environments. Mossy rock outcrops, lush undergrowth, and occasional west-facing viewpoints create a peaceful, varied hiking experience.

Access is available from the Cady Mountain Trailhead on Three Corner Lake Road (off Egg Lake Road). Trail users can explore short loops or extend their adventure through the connected network of forests, wetlands, ridges, and historical sites.