Spencer Island

Although I've never listed an urban hike on this site, I'm making an exception for the Spencer Island trail because of its amazing diversity of wildlife so close to a big city.
The trailhead for Spencer Island is situated in the Snohomish River estuary between Everett and Marysville, less than five miles from the center of either town. This was formerly farmland and cattle grazing, but the dikes were breached in the 1990's, exposing the site once again to tidal influence and creating over 400 acres of marshland.
Follow the signs for Langus Park, but instead of parking at the end of the paved road, follow the gravel road another 1/4/ mile and park in the small lot next to the sewage treatment plant. From here it's another 1/4 mile walk to the bridge across Union Slough that is the park entrance, but keep your eyes open on the way and you'll probably see ducks, coots and herons enjoying the small ponds along the road.
From here there is a 3 1/2 mile loop, crossing the center of the marsh and following the outline of the southern half (the northern half is used for hunting in season, and the breached dike no longer allows you to get all the way around, but short spurs can be explored on the east and west sides), with Steamboat Slough to the east and Union Slough to the west. Note the many boats parked along Steamboat Slough, an array of vessels from a century old wrecked barge to a modern working tugboat to craft of varying sizes and purposes, from small pleasure boats to improvised housebaots.
The marsh is home to resident and migratory waterfowl, and raptors abound, because of the plentiful food sources and the numerous perches that were created when the salty tidal waters that were reintroduced killed a number of trees along the marshes edge. I seldom visit here without seeing eagles, osprey and hawks. There are also river otter, beaver, racoons, coyotes and deer. The marsh is rearing ground to juvenille salmon and the sloughs contain sturgeon.
The best time to see some of the more shy residents, like otters and deer, is at first light, but birds are there throughout the day. Just remember to stay on the trail, especially during the spring nesting season, and leave rover at home since dogs are not allowed here. The best time to have solitude is also early in the morning, especially weekdays, when we usually have the park to ourselves.
If you want to extend your hike, nearby Langus Park has a 3 mile paved trail along the Snohomish River and Union Slough, ending at the entrance to Spenser Island for a 7 mile loop hike of both parks if you begin at the Langus parking lot and return via the gravel road.