A three-hour tree walk at Moran State Park with Carson

Saturday, July 8, 2023, 9am-12pm

Take a hike 400 years back in time and learn how some of the most amazing and majestic forests in Western Washington were formed. This walk will progress up Cold Springs for about 1.5 miles then back down. Bring extra water and snacks and be prepared to see some giant trees.

We’ll meet at 9am at the base of the Cold Springs Trail, near the Cascade Lake parking area in Moran State Park. Our walk will take us out and back on the Cold Springs Trail, about 3 miles round trip with approximately 1,100′ of elevation gain. On the way, we’ll learn about dendrology, forest ecology, and the old-growth forests of the San Juan Islands.

Your guide is Carson Sprenger, a local expert on fire ecology and the old growth forests of the San Juans. Carson has lived in San Juan County for most of his life and has been studying and working in these amazing forests for over 20 years. He has an M.S. in Forest Ecology from the University of Washington, is an adjunct professor at Western Washington University, and the owner and director of Rain Shadow Consulting.