The Baker Preserve
History of the Baker Mountain Ranch
Located on the west flank of Lummi Mountain, this property was originally owned by Frank Wright’s Lummi Island Land Company. Frey and Estrid Baker purchased the property circa 1940. The land was passed on to their children. Today, Charles Baker raises sheep and cattle, logs and quarries the land. He lives in the historic farmhouse, which boasts a basement built with original fish trap timbers.
The Baker Mountain Ranch Campaign
Over a period of many years, The Heritage Trust worked with the Baker family to carefully determine the best way to preserve the conservation values of the land, while allowing agriculture and forestry activities. In 2007, Lummi Island Heritage Trust, the San Juan Preservation Trust, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife succeeded in permanently protecting the 435 acre Baker Ranch on the west side of Lummi Island. This conservation partnership raised the $3.67 million necessary to complete the project with the help of Heritage Trust and Preservation Trust members, state and federal grants, and a league of private donors.
The Baker Ranch was one of the largest and most visible unprotected shoreline properties in the San Juan Islands. The Ranch includes a diverse mix of old growth and mature forest, grassy balds, wetlands, farmland, and over one mile of saltwater shoreline. Today, conservation easements limit development of the 435 acre property and ensure permanent protection of the land's natural values. The San Juan Preservation Trust holds conservation easements on 355 acres and the Department of Fish and Wildlife holds a conservation easement on the remainder of the property.
This conservation partnership has created a contiguous protected area of more than 1,000 acres on the wild western coastline of Lummi Island. Thank you to all who helped make this extraordinary land conservation effort possible!
Located on the west flank of Lummi Mountain, this property was originally owned by Frank Wright’s Lummi Island Land Company. Frey and Estrid Baker purchased the property circa 1940. The land was passed on to their children. Today, Charles Baker raises sheep and cattle, logs and quarries the land. He lives in the historic farmhouse, which boasts a basement built with original fish trap timbers.
The Baker Mountain Ranch Campaign
Over a period of many years, The Heritage Trust worked with the Baker family to carefully determine the best way to preserve the conservation values of the land, while allowing agriculture and forestry activities. In 2007, Lummi Island Heritage Trust, the San Juan Preservation Trust, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife succeeded in permanently protecting the 435 acre Baker Ranch on the west side of Lummi Island. This conservation partnership raised the $3.67 million necessary to complete the project with the help of Heritage Trust and Preservation Trust members, state and federal grants, and a league of private donors.
The Baker Ranch was one of the largest and most visible unprotected shoreline properties in the San Juan Islands. The Ranch includes a diverse mix of old growth and mature forest, grassy balds, wetlands, farmland, and over one mile of saltwater shoreline. Today, conservation easements limit development of the 435 acre property and ensure permanent protection of the land's natural values. The San Juan Preservation Trust holds conservation easements on 355 acres and the Department of Fish and Wildlife holds a conservation easement on the remainder of the property.
This conservation partnership has created a contiguous protected area of more than 1,000 acres on the wild western coastline of Lummi Island. Thank you to all who helped make this extraordinary land conservation effort possible!
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Creating the Baker Preserve
An 80 acre portion of the Baker Ranch is now owned by Lummi Island Heritage Trust. A member of the Baker family will continue to manage the rest of the property, which is not open to the public. At the end of the landowner’s lifetime, approximately 269 acres of the Ranch will be added to the Baker Preserve. Planning for the Baker Preserve began at the culmination of the Baker Mountain Ranch conservation project. Today, the 129 acre Baker Preserve includes 49 acres previously owned by the organization. Lummi Island Heritage Trust developed a Baker Preserve Management Plan to ensure protection of the Preserve's sensitive wildlife and habitats, while providing low impact public access. A trail rises 1,050 feet over 1.6 miles to a high cliff on the western face of Lummi Mountain. The southern boundary of the Baker Preserve borders Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife land. At the end of the Baker trail, there is an overlook on WDFW land that provides spectacular views of Rosario Strait and the San Juan Islands. |
The WA Natural Heritage Council has designated the WDFW land and the Baker Preserve as a Natural Area Preserve (NAP). Natural Area Preserves protect priority species and ecosystems. NAP sites are in remarkably good ecological condition and are extremely important to the survival of rare plant and animal species.
The Baker Preserve is the Heritage Trust's first controlled-access preserve. Due to the ecological sensitivity and sometimes, hazardous terrain, hikers are required to sign in at the trailhead before accessing the Baker Preserve trail. Dogs are prohibited. Camping either on the Baker Preserve or WDFW land is prohibited. Fire of any kind is an extreme hazard on the island and is strictly prohibited.
The Baker Preserve is the Heritage Trust's first controlled-access preserve. Due to the ecological sensitivity and sometimes, hazardous terrain, hikers are required to sign in at the trailhead before accessing the Baker Preserve trail. Dogs are prohibited. Camping either on the Baker Preserve or WDFW land is prohibited. Fire of any kind is an extreme hazard on the island and is strictly prohibited.
Baker Preserve – Seacrest Drive, about 1/3 mile south of the Sunrise Road intersection, on right. A trail map is posted in the kiosk. This is a vigorous hike up a steep, winding trail. The hike is 1.64 miles to an overlook with views of the San Juan Islands. Sign-in at the trailhead kiosk is required to help the Trust manage this special property. Dogs are prohibited. Hike only on designated trails and “leave no trace.” |