Worth Leaving Town For: Earth Sanctuary
I can't even believe I didn’t know about this place, I kept thinking to myself. Someone told me about it recently and my family was itching to get out of the house so we took a ferry boat to Whidbey and stepped into a magical place called Earth Sanctuary.
Middle Pond // Linda War Bonnet
We took an early boat on a Tuesday in August, so there was no wait. Once on the island, it is a quick drive up Highway 525, right on Newman Road and then a right turn into Earth Sanctuary. It was easy to find and you can’t miss the turn unless you don’t slow down to look for it. Ask me how I know? Also, I wasn’t the one driving.
The parking lot was empty when we arrived and I immediately started snapping photos of cairns. I don’t know what it is about cairns but it is always pleasing to my eyes to see the order amidst the chaos of nature, in a way where no harm is done.
We paid our $7 admittance fee per person online before we left home so we placed our receipt on the dashboard. Otherwise, you can leave your money or check in an envelope placed in their metal payment box. They accept Paypal payments also.
Even in the parking lot, there is something special to see // Linda War Bonnet
At the entrance there are printouts of three guided tours you can take. Each focuses on different elements of the sanctuary - sacred space, sculptures and naturalists or how the whole place came about. They are packed with information and I encourage you to consider at least one. Leave them a buck if you take it home so they can print more.
I will not tell you everything we saw, because there was so much and because we didn’t see everything. It really is a trip you should take. Here are just a few highlights.
I wasn’t sure what to expect because I usually think of labyrinths with large manicured hedges, but Earth Sanctuary’s labyrinth blended right into the terrain with flat stones surrounded by Salal.
There’s so many shades of green in the bog and so much texture. Wow, just wow.
Cottonwood Stone Circle is 40 feet in diameter and has basalt columns from the Columbia River.
It's calling you to visit, is it not?
I call this photo Fuzzy Cairn. I loved this so much I think because it was so unexpected.
TIPS
As we were leaving a little past noon, we started seeing a few more cars. I imagine that the place can get pretty busy on the weekends so it may be worth taking a day off to visit on a weekday. I think having too many people there would kind of wreck the magic.
Much of the area is relatively flat so there is plenty to explore with little kids. I recommend long pants and shoes with toes for kids. There were quite a few places where blackberries were growing into the path.
Some trails are pretty well worn with roots sticking out in a lot of places so someone unsteady on their feet may want a walking stick.
If you head up the Middle Path Trail there are some steep but manageable hills.
Take some water and a snack or maybe even lunch so you can stop, rest and really enjoy the sanctuary.
There are only 2 portable toilets, so plan accordingly.
Have a face mask on hand in case you come across other visitors.
Earth Sanctuary
2059 Newman Rd
Langley, WA 98260
Open daily during daylight hours.
Linda War Bonnet represents south Everett on the Live in Everett Team. When she isn’t working, she is running the Westmont-Holly Neighborhood Association. You might spot her walking her dog in the Holly neighborhood.
