Rockport State Park (Washington)

The Rockport State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Washington near Rockport in Skagit County. The only 271 -acre State Park is located north of the Skagit River at the foot of the 1645m high Sauk Mountain. On the western edge of the Conservation Area is the Sauk Mountain Trail, which is accessible from Highway 20.

The mature trees has never been touched and is largely in its original condition, comparable to a local forest reserve. The trees form a dense canopy of leaves so that places no sunbeam penetrates to the ground. In conjunction with the moist cloudy air yields the optimal conditions for a lush vegetation of mosses and lichens. The park is also the memorial place David Douglas Historical Marker for David Douglas, the discoverer of the eponymous Douglas fir and other plants. Some of the Douglas firs in Rockport State Park have already reached a height of 75 m.

History

The name of the park opened in 1961 derives from the adjacent municipality of Rockport. This in turn was named by the numerous large boulders near the jetty at the Skagit River. The mature trees of the park is obvious and almost covered an area of ​​250 ha of trees are still standing, because the Sound Timber Company refused to make it as timber. Already in 1935, sold the timber company the site, including trees for the symbolic price of one dollar to the state of Washington.

The camping facilities are closed indefinitely because of the risk under the old trees is too high.

Flora and vegetation

The primeval trees consists primarily of cedar, Douglas fir, hemlock, yew, alder and maple trees. On the ground ferns and berries are located. Branches, stems, and soil are places area covered with mosses and lichens.