Arlington

Arlington is situated in one of the most beautiful river valleys in Western Washington, the Stillaguamish. The north and south forks join at this rural Snohomish County town. Flanked by the river and its tributaries, Arlington offers a variety of water-based activities including fishing, river rafting and bird watching. Less than an hour north of Seattle and at the beginning of the Mountain Loop Highway, Arlington also is a jumping off point for outdoor recreation in the North Cascades.

The Stillaguamish River and tributaries that run through Arlington are known for their salmon runs. Eight salmonid species use the streams for spawning, including chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon, steelhead trout, sea-run cutthroat, and bull trout. And where there are salmon, there are eagles. The Arlington-Stillaguamish Eagle Festival, hosted by the city and Stillaguamish Tribe, takes place the first Saturday in February. The Tribe also holds the Festival of the River in August, which offers many educational and fun activities for the whole family.

Arlington is part of the Centennial Trail System—a popular recreational trail for walking, jogging, bicycling, and horseback riding. The linear park connects Arlington, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, and points in between, as well as serves as a conservation corridor. There are plans for the trail to extend all the way to King County.

To the west of Arlington is Wenberg County Park on the shores of Lake Goodwin. This 45-acre park offers good fishing and a variety of water activities as well as camping opportunities with 70 sites.

In 2003, the city celebrated its 100th year. Arlington has a rich history of logging and agriculture. It began as a lumber town with shingle mills, sawmills, and logging camps. The city’s surrounding fertile plains also have supported agriculture and dairy farming. Since the construction of I-5, the city has experienced rapid growth. Today there are still many historical buildings that add to Arlington's small town charm. To learn more about Arlington’s early days, visit the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum, which has artifacts and photos of earlier life in the Stilly Valley.

Nationally, Arlington is known for its annual fly-in, where hundreds of aircraft from ultralights to antiques come to Arlington’s airport for aerobatic shows and other activities. Held the second weekend of July, the Arlington Fly-In is the third largest Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in in the country.

For more information about the City of Arlington, visit www.arlingtonwa.gov.

Photo by Joe Mabel.