Semiahmoo Spit

Directions:
Take Interstate-5 north from Bellingham to exit 270 (Birch Bay-Lynden Road).
Turn left and follow until road ends. Turn right on Harborview Road. Turn left on Lincoln Road and follow the signs to the Semiahmoo resort.

Features:
Whatcom County's Semiahmoo Park has a wheelchair-accessible, .8-mile paved path down a saltwater sandspit with natural grasslands on both sides. View waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors overhead or look across Drayton Harbor to Mount Baker and across Semiahmoo Bay to White Rock, B.C. Enjoy the shallow driftwood beach on either side of the spit. A gift shop and museum are housed in buildings that were part of the Alaska Packers Association.

Other:
For camping, Birch Bay State Park is south of Semiahmoo. Located 20 miles north of Bellingham, Wash., and 10 miles south of Blaine, Wash., near the Canadian border. From the south: Take exit #266 off of I-5. Go left on Grandview for seven miles, then right on Jackson for one mile, then turn left onto Helweg. From the north: Take exit #266 off of I-5, and turn right onto Grandview. There is an accessible access trail to beach for picnicing and accessible restroom, picnic tables, and utility campsite. Dump Station. See park website..

North Lake Whatcom Trail

Directions:
Trail head begins at the end of North Shore Road. From Bellingham follow North Shore Drive east to where the road ends. Near the end, the road heads uphill, crosses a creek, and drops down toward the lake with the trailhead parking area on your left.

Features:
The 3-mile trail (6 miles roundtrip) trail follows the old railroad grade of the Blue Canyon Mine along the shores of Lake Whatcom. The fairly easy and level trail winds along the forested shoreline beneath steep cliffs. occasional waterfalls and several major stream crossings. The trail is wheelchair accessible to the 1.5 mile mark. There are a few good water access points but the thick deciduous and evergreen trees block most of the views across the lake. Even so, this is a nice shady hike on a hot day. If you can continue on the trail will find a pleasant park-like spot on the right at two miles for a lunch or swim break. This is also a good turn-around point. The trail continues another mile, ending abruptly at a fence. Whatcom Country Parks and Recreation hopes to continue this trail east in the future.

Other:
There is designated parking towards the lake from the main parking area.

South Bay Trail - Fairhaven to Bellingham

Directions:
There are several access points to the trail depending on how much of the trail you want to take or what you want to see. See the Bellingham Park & Recreation trail map to plan your approach. (The features below are covered from the South access to North. Thanks to the Duncans for the excellent trip report and photos)

South access at 10th St. and Mill Ave - To get to the southern trailhead, take I-5 to Bellingham and exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway) into the Fairhaven District. Turn right onto South State Street and left on Mill Avenue. The trail starts in the Fairhaven District at 10th Street and Mill Avenue, although you can park anywhere in the Fairhaven District, including lots two blocks away. The Fairhaven District itself is very pedestrian-friendly, with lots of interesting shops and restaurants (and plenty of curb cuts).

The entrance to the trail is across from the Village Green, to the northwest. However, there's only one accessible entrance to the Village Green, on the northeast side. If you're coming from 11th Street, you will have a short, steep descent down half a block before the entrance to the park on your left. (If that seems too much to handle, and it's during store hours, you can go into Village Books, which has entrances on 11th Street and on the Village Green, and take the elevator.)

 

Taylor Dock access - 10th Street and Taylor Avenue.

Boulevard Park Access - From S. State St. turn onto Bayview Drive to the Lower Parking lot.

North access at Railroad Ave. and Maple Street - From downtown, take the trailhead off Maple Street across from Railroad Avenue. There's plenty of street parking around the north end of the trail.

Features:
Starting on the south end, the trail goes though Fairhaven, a National Historic District with old, renovated buildings with interesting shops and restaurants.

The trail begins at the Fairhaven Village Green, a small, charming park with a covered walkway on three sides. There's frequently something going on -- music, craft sales, and farmers' markets. There are accessbile restrooms on the southwest corner of the park, underneath the bandstand.

The flat, packed gravel trail winds through Fairhaven for 1/4 mile, where it ends at 10th Street and Douglas Avenue.

Continue on 10th Street for a block and a half (there are no sidewalks) to pick up the trail again at Taylor Dock. There's street parking in this area if you want to start from here.

Taylor Dock is a 1/4 mile boardwalk and restored trestle linking Boulevard Park to the Fairhaven District. The area provides outstanding waterfront access and is a popular place to watch sunsets and socialize.

Taylor Dock has accessible restrooms and an accessible water fountain. The start of this section of the trail is located next to the Chrysalis Hotel and Spa, which also has a small restaurant with a veranda; its facilities are accessible.

The asphalt trail decends (about 8% grade) to the wooden boardwalk. Although the trail is moderately steep, there are flat pads and benches to rest every 30 feet on the long grade.

The trail then borders the water for 1/4 mile until you arrive at Boulevard Park.

The view is spectacular, no matter what the weather.

 

 

 

 

Boulevard Park begins at Woods Coffee, a coffee house built in a reclaimed power station transfer building. The coffee house is accessible, and there are accessible park-maintained restrooms attached to the coffee house, with an outside entrance.

 

 

 

 

The trail through Boulevard Park is flat, easy asphalt north along the water for 1/2 mile. The park is a favorite spot for viewing stunning Northwest sunsets, flying kites, and playing in large expanses of lush green lawn.

There are more accessible restrooms at the north end of the park. 

 

The trail changes to wide, flat packed dirt/gravel trail and continues up over the railroad tracks.

Note: The trail goes directly over the railroad tracks at an unmarked crossing. Trains go slowly, and whistle a lot, but there are 14 to 16 trains a day, and there have been accidents at this crossing. Stay alert!

 

 

The trail winds through greenery with glimpses of the water, 1-1/2 miles into downtown Bellingham.

The trail ends at E. Laurel Street. You can turn left on Laurel (in a bike lane) for 1 block, then turn right onto another trail for a block, ending at the Market Depot -- a newly-built permanent structure for the Bellingham Farmers Market. (Or you can go straight across Laurel and down an alley for a block, ending at the Depot.)

 

 

Other Info:
Camping in the area includes Larrabee State Park located six miles south of Bellingham. This park has accessible restrooms with showers, utility campsite, and dump station.

Trip Notes: June 2008 - reported by Nancy Duncan (with photos). The trail is well maintained and heavily used. I started at the south end at the Village Green. The trail is varied: asphalt, dirt, and wooden boardwalks, all very easy to use. I had no trouble getting up and down the Taylor Dock ramp with my scooter.

The Tennant Lake Wildlife Area

Directions:
Take exit 262 from Interstate 5 and drive west on Main Street, go underneath the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad overpass and turn left immediately on Hovander Road. Drive southeast just over a city block and turn right onto Nielsen Road. Go about - mile south to the park entrance. [Map]

Features:
This is a real gem and one that the area should be very proud of. The complex includes Hovander Homestead Park, Tennant Lake Area, and the Fragrance Garden.

Hovander Park section. This is an historical (National Historical Resister) turn of the century farm with house and largest barn in the county. It is on the Nooksack River and has over a mile of river front property.

Hovander is one of the most charming parks in Whatcom County with its enormous red barn, handsome farmhouse, and immaculate lawns and gardens. There is an assortment of animals near the barn. Horses, sheep, goats, pigs, fowl, and bunnies are housed in pens from spring to fall (much to the delight to the kid in all of us). Resident peacocks run free all year. Hovander’s plentiful grassy areas with picnic tables and barbeques make it a popular place to picnic on warm weekends. Kids can play at the playground, climb on the old tractor, or explore the water tower.

The .5 mile Hovander Homestead Trail leads over to Hovander Homestead Park from the Tennant Lake Parking Lot. Much of the trail borders a slough providing an opportunity to
observe Wood Ducks. This part of the trail system is wheelchair accessible.

Tennant Lake Interpretive Center. The Tennant Lake portion has an interpretive center that shows the geological and historical facts of the area. The Tennant Lake Interpretive Center is an old farmhouse built by the Nielson family in 1906 (they gave the structure and the wetlands to the county in the 1970s). At the center mounted wildlife, displays and maps interpret the surrounding flora, fauna and natural process at work at Tennant Lake.

 

The Tennant Lake Wildlife Area has several trails surrounded by spectacular wetlands with lots of wildlife. A 1.4 mile loop boardwalk meanders through swamp and marsh habitats along the edge of the shallow lake providing views of varied birds, vegetation, aquatic animals and the occasional muskrat.

The Tennant Lake Marsh Boardwalk begins at the interpretive center near the tower. The gravel path takes you over a bridge until you come to the actual boardwalk. The rather narrow boardwalk zigzags through the marsh - perhaps suitable only for the adventurous wheeler. The planks themselves are set an inch or more apart in parts of the boardwalk which may give wheelchair users some problems. (See Trip Notes.)

From the center you also can take the half-mile Hovander/Tennant Lake Connector Trail to Hovander Homestead Park. (You also can drive to Hovander Homestead Park.) The River Dike Trail has access points at the north-end boat launch, Hovander Park and the south end at Slater Road. The 2.2 mile one way River Dike trail is a nice level walk surrounded by deciduous trees and open fields; keep your eyes open for woodpeckers.

More than 150 different species can be seen during the course of a year. You are apt to spot ducks, blackbirds, marsh wrens, swallows, flycatchers, swainson thrush, warblers, cedar wax wings, and many marsh birds. Watch for Beavers, Great Blue Herons, and Frogs. Several Hawks and Harriers can be seen along the trail toward the lake. The lake is covered with water lilies later in spring. The boardwalk is closed during hunting season, but opens again from mid-January through early-October. There are 3 hunting/viewing blinds in this area (accessibility unknown).

A 50-ft. tower gives visitors an unobstructed view of Tennant Lake and the surrounding wetlands. A magnificent view of Mt. Baker to the east creates a backdrop for nature observation and bird watching. A monitor at the base of the tower allows wheelchair users to experience the sights from up top. Pan, tilt, and zoom functions on the camera provide you with a range of viewing possibilities.

Fragrance Garden. The garden features braille identification labels, signage, raised beds, and level walkways for easy Wheelchair access. Though the garden was designed for the visually impaired, everyone who visits it will enjoy it.

The plants and herbs were selected for their fragrances more than show and visitors are invited to touch, smell and enjoy the beauty of more than 200 plants. The raised beds put fragrant plants right at nose level. The Fragrance Garden is located next to the Nielsen house.

Other:
Accessible parking and restroom located in interpretive center.

The Fragrance Garden is open year around, but there’s not much to see or smell in the winter; if you’re a gardener the dormant plants are interesting.
See Seattle PI article

Trip Notes: June 2008 The Tennant Lake Wildlife Area - reported by Nancy Duncan (with photos). Through the metal gates is an easy gravel and boardwalk path that goes through the wetlands and over a bridge. The initial path is easy but after approximately 1/4 mile the path forks in two; from my experience I would say that either one is only for the adventurous.     The left-hand path goes to a dock on Tennant Lake, with a view of thousands of water lilies and, in the right weather, Mt. Baker. But the boardwalk at one point slopes up, curves right and tilts down to the left simultaneously -- possible to negotiate with a scooter, but it's a challenge. (Walking on it is fine.) The dock has 2 built-in seats, and not much room for turning a chair or scooter around. The right-hand path is a 1-1/2 mile loop, very narrow (5 planks wide), with a zig or zag at the end of almost every set of planks. The planks themselves are set an inch or more apart in parts of the boardwalk; no problem with a scooter but I'm not sure about a chair. It is flat the whole way, but you have to pay attention to negotiating the path rather than looking around you at the wetlands. There are 3 wider rest areas with benches after the first 1/2 mile. (Again, walking on this presents no problems.)

 

Deming Homested Eagle Park

Directions:
On Truck Rd. in Deming east of intersection of State 9 and State 542, the Mt. Baker Highway.

Features:
Whatcom Countys official Bald Eagle viewing park. This is a great spot on the Nooksack River to watch migrating eagles feed on salmon during the winter salmon run. Interpretive signs along this .3 mile accessible trail provide information about the area. This park was orginally a pioneer dairy farm. Over the years, the Nooksack River has reclaimed the farmland.. Bring your binoculars.

Photo - Bellingham Schools