Entertainment - Entertainment News

POSTED: Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009

Explore our marine environment at Point Whitehorn

Prompted by our interest in the Whatcom Land Trust's Junior Stewards Program, a summer activity that aims to give children and youth a greater appreciation of nature, we took a short but satisfying trip to Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve last weekend.

It's the newest Whatcom County park, made possible though the efforts of the land trust.

This is a great family hike, an easy 3/4-mile trek on a compacted gravel path that is both wheelchair and stroller accessible.

It looks as though it would be a good walk even in wet weather for those who like to gaze at a stormy sea. Footbridges cross the swampy areas, though these were mostly dry for our trip. You'll find helpful interpretive signs along the way.

The trail to the beach starts from the parking area at the edge of a natural meadow, winds through a boggy forest, and ends at a breezy coastal bluff. These diverse habitats are called "ecotones," as described in the Junior Stewards activity book.

From there, the trail switchbacks down to the beach, with a short segment of stairs to a cobblestone shore. Wheelchair users and parents pushing larger strollers probably won't be able to negotiate this drop to the beach, but there are several overlooks where you can take in the view near the end of the trail.

What a sight it is. To the left is the tanker terminal for the refinery at Cherry Point, and to the right is a broad expanse of rocky shore. Spread out to the horizon are the San Juan Islands. I wished we had brought a map, so we could start to learn which island is which.

We also lamented having forgotten the camera, binoculars, magnifying glass and bird guide.

So Rebecca and I simply laid out on the rocks, which really weren't all that uncomfortable, to snooze and soak up the 70-degree day.

Emma, meanwhile, scoured the surf for shells and intertidal critters such as sea stars. She marveled at a six-foot piece of bull kelp she discovered along the low tide line, correctly guessing that an air-filled sac helps keep it afloat. You can see the kelp floating just below the surface out to sea, as the area is a veritable kelp forest.

Unfortunately, we had to ask Emma to put the kelp back where she found it and to leave the seashells on the beach. The park is a marine reserve and no collecting is allowed. This rule may be difficult for small children to comprehend: We just remind the girls that if everybody collected special treasures, there would be fewer shells for people to enjoy.

Another thing for families to remember is to leave their pets at home. There are lots of places that Fido is welcome, but this is a marine reserve and the presence of pets disturbs wildlife such as shorebirds and marine mammals.

Also, there are no toilet facilities on the beach. There is a single portable potty in the parking lot near trailhead.

To get to the park, take Interstate 5 to Grandview Road (exit No. 266) and drive west for 81/2 miles. Follow the road as it curves left (south) and becomes Koehn Road. Continue a half-mile to a parking area on the left.

SWEET 'N' LOW

This week continues a period of extremely low tides, with morning minus tides occurring though Friday, July 10. There are tides of minus one foot or lower at Cherry Point, just north of Point Whitehorn, on Friday, July 3 (9:35 a.m.); Saturday, July 4 (10:14 a.m.); and Sunday, July 5 (10:52 a.m.).

For tide times and heights, check The Bellingham Herald's daily weather page or use the tide calculator at saltwatertides.com. It offers tides information for dozens of Washington state coastal areas.

Some good nearby places to visit at low tide would be Point Whitehorn, Larrabee State Park and Padilla Bay.