If you’ve been itching to go sledding, check out some of these spots in Whatcom County
The snow that’s been dumped on Whatcom County is making you itch to go sledding.
If you don’t know where to go, we’ve compiled a list for you, with a few pieces of cautionary advice from public officials.
First, stay off the streets.
“Tempting as it may be to turn lightly used hilly streets into sled parks, it makes those routes icier and potentially less safe and harder to clear,” the city of Bellingham said in a release on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Second, look ahead.
Ride safely and always take into consideration what may be at the bottom of the hill you’re riding — traffic, fire hydrants, ditches and other objects can become hazards at high speed.
Third, plan ahead.
Check road conditions before you go. Better yet, walk to your sledding spot if possible.
“Please, don’t go out today unless absolutely necessary! Best to stay home if you can,” Bellingham Emergency Management tweeted the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 15, after sharing a video about Bellingham police helping a driver who was stuck on an overpass because of snow.
Still, if you want to sled here is our list of the best places to go in Whatcom County.
Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave.: For youngsters learning to sled, the hills located behind the downtown library offer a fun and safe introduction.
Squalicum Park, 1001 Squalicum Way: This park offers some nice slopes for sledding if there’s enough snow.
Fairhaven Middle School, 110 Parkridge Road: A longtime favorite for Bellingham, this spot makes it worth it to head to school on a snow day.
Maritime Heritage Park, 500 W. Holly St.: The park offers plenty of gentle hills for sledders.
Lynden City Park, 8460 Depot Road: If you’re looking for a spot north of Bellingham, this park has inclines worthy of sledding.
Broadway Park, 2700 N. Park Drive: It has enough hills for everyone to have a good time.
Picture Lake: If you want to be surrounded by alpine beauty while sledding, head up the Mount Baker Highway, also known as State Highway 542, and continue until you’re about 21 miles east of the Glacier Public Service Center.
The slopes surrounding Picture Lake are popular as well as the stretch of road to Artist Point, which remains closed during the winter.
For this area, you will need a Northwest Forest Pass, which you can buy online or at select retailers including REI in Bellingham.
You can’t sled within the boundaries of the nearby Mt. Baker Ski Area, because doing so is prohibited.
But you can in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, which is outside the ski area’s boundaries. The forest land includes Picture Lake.
Before you head up to the mountains, always check weather forecasts and avalanche conditions, which were dangerous on Wednesday, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
Check road conditions as well, including whether you’ll need to put chains on your vehicles. On Wednesday, chains were required on all vehicles on Mount Baker Highway, except those with all-wheel drive, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation website.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 12:37 PM.
