Four family hikes for the holidays in Bellingham
With the holidays arriving, families may be looking for an outdoor event for the whole family. One of the easiest ways to burn off the calories of a family meal is a walk through some of the beauty Bellingham has to offer. Ken Harrison with Boomers Hiking Club makes these recommendations:
Whatcom Falls Park
Located at 1401 Electric Ave, this park has a variety of trails and streams, some leading to the waterfall in the middle of the park. The main entrance leads to picnic shelters, fish hatchery, lower playground, creek bridge and the Derby Pond. The entrance on Silver Beach Road gives you access to the sports field and upper playground.
The variety of things to do makes this a trip fun for the whole family, as the younger ones will enjoy the playground and running around the park, while the adults can enjoy the nice views provided by nature. There are a number of trail routes, so it may be wise to look at a map to plan your route.
South Bay Trail
This path goes along the waterfront and shows off Bellingham Bay. Formerly a railway, the path has been transformed into a walkway alongside and, at some points, on the water. There is a slight and gradual incline if you are walking north, towards Bellingham, but the path is wide and gravel.
Parking can be found on Bayview Drive, near Boulevard Park at 470 Bayview Ave. and at the southern entrance to the trail on 10th Street, near The Chrysalis Inn & Spa. The entire trail is about two miles.
Sehome Hill Arboretum
The 175.5-acre arboretum on the south side of Bellingham next to Western Washington University is open from 6 a.m. to dusk, so get out there before it starts to get too dark.
With six miles of trails, it is also one of the few places in Bellingham where bikes are not allowed, so no need to be looking over your shoulders on the hike. Parking is located at the south end of the park, with a road leading up to the viewpoint if you want to skip the hike.
Larrabee State Park
Larrabee State Park is about 15- to 20-minutes south of Bellingham, near Chuckanut Mountain. The park offers a variety of things including beach combing and 2.7 miles of hiking-only trails, 1.5 miles of biking-only trails and 13.8 miles of multi-use trails. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a low tide of minus 2.75 at 11:15 p.m. Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24.
This story was originally published November 24, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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