Trails open in Bellingham and Whatcom, just in time for Thanksgiving outdoor activities
A pair of trails opened last week, just in time for Whatcom County residents to get outside for the Thanksgiving weekend, whether it’s to show off the area’s natural beauty to visiting holiday guests or to burn off a few calories.
One of the new trails makes a connection between two popular hiking and biking routes with scenic views of Lake Whatcom. Another features a footbridge over an estuary that the city of Bellingham built at Little Squalicum Creek, providing habitat for spawning salmon and offering a broad view of Bellingham Bay. It offers easy hiking and has an off-leash area for dogs.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Seattle said that sunny skies are expected from Thursday through Sunday with daytime temperatures in the upper 40s and overnight lows near freezing,
Chanterelle and Hertz trails
A trail connecting the Chanterelle Trail to the Hertz Trail is now open after more than a year of construction.
Both trails start from Lake Whatcom Park at the south end of North Shore Road, which has public parking and restrooms.
Together, they offer a loop of about 12.5 miles that combine strenuous uphill hiking or biking with a steep downhill section and an easy walk along the shore of Lake Whatcom.
Both hiking and biking are allowed on the Hertz Trail and the Chanterelle Trail, but the new connector section is hiking only.
▪ The Chanterelle Trail climbs 2,200 feet in 5 miles through a mix of deciduous and conifer forest. A scenic overlook is 2.4 miles from the trailhead, providing an expansive view of Lake Whatcom.
Its first 0.6 mile is shared hiking and biking. The remaining 4.4. miles of trail is open to two-way foot traffic and uphill-only bike travel. Bikes return to the trailhead via a logging road.
Those on foot can also descend using the new trail connection to the Hertz Trail.
▪ If you’re looking for an easier hike, try the Hertz Trail, which hugs the shore of Lake Whatcom along the historic old Bellingham & Eastern Railway line. Informational signs explain the area’s significance.
It’s a 2.9-mile out-and-back bike or hike. Along the way are small beaches and coves to take in the view of the lake. Look up toward Stewart mountain along the way and you might see waterfalls and patches of old-growth trees on the hillsides.
Little Squalicum Park
Trails at Little Squalicum Park have been closed for more than a year as the city built the new estuary on Little Squalicum Creek.
A new footbridge crosses the creek and officials hoe that it will provide views of spawning salmon.
“While enjoying the trails, please help us take care of this important new habitat by keeping pets and people out of the estuary and picking up and disposing of dog poop in the trash,” the city said in a statement announcing the trail opening.
Trailhead access to the park is from a parking lot behind Bellingham Technical College, off West Illinois Street.
There’s also access by foot from a trail near the intersection of Eldridge and Lindbergh avenues.
A parking lot at Little Squalicum Beach at the west end of Seaview Avenue provides access to the estuary by foot only at low tide, which usually occurs before dawn and after dark in the winter months.
