Citing safety, Bellingham closes 700-foot stretch of popular trail near downtown
A trail along the east bank of Whatcom Creek near downtown Bellingham is being closed permanently this week, eliminating waterfront access in an area that is popular for birding and watching the fall salmon runs.
About 700 feet of the Whatcom Estuary lower trail at Maritime Heritage Park is being “decommissioned” starting Monday, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department said Saturday on its social media.
“This work is expected to take place the week of April 13-17. Park operations staff will use woody debris to cover the gravel trail,” a city social media post states. “Site features including bridges, benches, stairs, and native plant signs will be removed to ground level. Please do not enter closed areas.”
Officials cited erosion and unspecified safety concerns as the reason for closing the trail.
Maritime Heritage Park is at 500 W. Holly St., between downtown and Old Town. It features more than a mile of trails crossing both sides of Whatcom Creek where it empties into Bellingham Bay. Key features include a fish hatchery and an interpretive trail focused on Northwest plant species.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 12:02 PM.
