Whatcom County parks are great to explore anytime of year. Silver Lake Park is no exception. The…read morepros: -Rustic cabins with killer views of pristine Silver Lake -Quiet, secluded and clean -Roomy camp sites with clear signage to direct you around the park Cons: -Rustic cabins. The cabins are old and only the Baker has a shower and toilet. Bring your own bedding, towels and kitchen supplies. The cabins are truly bare bones. -Lockboxes for cabin keys. Make sure you have the numeric code before you leave home because you'll need it to open up your cabin. No internet signal up here. You'll need to drive down to Maple Falls for internet access.

Fun place to hang out and launch a small motorized water craft, canoe, kayak or paddle board…read more Fishing is good in the morning and later in the afternoon--if you can handle the mosquitoes.

The amazing power of these falls... just be sure to stay on the trail and don't be a stupid human…read moretrying to get the ultimate selfie that'll cost you your life!!! Observe and respect Mother Nature! just gorgeous

Nooksack Falls truly took my breath away. The drive there alone on Mount Baker Highway was…read moreexquisite. What is so mind blowing about a waterfall? Everything. I believe you feel a sense of peace in the presence of one. The sound of the powerful water, the mist surrounding, and the wet air is quite the moment.

We visited this park right after highway 20 opened for the season this year and it was magnificent…read more This is a very beautiful park with lots to see. There are glaciers, mountains, lakes and rivers and some of the most incredible sunsets you will see. We were even lucky enough to see a mountain goat. There is also plenty of great hiking here. We did many trails, but the trail of cedars was one of my favorites because I love bridges and the trail is almost completely shaded which is nice in the warm weather. It's a very level easy trail that anyone can do. This is easily one of my top five national parks of all time and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't had a chance to come here and experience it themselves.

North Cascades National Park is very beautiful, clean, quiet, has easy walking trails, a great…read morelearning center, and very little wildlife on the designated walking trails. We enjoyed our day exploring, I highly recommend!

This was a great day trip when we stayed in Bellingham. There's lots to see and the area is so…read morebeautiful. Whether you are a hiker or you just want pretty views, there's a lot worth driving for. We went in September so we didn't do any snow activities. The weather was cool and we just went for the cool views and the scenic drive. By the time we got to Artist's Point, it was VERY windy and a little bit colder, but the walk was nice and the views were great of the mountain. Picture Lake is a beautiful spot, although I wish they have more picnic tables. You can also stay in a cabin in this area, which sounded awesome. Maybe next time. We went during COVID times, and not everyone was wearing a mask, so be sure to keep your distance. Also, if you're into Pokemon, I took over a gym and my Pokemon lasted several days in there before being kicked out. I couldn't believe it!

Beautiful area with snowy mountains and beautiful waterfalls. Definitely a great drive and you can…read moreget out and hike and walk!

Spontaneous Saturday trip to Diablo Lake in Northern Washington but we parked and stayed in Thunder…read moreKnob Trailhead. We drove for almost 3 hours, but when we were looking for a place to park, I lost my signal sevice! Diablo Lake is big and long! We found a spot to relax and swim, but the water was 10°C (so cold, hahaha!). It's still a gorgeous place to visit! Remember, it's better with chairs, snacks, kayaks, paddleboards, and drinks! It's so nice to set aside city and technology life! Just for sure, we are looking to rest and swim and not to hike! But still it is a beautiful nature to see

A vibrant trail with some sensational views! The Thunder Knob trail is a short but moderate 3.5…read moremile out and back trail that's located within North Cascades National Park. The trail begins just behind Diablo Lake and crosses over the beautiful rushing waters of Colonial Creek. It then begins to gently switchback through a lush forest that's filled with beautiful Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock trees. The trail is mostly shaded but features a few breaks within the trees that will reveal some amazing glimpses of the snowcapped mountaintops. As you ascend up the trail, you're rewarded with gorgeous views of the forest and mountains. The forest vegetation is super versatile. I was able to spot daisies, ferns, Western Hemlocks, Douglas Firs, an array of different wildflowers, and so on. The views are the best at the top, of course. There's this stunning vista point that features an aerial view of Diablo Lake with the striking North Cascades Mountain Range in the background. If there was ever a time to get a photo while on this hike, THIS is where you need to do it. It's simply breathtaking to witness. This is also a great spot to bring a picnic and/or take a lunch or snack break for heading back down to finish the second half of the hike. What I genuinely loved about this trail (aside from the views) was how incredibly green it is. The vibrancy is out of this world. Also, to see how clear Diablo Lake is from the top is just insane. It doesn't even look real, but it definitely is! The best part about hiking this trail is being able to literally walk right down to lake to relax after you've finished your hike. It's the perfect reward, and hiking this trail was truly a wonderful experience.

Super cool! Writing this as a manual wheelchair user who can limp a few steps with assistance. The…read moremain plaza is incredibly well-maintained and paved. The bathroom was accessible and clean. From there, the trail itself is mostly gravel with some uphill portions. Getting up to the main set of buildings was a workout for me, propelling, and another person pushing me. There are two paths, one gravel and the other semi-paved with concrete ridges. I would not recommend getting up there without help in a wheelchair, but it was certainly possible, and worth it in my opinion. The buildings are super cool. The area is surrounded by nature and mountains. We turned back after getting tired, but will absolutely come back better prepared to see some more stuff.

I went here with a group of people from a social group I am in and really enjoyed it a lot! It's…read morethe grounds where the defunct Nortgern State Hospital was. We went by soke run down buildings, one that was more of a food preparation area and they once grew fruit trees there for the facility. The fruit trees can still be seen and at the time we were here were bearing fruit! We also went to some old barns where livestock was once kept for the hospital. Those buildings were very impressive and a bit creepy. To add to that someone in our group went over some of the experiments that went on here as well as possible mishaps that they pulled up online. That definitely added to the creepy vibe. But still it was a very pleasant stroll as we also was in a nice field and encountered a babbling brook. It was a great outing with great company! I'd love to explore the grounds even more as I have a feeling some of the buildings I didn't get to see.

My mom and I stopped here and at the nearby Rockport State Park recently on Wednesday 1 July 2020…read more We arrived in the morning just before 11 a.m., it had been a rainy morning and we managed to get here in a brief window where the rain stopped. It was still overcast, but no rain can be a plus when out hiking. The entrance to the park is well marked and there is a parking lot for those who are at the park for day use like we were. After parking our car we set out to explore the trails down to the river and back. Informational signs spot the trail and provide background and helpful tidbits if you are on the look-out for wildlife or their tracks. The mosquitos were fiercest at the parking lot and a number of them bit me through my clothing. Coming back I'd wear more layers or insect repellent if trying not to get bit. The trail we walked ran along the Skagit River for a short bit then twisted through the woods and back to the parking lot. On the way out to the Skagit River we passed a clearing. The grass was tall in the clearing center, but around the edges the grass had been cut to provide a walking path if one so yearned. We encountered mostly birds on our visit in terms of wildlife. The park itself wasn't too busy when we arrived, but we started to see more people by the time we departed. Restrooms were clean and we maintained our social distance.

The pluses This park is Beautiful plenty of paved roads and…read morepaths Nice gravel sites A few powered sites with water The new Loop of sites is deeper in the woods and further from the river No life guards swim at your own risk in the 50 degree water. The Skagit River is emerald green and beautiful huge Firs and Cedar line the River and a nice path along the river also . Minuses Do not go Berry picking down the road as the natives are paranoid I was on the side of the road and ran off and threatened. When I complained to the Park Ranger He said @ that's just how they are here". Hmmmm scary right? The Bathroom curtain was black with Mold and dirt The Loggers come down and use the Showers and track mud. The 50 cent a minute shower gets you 3 minutes of hot water So I guess there are a lot of visitors . Beware The small store gouges Campers Example Marshmallows $5.00 a bag Dill Pickles $5.00 a jar The water You can buy a case at Walmart for $3.89 They are selling individually for 89 cents a bottle Beware. A lot of Families take the upper loop because there is a paved loop around the small area so the Kids are all in various skateboards electric scooters and rollers skates until 10:00 at night. The lower loop is a little more steep so less attractive. Update When We told The Park Ranger about " being Tired of putting Quarters in the shower machine and getting Cold water" they 2 Trucks showed up to fix it and told Me "the Free shower is on them" How quick n nice is that!

Just did this trail yesterday. We made it to the lookout. There are some snow crossing which you…read morehave to be careful on. There are a few creek passing that you have to navigate around. Poles would make your hike more enjoyable. We didn't bring crampons but would suggest you bring some just in case. Very beautiful hike and the glacier view is amazing.

My 9-year-old practically ran up this hike, he is in great shape! Took my family and spent about…read more3-hours round trip. Awesome old-growth trees, some work on the trail, lots of switch-backs, great views of the mountains, amazing waterfalls. The last creek to cross was too much for me, but my brother & dad made it across and the glacier views are worth crossing (their photos were incredible)! I saw a few dogs packed in backpacks to cross the moving water (no bridges, expect to get wet!), and many folks used poles for assistance. It was a busy day of hikers. Scenic views all around! You have to get your pass to park at the Rangers station, and there's a "toilet" trail which consisted of a wooden box, so bring your toilet paper. Temperatures changed from 60 degrees in Glacier to 50 degrees when we parked at the trailhead and hiked up. Be sure to wear layers and boots to get wet/muddy, as the water crossings are more like jumping across rushing water!