Looking for a challenging hike or lakeside 6 mile stroll? This trail head can give you both. The…read moresteep vertical up the chanterelle trail goes up to the ridge. We took the lake side trail right along the lake that is level and gravel so nice even on a rainy day like ours. It's just over 6 miles out and back but you could turn around any time. It worth the drive from Bellingham to walk the quiet section of the lake. Great views and a few water falls when there is water flow.

If you want a taste of the Pacific Northwest, hike along the Hertz Trail along Lake Whatcom. It's…read morean easy trail to hike with little paths to the water where people swim on a hot summer day. The water is refreshing and perfect for fishing, boating and swimming. When we arrived, the parking lot was full, but we easily parked along the road. There's an outhouse in the parking lot.

I highly recommend visiting Mount Baker and the Picture Lake area of the mountain. The views are…read moreextraordinary, it's a great way to spend the summer. The roads to the mountain are only open in the summer.

Gorgeous as always! Perfect day for a picnic lunch- making sure not to drop any food. Pack it in…read morepack it out! Do not feed wildlife or leave any trash. There were three boys from a family who decided to walk off path and waited for them to correct their behavior. When they didn't I told them to get back on the trail- don't be one of those humans who thinks nature is there just for them. Leave it better than you found it!

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.

Our trip to Washington took a weird turn when our plans changed overnight. We pretty much were…read moreleft to do what ever we wanted rather than scheduled things with extended family. So we went to the lake. This lake was located right around the corner from our Airbnb. Its very easy to find and if you get here early enough there is lots of parking. We just brought our towels and swim suits and picked a spot on the grass near the sand. It was a very sunny day out in Washington. The kids headed right out and walked out to the floating decks. They were able to jump off and swim around. They had so much fun. We were here all day. They have a small snack shack with limited options. We got ice cream at some point. Then suddenly the kids and my husband decided that they wanted to take a paddle boat out into the lake. I had no interest. They had a good time. I personally thought it was too windy and at some point my husband had jump out and swim push the boat back to the shore. He made sure to let the people working that they should warn people that the wind may make it very hard to paddle back to shore. All in all it was a fantastic afternoon. The kids wanted to come back again but our trip was cut short and the time we did have didn't account for a second visit. Not sure we will ever be back again but we would if we could.

A nice park with summing available in the summer months. Playground for kids is fun, though we did…read moresee a child fall off of the slippery climbing structure, so keep a close eye on that side. The park is large with much space to run and play, explore and enjoy. Buildings (pavilions, basketball court/gym) are available on the grounds for private rental, and plenty of parking can be found on the property. (On hot summer weekends, parking does fill up quickly.)

I can't believe that I'm just discovering this beautiful park on Lake Samish on the far end of…read moreSouth Bellingham. Whatever you want on a hot day you can find at this beautiful family park-swimming, boating, hiking, play ground and picnic area. There is a lodge available to rent, changing rooms and bathrooms, several levels and hiking trails. Plenty of tables in sun and shade. Paddle boat, canoe, row boat and kayak rentals. You can easily spend the whole day here!

Beautiful park, trails, and scenery !…read more Kid, stroller, and dog friendly Being wet gear because there's multiple areas where you can get in the water . Definitely going back

Beautiful park with waterfalls and accessible trails to enjoy alone or with family and friends. I…read moreloved walking beneath the trees and along the water. It feels like a safe area with lots of people enjoying the outdoors in the summertime.

The trip with paddle board host was fantastic! The location and timing were carefully chosen to…read moreminimize the wind and waves, the host Ava was super nice!

Great experience stand up paddle boarding with Ava. Super knowledgeable, friendly, and a great…read moreinstructor. I highly recommend if you are ever in the Bellingham area!

Beautiful hidden gem in Bellingham. Also called "Emerald Lake." Great spot for fishing, swimming,…read moreand relaxing on hot summer days. Gorgeous views and scenery. It's one of Bellingham's lesser-known spots, but it's worth the visit. It's a little bit harder to find, but this video lays out the directions and talks about the lake and activities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiOIBOnmLJQ. Definitely recommend checking it out.

A nice place for swimming and relaxing on a hot day. Follow Toad Lake Road straight to Toad Lake…read more Discover Pass is required for parking. This seems to be a popular swimming area for locals, especially the young ones. There's a dock for fishing and small beach type areas for water access. Boats are not permitted, which allows for peaceful water. A portable toilet is in the parking area. No grills, picnic areas, or playgrounds available.

Review from May 29, 2021…read more The parks open 8am to 8pm. I got there around 8:10am on Sunny Saturday and parking was half filled. Some people will leave around 1 pm. I saw empty parking spots. A group of police officers and BC hydro team are patrolling the beach area constantly. Pls don't make a big party more than 10. Behave nice please.

terrible place. need to make a reservation on a website…read morebuilt in 1990. entire experience getting there and the terrible condition once you get there ensures you'll never return. they won't need to worry about reservations ...

We love this beach so much that I hesitated sharing a review on this beach for a long time. I…read morecertainly do not want this place to be so popular that it gets crowded all the time. However, I find myself recommending this beach to my loved ones visiting Seattle time after time. So, I randomly did a search on Yelp for Rosario Beach and I see that I am not alone. I wanted to echo everyone's love for Rosario Beach and share its beauty. It is about a 90-minute drive north of Seattle. It is a part of Deception Pass State Park so you are required to have a Discover Pass to park in its parking lot. The parking lot is on the smaller side and in summer, the lot gets full most of the time. However, we usually find an available spot after waiting a short while as I usually see folks staying for a short while and then leaving to check out another part of Deception Pass State Park. So, even if the lot seems full, just be patient. Since it is a state park, there is a clean bathroom facility with flushing toilets. The bathroom is just a short walk away from the beach. There are a few picnic tables with BBQ grills. We see weddings, family gatherings, couples having a picnic lunch, landscape photographers, bird watchers, and many more. Such an inviting place for all. And the beach. The water is usually calm as it is a cove. And yes, the water is very cold as we live in the PNW. It sure does not stop our children from getting into the water no matter the weather. It is beautiful. I was a landscape photography hobbyist (more active in the past) and I was immediately drawn to everything this place had to offer in terms of photography opportunities. If you are into photography, you will love this place. Every year, we come here to kayak, SUP, hike, check out the tide pools, have lunch, take a nap, get tanned, and just hang out with people I love. Since I'm from Hawaii, I wish the water was warmer but I'm slowly getting used to the idea that I live in the PNW. Haha! Alooooooha! from the beautiful Rosario beach!

Outstanding beach. No words can express the happiness I felt at being here. Sunshine and water…read morelapping on the rocks shredded away the sadness from three days of rain. This beach requires a discovery day pass for $10. Or $30 for a park pass. Loads of parking and a bathroom. This beach is also part of Anacortes which is a nearby town. Driftwood covers the rock filled beach and exposed tide pools were visible. A trail towards the bluff takes you suddenly up high with views for miles towards the horizon. No guard rails and steep cliff drop offs. Be careful with children and pets. I saw a few whales spouting. Sheer amazing views in nearly all directions! Bring a picnic and stay a while. It's worth it.