The summit view is obscured with tall trees so it can be difficult to get a good view unless you…read morewant to do a little more hiking beyond the summit parking lot. On clear days you can see Mount Baker. There's a neat statue on top called, Mountain Guardian, with a small information placard explaining the significance of the work. It really meshes into the surrounding forest. Nice hiking overall, pretty peaceful. The road to the top is well maintained, although it's a little twisty at times so definitely do not speed or else you might wipe out, or wipe out the oncoming traffic!

Some great views with good hiking trails…read more Can get windy so you might want to bring a coat

When on island time I love to seek out a high viewpoint. Our hike on Turtleback Mountain had some…read moreof the most breathtaking views we had. There are two parking lots, one at the South trailhead and the other at the North. We took the South Trail to the West Overlook to the Ridge trail and stayed on it to the Ravens Ridge trail and the outside of Center Loop trail to return. The South Trail starts in the woods as it goes up and up to the ridge and mountaintop. The first mile and the early part of the hike were tough, it felt like walking on my elliptical with the ramp all the way up. You'll be quickly rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding islands. Did you pack a lunch or a beer? This was a perfect break spot. Carry on through the woods, fields and cliffs and complete your loop. Wildflowers were blooming anywhere the sunlight found it's way through the canopy. Simply stunning. Take a photo of the map at the trailhead Pack a lunch and beer You're going through the woods and exposed at the top, you need bug spray and sunblock Pack it in, pack it

Second Stop: "A Perfect Day on Orcas island" Collection…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/collection/Bgd9G40BjYMmHuJoM5MpHw Well this is an awesome hiking trail system with spectacular views. We did the short 1.5 mile to Ship Peak. 931" straight up and 931' straight down. That ham and egg omelet was sitting pretty heavy on the way up. LOL We have done other trails and they are all awesome. Check it out.

It's a hike that you must do in the Bellingham area, hell, in the state. It's one of those gems…read morethat everyone talks about - and I know in Washington, everyone talks about hiking trails, but this is one of those that you have to do...if you like hiking and are in the area. We spent a weekend in Bellingham and not gonna lie, Oyster Dome was one of the primary reasons for spending time up north. Located along the Chuckanut Drive on Blanchard Mountain, it's a hike with a rewarding view at the end. So yes, it's worth it. This hike is about a five-mile, round-trip trail with an elevation gain of just over 1000. It's a good climb, but not difficult or challenging. The parking area can get filled up quickly, and you'll likely see many people along the trail and definitely up at summit. It's dog-friendly; we saw a lot of dogs on the trail and brought our little hiker, too. You'll need a Discover Pass to park here and in the lot is where there are restrooms. The hike goes through a forested area, providing tree canopy and cooler temperatures. But some parts can be rocky, especially towards the summit. Descending was worse as it can be sore on your knees, so it felt longer going down than up in my opinion. The views are incredible. You can see the mountains, the valley and even Canada. Pretty amazing.

Yet another great hiking trail we softly explored, to help our toddlers calm down before we headed…read moreback home. Oyster Dome Trail has multiple markers for guidance throughout it. Now that we've all thawed out from the winter, exploring WAs beautiful trails, parks, and landmarks come naturally; investing in a Discovery pass could be helpful. We will definitely return, and recommend!

When I'm in the mood for some gorgeous views over Anacortes, Cap Sante Park is one of my go-to…read morespots. Perched high on a point across the harbor from downtown, it's the perfect spot to take it all in. And with its northerly views, you can not only watch the boats arrive at the marina far below, but peer across the mountains for breathtaking sunny day views of Mount Baker, too. It also has a "lover's lane" vibe, so I'll give it an extra star for romance potential. There are a view benches, as well as rocky outperches, to sit and ponder all the beauty. Fall potential is high, so I wouldn't let little ones wander around on their own here. Parking can be a hassle on sunny days.

Went during a sunset and it was spectacular. Even saw a rainbow. There were parking spots when we…read moregot there though it was also a lot of people concerning it was already past 9PM. Wonderful views of the marina and the islands! And beautiful Mountain views.

What can I say that I haven't said? Great question. This place is always and will always be our…read moreplace to go visit. Watching the sunset is amazing. It's just a great place to go unwind, relax and enjoy the view. This place is breathtaking all of the time. We went here tonight to enjoy an adult beverage and relax.

I made a short exploring stop at the Westside Preserve on Friday the 22nd of May 2020. The preserve…read moreis located along the water and Westside Road and provides some spectacular views of the Haro Strait. Signage along the road marks the edge of the preserve. Additional signs by the parking lots provide background information, rules, and trail maps. It is a bit of a windy place, so make sure to dress accordingly. There are also few trees, which is nice if you want to soak in the sunlight. A number of people were there when I stopped (around 12:30 p.m.) sitting in various places and watching the water. I ventured along part of the trail system taking in the different views, plants, and wildlife. Lots of space on the rocks overlooking the water to sit and rest and/or have a picnic.

I like it. If you didn't know Arroyo means stream so the park is aptly named…read more This is indeed a little bit of a secret garden once you descend from the parking off Old Samish the city disappears and you enter the land of the fey... oh wait... shit people don't pick up their dog poop here either!!! Sonofa... seriously people #scoopyourdarnpoop. Other than the poop, it is a neat place with all sorts of options for trails. You can connect to the Lost Lake trail and to the Chuckanut Falls trail from here. My fav: you can park here and take an easy walk about 1.5 miles down the interurban trail to get to Teddy Bear Cove. Just be careful when you have to cross the street at Chuckanut Drive.

Arroyo Park has been one of my favorite spots in Bellingham since I lived here 15 years ago…read more The salmon are just starting to return for their upstream run. (11/11/2018). Last year was very light so, hopefully there will be more this year. Two years ago, there were hundreds running upstream to spawn. When the water, "boils" with their efforts to climb upstream and place their eggs in the same location they were born, it is a marvel of nature we are incredibly blessed to witness. Please keep pets and kids from scaring the salmon as they are expending every ounce of their remaining life energy to reach their soaring location. But, certainly visit and look closely to find the well camouflaged salmon. Many are well over 2-3' in length. You can often see them molting and splashing as they spend their last moments working hard to continue the salmon life cycle.

I accessed the trail from 1206 Birch St. As a…read morewalker/runner, this offers an interesting challenge as it is geared more towards cyclists. A lot of jumps, hills, and steep areas over a large area. As a cyclist, I'm sure that this would be perfect for any level of skill. If on foot, be sure to listen for riders and step off trail. They come down the trails at varying speeds and would likely cause some real injury to themselves or you. Some pathways are quite narrow, so if your legs are exposed, be prepared for scratches. There's a parking area at the end of Birch St which offers about 9 spaces if people park correctly. I didn't notice any bathroom facilities throughout the hour that I was here. This is not my favorite hike but I'll certainly keep it in mind as a close hike from home. For more information: https://wmbcmtb.org/galbraith/

This mountain, privately owned but open to the public, has some of the best mountain biking on the…read morewest coast!!

The Limekiln Preserve neighbors Limekiln Point State Park and Deadman Bay Preserve. It is north of…read moreDeadman Bay Preserve and north/northeast/east of the state park. Signage with 'Limekiln Preserve' on them mark the boundaries on West Side Road to the north and the south. I parked at the parking area furthest north in the preserve that is located on West Side Road across the road from Westside Lake. There are a number of different trails to explore that take you to different places. I ventured along the Quarry Trail, the North Trail, and Coghlan's Trail. These trails take you past some of the former quarry and limekiln sites. Impressive how big the quarry had expanded by the time it ceased its operations in the 1950s after about 100 years of operating. Rock faces are steep and unstable in places, so make sure to stay on the trails and heed the warning signs. I enjoyed that the trails take one past the quarry sites as it let me try and work through what things would have looked like and how they may have operated in the past. I encountered one boundary with the Limekiln Point State Park and found it to be clearly marked where one passes from state park to Limekiln Preserve. I got a little lost on the trails, but referred to the print-out I brought from the website and a picture I took of the map of the trails and found my way again. The Flicker Trail also was enticing and takes you alongside Westside Lake. Decided to save the Flicker Trail for a different time though, good to keep some places unexplored and in reserves for a next visit.