Really lovely area to explore the rocky coast of Washington. Free entry, free parking, plenty of…read moreplaces to explore, hike, enjoy a picnic, play on playgrounds, you name it. A bit secluded which just adds to its allure in my book. Love the coupling of large trees and rock beach right next to each other, such a unique thing to experience.

Birch Bay is probably in the Top 3 of my favorite state parks. It's in an idyllic, bayside setting,…read morewith a huge campground and lots to do in the area. I spent many a summer weekend tent camping there with my kids, and recently returned to camp again for the long weekend over July 4th. As any local will tell you, the Birch Bay area is THE place to be to celebrate and over-the-top Independence Day. Since my tent camping with kids days I've upgraded to a small teardrop travel trailer. Luckily, the majority of sites at the BBSP campground accommodate smaller travel trailers. They even have water/electric hookup sites but these are almost impossible to procure. Still, it was fun to boondock for four nights at one of their many double/group sites - which we shared with some friends. I was thankful for having a trailer, because it rained HARD for two of the days we were there and everything was soaked. Our group site (107/108) was also located near a bog so it got especially muddy. Still, we didn't let it ruin the fun - but it was a good reminder that it's never a bad idea to bring extra awnings and canopies on these PNW camping trips. The park itself is well-managed, with rangers regularly circulating and a camp host on duty most of the day. The bathrooms are clean and serviced regularly, and there are coin-op showers to keep you clean. The beach is a short walk from the campground, and an amazing place to watch sunsets. We also rode bikes into the village - it's perfectly level and there's a bike lane most of the way. We ended up at the local brewery, which was right across from the beach and a great place to listen to some live music and enjoy the weekend. Birch Bay State Park will always be on my radar for great, not-too-far-away, family-friendly camping spots. Reserve early for best selection!

It's nice to walk on the boardwalk and later stop at the Boulevard Park for kids to have some fun,…read morewhile enjoying the bay breeze and some sunshine. Boardwalk and park area is very clean, with public restrooms available nearby.

We love this gorgeous, well maintained park! The pirate play area is really cute and has some…read moreunique features like a treasure tumble (you roll it to see shells) and a "plank" you can walk/jump on. Past the park and onto the boardwalk- there is plenty of unique wildlife to see- herons, seagulls, and star fish! The beach is rocky but easy to navigate and a great place to throw or collect rocks. This is truly a great walk for playing with toddlers, having a picnic or enjoying a walk.

Nice lake. Kids play area, seasonal boating via launch and rentals, and deceivingly large lake…read more Initial view near the office appears the lake is in front of you when in fact behind the office is twice as much lake area. Fishing from the shore is doable but a small water craft is advisable for best access to larger fish at deeper depth.

In May 2021 we were staying nearby and decided to follow the road to Silver Lake! WOW! Kudos to…read moreWhatcom County for providing this beautiful park! We observed people fishing from boats and from the dock. There were friendly geese. I wore out the battery in my camera taking pictures of the scenery and the flowers. Starting on Memorial day rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboats will be available for rental. Nice!

Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail is a solid kick in the pants with 1500 ft of elevation gain in 1.5…read moremiles. I spent two days camping at Pine Lake and saw one other person. Another bonus is that the hills mask the hum if I-5. There are plenty of boot tracks to explore along the North Shore. A very peaceful place with solitude in spades!

Great hike. I made it a loop and ended up at Falls Drive and walked along the main road back to the…read moretrailhead. I went alone and didn't encounter a single person in the 4-5 hours it took for me to do the loop. Not all maps show the trail that leads off so you can make the loop. You go to the south from an off shoot in between cedar and Pine lake. The trails at this point are very overgrown. There is more opportunities to go on trails but I stuck on the service roads for the most part. Lots of good lookout points over Lake Samish. The original hike to get to Pine and Cedar lake is very steep. Once you get past that point it is more rolling hills or flat. I highly recommend turning left and heading toward the overlook NW of Cedar lake. Great views of the San Juan's and on the other side you can see Baker. For the Lakes there is camping opportunities available (primitive). Also there are no toilets available. Swimming in the lakes might be possible but they look as if the water is stagnant and there is much muck. I'm only knocking it down because of the hill. The overgrown section isn't part of this trail but is a fun way to go if you want more mileage and to make a loop of it. Just be aware you will be walking back along the road and there is little to no shoulder at times so walk towards the oncoming traffic to step out of the way when they approach.

Good part for the kids to run around as well as trails to do Walks open area picnic tables very…read morefamily, friendly, pet friendly please clean up after your pet though.

We found this place by accident while on a different nature walk. It's gorgeous! The playground was…read morebeautiful, the grassy fields are perfectly maintained and the "watch tower" was such a great surprise! 100% will recommend this place to everyone I know! Pack a lunch and go enjoy some beautiful scenery!

If you're staying at the bellwether Or just cruising the waterfront, The Commons as little places…read moreto eat some nice restaurants And a great place to wander around at the point., For mance close to the Marina so I can get off the boat and go up and have a sandwich or sushi or a great steak

Public courtyard by Hotel Bellwether. Great view of the islands, WWU and of Mount Baker. At…read moreentrance to marina. Nice place to sit and watch people, boats and nature. Several metal chairs and lots of benches. Bellingham view from downtown south to Fairhaven. Bring a jacket it coat, it can be windy and 10 to 15 degrees cooler here. Enjoy!

Charming and easy trail, lined with wild blackberry thickets And clean bathrooms! We only went…read morepart way, because we ran out of time

I was visiting friends and we stopped here for a walk on the boardwalk and visit to a small rock…read morebeach. Nice, dusty, trail lined with blackberry bushes and the occasional sweet pea vine. A few hundred feet from where we started there is a tee where you can continue on the sidewalk or head down to the boardwalk that is about 35' over the water. The boardwalk is nice and wide with a couple of points along the way to stop and drink in the view. The day of this visit was super warm, ~90 degrees, and it was a nice treat to walk down to the beach once the boardwalk hit earth again. There were shells and rocks to pick through, and overall the beach wasn't busy at all. When I say beach I mean like 40ft X 20ft of sand and rocks before the water. There is neat rock foundation that the ocean carved into that could be cool bouldering if there were more surface area available. The address says Bellingham, but there is this place called Fairhaven that existed 200 years ago but was enveloped into Bellingham over time. So, if you're asking for direction in the new Bellingham area mention Fairhaven to reduce confusion.

Moran state park was top of our list to visit while on Orcas Island. It's a beautiful park to…read morevisit, with unbelievable views and you can drive to the top making the views accessible to everyone. You need a Discovery Pass to park at the park. They have lovely lakes, and amazing trails to explore them. We completed a couple lake trails and absolutely enjoyed them. So calming and peaceful. A must visit while on Orcas Island.

My family and I had a beautiful visit to this park. It's small. It's on the island and there's a…read morelot of historic buildings around and it was worth the side trip. Located in a beautiful area next to the water plenty of places to walk around and the tallest mountain in the San Juan Island Chain, is something to cherish. Plan a little bit of extra time for the walking. It's not hard and it's absolutely gorgeous there. I meant the Ranger both of them and they were absolutely great history. They know how to treat a you. Thank you people for showing us incredible hospitality, and immaculate Property. It was very clean very well. Every corner is a picture waiting to be taken.