You might feel like you've wandered into the North Cascades when you venture into this enormous wooded park. The wild region bisects Bellingham's eastern suburbs, stretching from Lake Whatcom to Bellingham Bay. Changes in elevation are marked by four waterfalls, including Whirlpool Falls, a popular summer swimming hole with a historic mossy bridge across it, just steps from the parking lot. There are 4 miles of trails in the park as well as picnic tables and recreational facilities.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
24.88 MILES
Spencer Spit State Park is one of only four state parks on the San Juan archipelago. Two sand spits have formed a marshy lagoon that is a prime spot for…
23.19 MILES
Halfway between La Conner and Mt Vernon, this renowned bulb producer has color-drenched fields of blooms as well as a truly spectacular display garden…
19.13 MILES
In 1911 Robert Moran donated 7 sq miles of his property to create this park on the eastern saddlebag of Orcas Island. The park is dominated by 2409ft Mt…
Fort Langley National Historic Site
29.56 MILES
The Fort Langley you see today is the second incarnation of a fort first built as a fur-trading post in 1827 at a site 4km west of its current location…
25.33 MILES
Saved from possible development when it was bought for $18.5 million as public land in 2007, Orcas' second mountain (rising to 1519ft) was in private…
25.76 MILES
Deception Pass State Park straddles the eponymous steep-sided water chasm that flows between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands, and incorporates lakes, islands,…
Whatcom Museum of History & Art
2.4 MILES
This revamped museum is spread over three buildings: historic Whatcom City Hall (built in 1892), the adjacent Syre Education Center (photo archives, open…
25.04 MILES
This worthwhile art gallery has a large collection of paintings by the influential Northwest Mystics, a loosely related group of regional artists such as…
Nearby attractions
1. SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention
2.36 MILES
This museum showcases more than 2000 exhibits relating to the early days of electricity and the golden age of radio. And if you're over 18 and willing to…
2. Whatcom Museum of History & Art
2.4 MILES
This revamped museum is spread over three buildings: historic Whatcom City Hall (built in 1892), the adjacent Syre Education Center (photo archives, open…
3. Western Washington University
2.68 MILES
Founded in 1893 as a teacher training institute, WWU was redesignated as a university in 1977. The WWU Visitors Information Center can provide details of…
2.81 MILES
The collection in this Western Washington University gallery includes tapestries by Alexander Calder and several paintings by key nature-focused Northwest…
7.37 MILES
This coastal park holds 15 miles of trails that go up to a viewpoint or lead to a rocky stretch of Samish Bay shoreline. There's also a campground.
15.64 MILES
Boaters and beach fans come to Clark Island for marine camping and moorage.
18.23 MILES
The maritime museum contains the restored hulk of the WT Preston snagboat, the last sternwheeler that operated on Puget Sound between 1929 and 1981,…