Silver Lake Park

We recently stayed at Silver Lake Park in Maple Falls for the first time. We checked it out last summer and thought it would be a fun place to stay. If you're a Whatcom County resident you get first dibs on reservations until April and also a 10% discount. You have to bring a valid drivers license with proof of Whatcom County address or a recent property tax statement to get your discount. Then you will receive your refund when you check in at the lodge. Beware you won't get any cell service out there.  If you're looking for a fun, family-friendly place to camp that's less than an hours drive from Bellingham, check out Silver Lake Park. They have swimming, boating, fishing, walking trails and a kids playground.

They have four campgrounds in the park.
Maple Creek has RV and tent sites.
Cedar has tent sites only.
Red Mountain is a horse camp with a stable for people who like to camp with horses.
Group Camp for large groups.
 (pictured above a campsite in the Cedar campground)
The park only has vault toilets except for the main bathroom near the lodge that has coin-op showers and flush toilets.





They also have six cabins you can reserve and a day lodge with a 3-bedroom suite.
The cabins are all located along the lake. Each one has a different layout. Baker cabin is the most expensive since it is the only one with a bathroom inside. There is a vault toilet nearby for the other cabins to use. Only one of the cabins accepts pets and you have to pay extra. We reserved the cabin named Sumas since we had seen it before on our day trip and liked it the best. It also has a separate bedroom, which some of the others do not. I also think it has the best view of the lake out of all the cabins. The cabins were built in the 1940's and have been maintained well. Each one has a deck with lake views. They also have a fridge, four burner stove, sink, and a propane fireplace in each cabin. Which we were glad to have as it was cold and rainy the whole trip. The cabins are not supplied with anything, so you need to bring all your own bedding and cooking supplies etc.

Sumas Cabin with Lake in Background

  Inside of cabin. Has two double beds and a table.

Nice kitchen with sink, full sized fridge and freezer, and gas burning stove.

Third double bed in separate room.  

Lake view deck

View of the back deck from the lake

Really nice playground for kids in the park

Snack area inside the day lodge. They sell candy and drinks, also t-shirts, fishing bait, and firewood.

Nice room inside the Day Lodge with beautiful lakeside views. You can hang out and have snacks and play some board games. They also rent this out for weddings etc, there was one happening during our stay. 

At the Lodge, you can rent rowboats, pedal boats, canoes and stand up paddle boards. Available per hour or for the whole day.  We tried the Pedal boats since I haven't been on one since I was a kid. They are a lot harder to pedal than I remember but still fun. I enjoyed going out on my kayak a lot more.

I noticed the lake is quite popular for fishing. We didn't get our fishing licenses this year but a nice man who was fishing by our cabin gave us his trout he caught for the day. So we cooked it up for dinner that night. Was delicious and a nice treat.

Cold and Cloudy most of the time. 

Far over the misty mountains cold

Getting There: From Bellingham Head NE on Sunset drive/WA-542 stay on WA-542 passing through 3 traffic circles for about 23 miles. Turn Left onto Silver Lake Rd. Follow for 3.5 miles then you will see the sign for Silver Lake Park on your right. 

Lake Whatcom Park - Chanterelle Trail

I did my first solo hike on Saturday, June 9th. I've wanted to do it forever but was to chicken to try. The Chanterelle Trail was built last summer and opened on Sept. 30. It is 2.4 miles out and back with a 1000 ft elevation gain, up to epic views of Lake Whatcom. In 2014 the state transferred 8,844 acres of forest land around Lake Whatcom to the County. They plan to create a network of trails in the area totaling 98 miles. The Chanterelle Trail starts at Lake Whatcom Park parking lot. Don't get confused like me and go down the Hertz trail in the first parking area, walk further down to the second parking area where the trailhead starts. I'm not normally a fan of high elevation gain and switchbacks but this trail wasn't that bad. The switchbacks were longer and not as steep as other trails I have been on, so if your not in that great of shape and want to try a tougher hike this would be a good one. The trail is shared with bikers on the way up, but they are required to use the Wickersham road to descend back down until they build a separate trail. I saw a biker coming down the trail on my way up and wanted to yell at her, so make sure you follow the rules if you plan to bike up. The trail crosses the road three times on the way up, so watch for bikers when you cross. I like how they have signs at the road crossings telling you how many miles are left to the top. Hikers can descend back down the Wickersham road if they want, it is supposed to be an easier route but longer. I opted for the trail both ways for a more scenic route.  Pets are allowed, so please be responsible and clean up after them. Doggy bags are available at the beginning of the trail. Porta Potty is located in the parking lot.

One of the three road crossings on the trail

View from the top 

The viewing area at the top with big rocks you can sit and rest on.

If your super out of shape and want to try an easy and flat hike the Hertz Trail is a good one, which is located in the same parking lot. 

On my drive back home I stopped for a nice lunch at the Fork at Agate Bay to reward myself for my first solo hike. Located just 3.2 miles back down the road from Lake Whatcom Park.

I decided to sit outside because it was a nice day. Most items on the menu were reasonably priced between $10 - $15. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. Open for breakfast and lunch on weekends only, and Dinner is available Wednesday through Sundays. I ordered the Shrimp n Grits from the small plates section and a cup of soup. 

Getting to Lake Whatcom Park: Take exit 255 toward Sunset Dr. Toward WA-542E/Mt Baker Turn R onto Barkley Blvd. Follow for 2.5 miles. Turn R onto Britton Rd. Turn L onto North Shore Dr. Follow until you reach your destination.

Horseshoe Bend Trail

Finally got out on a hike again. I've been waiting for spring to arrive. I've had this one on my to do
list for a while, and it didn't disappoint. It's 3 miles out and back each way. Mostly easy to moderate with a few steep little hills. It follows along the Nooksack river with beautiful views along the way. I wouldn't recommend this trail for kids because it has a few scary drop off areas. It is pet-friendly though, we passed several people with dogs along the trail. No restrooms at the trailhead, but just 1.8 miles South off the main road is the Glacier Public Service Center that has really nice public restrooms.  They also have a Visitor Center with maps and information but they are only open Saturdays and Sundays. There is a nice picnic area behind the restroom building. Across the street from the trailhead is the Douglas Fir Campground open the end of May - September.

Getting There: Take Mt. Baker highway to MP 35. Trailhead is on the right just after the river bridge across from the Douglas Fir Campground.

Stimpson Family Nature Reserve

I love that there are so many amazing hiking trails right here in Whatcom County. This is one of my favorite hikes so far and I can't wait to go again. So much greenery and foliage. I really love seeing the ferns and mosses growing all along the trail. I spotted several wildflowers like bleeding hearts, buttercups and also some wild mushrooms. This is one of those trails where you just feel like your in a fairytale forest.  It is a beginner friendly hike with a little bit of elevation gain, total length is about 5 miles. It consists of two loops. The main loop is about 3 miles and the smaller one is about 2 miles and circles around the Geneva pond. Since this trail is right inside Bellingham it can get pretty crowded so go on a weekday if you can.

Getting there:  Take 1-5 to the Lakeway Dr exit, Follow Lakeway Drive for almost 3 miles continue onto Terrace Ave N, then continue onto Cable St. turn right onto Austin St. which becomes Lake Louise Rd. Parking lot to the trail is on the left.

Tennant Lake Boardwalk Trail

This is one of the most unique trails I have ever been on. When you first arrive there is a beautiful fragrance garden in bloom during spring and summer. The old Farmhouse on the grounds is now used as an interpretive center with wildlife displays and maps. There is a  50-foot viewing tower that gives you amazing views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The boardwalk trail is a 1-mile loop trail through wetland and marshes.  The trail is Closed October-January for waterfowl hunting season. Public restrooms are on site.

Getting there:  From I-5 take exit 262/Ferndale Main street. Head east on Main street, Tunt Left on Hovander Rd. then right onto Nielsen Ave. 

Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve

This is a great Family friendly hike near Birch Bay State Park. It is located outside of the park so you don't need a discover pass to get in. The trail is an easy 3/4 miles with amazing views of the Strait of Georgia and the San Juan Islands. The whole trail is flat and wheelchair accessible except for the staircase down to the beach. But you can still experience the awesome views without going down to the beach. They don't allow dogs on this trail so you'll have to leave them at home for this one. No restrooms,  but I have seen a porta-potty near the entrance to the trail. I have hiked this trail in both the fall and winter and it is a great hike any season.

Getting there: Take 1-5 N to exit 266 Grandview Rd.  Turn Left onto WA-548/Grandview Rd. Go 6 miles when you reach the traffic circle continue straight onto Grandview Rd. for 2.5 miles continue onto Koehn Rd. Destination will be on the left