Bellingham, Washington
August 1 - 29, 2025
So far, Bellingham has been one of my favorite places to stay along this road trip.
Weekday Shoutout: I loved living in the Fairhaven neighborhood for so many reasons, but most importantly thanks to classes at Flux Yoga, it was a perfect place to practice within walking distance of my apartment.
Land Acknowledgement: Bellingham is on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Nooksack, Lummi and other Coast Salish peoples. They have been its stewards since time immemorial, respecting the land, river and ocean with the understanding that everything is connected, related and alive.
Along the Way …
Trail Log:
North Cascades National Park
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm — 11.9 miles ; out & back with just about 4k ft. elevation gain! — saw mountain goats, pikas, and marmots! photos
Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
Chain Lakes Loop Trail — 6.2 miles ; loop photos
Yellow Aster Butte Trail — 8.5 miles ; out & back — one of my favorite hikes! photos
Park Butte Lookout Trail — 7.7 miles ; out & back photos
Hidden Lake Lookout Trail — 8.1 miles ; out & back photos
Ptarmigan Ridge Trail — 11.4 miles ; out & back — a stunning trail for an up-close encounter of Mt. Baker photos
Damfino Lakes Trail to Excelsior Peak — 5.8 miles ; out & back — add on some of the High Divide Trail to extend with epic views! photos
Goat Lake Trail — 10.3 miles ; out & back
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Heather Pass to Maple Pass Trail — 6.6 miles ; loop photos
Blue Lake Trail — 4.6 miles ; out & back
Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Thornton Lakes Trail — 9.5 miles ; out & back photos
Blanchard State Forest
Oyster Dome from Samish Overlook — 4.2 miles ; out & back
Larabee State Park
Fragrance Lake Trail — 4.3 miles ; out & back
Lake Whatcom Park
Lake Whatcom via Hertz Trail — 6.3 miles ; out & back — great for pairing with a swim in Lake Whatcom!
Arroyo Park
Chuckanut Ridge Trail — 7.4 miles ; out & back
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Padilla Bay Trail — 4.4 miles ; out & back
Wildlife I saw: Pikas (on alpine trails), mountain goats, and marmots (this guy was chillin’).
Notable Eats & Drinks …
Iron Rooster Bakery — get there when they open!
Sirena Gelato — excellent gelato in Fairhaven
Leaf & Ladle — women-owned with healthy options
Mallard Ice Cream — keep an eye out for locally sourced ingredients
Breweries:
Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery — women-owned brewery with live music often
Kulshan Brewing Co
Trackside Beer Garden — awesome spot in the summer
El Sueñito Brewing Company — Latino and LGBTQ+ owned
Stemma Brewing Company - Moore St. — a few food trucks to choose from
Terramar Brewstillery — women-owned in Bow
Birdsview Brewing Company — women-owned in Concrete
Coffee:
Cafe Blue — my favorite coffee shop in Bellingham
Makeworth Coffee Roasters — a beautiful and open space to sit and work in
Camber Coffee — loved working from here
Apothecary Coffee — in Sedro-Wooley
dorothea coffee — in Mount Vernon
Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia
Just under a 3-hour drive across the border of Canada from Bellingham, I visited this jewel for a nice and full day!
Trail Log:
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Lake — 11.7 miles ; out & back — paired with a refreshing swim in Garibaldi Lake photos