The Bellingham Trail Guide is published by the City of Bellingham Parks Department.
Bellingham Trail Guide by section:
- Overview map of trails in Bellingham (PDF)
- Bay to Baker Trail, Little Squalicum Park and Squalicum Creek Park(PDF)
- Bay to Baker Trail and Squalicum Creek Park – detail (PDF)
- Big Rock Garden (PDF)
- Bloedel Donovan Park (PDF)
- Civic Field Complex (PDF)
- Connelly Creek Trail (PDF)
- Cordata Park and Julianna Park (PDF)
- Cornwall Park and Bug Lake (PDF)
- Downtown Trails (PDF)
- Downtown Waterfront Trails (PDF)
- Fairhaven Park (PDF)
- Interurban Trail (PDF)
- Interurban Trail and Arroyo Park (PDF)
- Lake Padden Park (PDF)
- Lake Padden Park East – Detail (PDF)
- Lake Padden Park West – Detail (PDF)
- Lower Lake Padden Park and Fairhaven Park (PDF)
- Northridge Park (PDF)
- Railroad (PDF)
- Sehome Hill Arboretum (PDF)
- South Bay Trail, Boulevard Park and Taylor Dock (PDF)
- South Bay Trail and Taylor Dock detail (PDF)
- South Bay Trail and Boulevard Park Detail (PDF)
- Squalicum Creek Trail and Sunset Pond Park (PDF)
- Whatcom Creek – West (PDF)
- Whatcom Creek – East (PDF)
- Whatcom Falls (PDF)
- City of Bellingham animal-related regulations (PDF)
- Share the Trails guidelines (PDF)
Galbraith Mountain
In July of 2018, the City of Bellingham, Whatcom Land Trust, and Galbraith Tree Farm LLC entered into a purchase and sale agreement that secured the public’s recreational use of up to 65 miles of trails on Galbraith Mountain and protected the area from development in perpetuity. Whatcom Land Trust contributed $250,000 to the purchase and the City of Bellingham Greenway Funds contributed $2.75 million for a total of $3 million.
Galbraith Mountain is located east of Bellingham between Lake Padden and Lake Whatcom and is approximately 1/8 the size of Bellingham, reaching an elevation of 1,785 feet. The total area of the easement is 2,182 acres, with 1,023 of those acres inside the Lake Whatcom watershed. The acquisition adjoins 4,250 acres of public land managed by Whatcom County. As the trail network manager, the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) will be able to expand this world-class trail network and host future events.
Over the last two decades, Galbraith Mountain was developed by WMBC into a nationally recognized mountain biking facility. Galbraith’s trails also support family outings, runners, hikers, and walkers.
With approximately 1,023 acres located directly within the Lake Whatcom Watershed, this agreement provides important protection for Whatcom County’s drinking water supply. Galbraith Mountain will remain a working tree farm, with Galbraith Tree Farm continuing to harvest timber in a sustainable fashion.
An interactive map (not managed by the City of Bellingham) is located here:
Galbraith Mountain Biking Trails | Trailforks.
Native Plant Trail
The Native Plant Trail travels along Whatcom Creek in Maritime Heritage Park and teaches visitors about native plants and wildlife. Though not currently a part of the printed Bellingham Trail Guide, the Native Plant Trail is worth visiting!
Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail Counters
Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department has been collecting trail user data since February of 2011 from infrared trail monitoring equipment installed at various locations in the City. The data results are an approximation of how many people are using trails on a given day and time.
Resources
- Parks Department Contacts
- Trail User Counts
- Parks Guide
- Bellingham Municipal Code pertaining to Parks
Contacts
Parks and Recreation
(360) 778-7000
parks@cob.org
