New Year, New Hiking Opportunities in Whatcom County Parks

If you’ve resolved to explore new trails in the New Year, new opportunities in the Bellingham area are just in time.

Trail users will find new hiking and biking opportunities outside of Bellingham in Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve, which is managed by Whatcom County Parks. The area has more than 8 miles of trail. Hikers can choose how far they want to hike, how much they want to climb and what experience they want.

Map courtesy Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.

The new Rufus Creek Trail, a gently climbing 4.3-mile multi-use trail, opened in the fall. Other sections of existing trail have been rebuilt and renamed to create a stacked loop system, giving trail users a range of options.

• Lend a hand
• Want to help build or maintain trails in your community? Sign up for a day of volunteer trail work near you.

The Leila June and Waterfall trails, which are designated for hikers only, offer users several loop hike opportunities. The steep, multi-use Baneberry Trail adds other loop options, with bikes limited to traveling uphill only. A new section of the descending Cougar Ridge Trail adds another 1.3 miles of rugged mountain bike trails with ride-around options in the more challenging, technical sections. The Cougar Ridge Trail is currently closed while the finishing touches are being completed, but is expected to open soon.

These trails were built in partnership with volunteers from Washington Trails Association, Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, Whatcom Land Trust, Greater Bellingham Running Club and REI, as well as crews from Whatcom County, the City of Bellingham and Washington Conservation Corps.