Brandon Nelson

Lake Whatcom

Nestled between wooded hillsides to the east of Bellingham, Washington rests the largest lake in the county: Lake Whatcom. Carved from a glacier during the last ice age, and filled with rain swept from the Pacific Ocean as well as run-off from the surrounding mountains, the steep cliffs plunge beneath the water’s wind ruffled surface to a depth of 328 ft. With a width of 1.5 miles and a length of 12 miles, Lake Whatcom also serves as a drinking-water reservoir – a rather recent occurrence, when it became apparent in the 1960’s that Lake Padden to the west was too small to fulfill the needs of the growing population in the Bellingham area.

In the past, the lake was used as a convenient means of transporting timber from the surrounding slopes to the mills located at the ends of the lake, such as the Bloedel Donovan Lumber Mill at the north end. Evidence of the continuing economical opportunity of logging in the area can be seen on some of the hills surrounding the lake but the wood is no longer floated down the lake in huge log booms as it once was. Today, boats and fisherman dot the surface of the lake.

Another long past chapter of Lake Whatcom’s history is its coal industry. At the southeast end of the lake in May of 1885, a coal seam was discovered, a find which quickly transformed the area. First, the Blue Canyon Coal Mine was established, followed by the Blue Canyon City, a community for the miners and their families. The coal was transported across the lake in rail cars towed on barges by a steamboat named “Ella.” Later however, it became necessary to build a railway to transport the large amounts of coal more quickly and by 1901 the whole of the north shore of the lake was connected by the Bellingham Bay and Eastern Railroad which transported, at one time, as much as 3,000 tons of coal a month to San Francisco. The mine also supplied the US Navy with coal for its warships for 25 years. However, after about 35 years of operation, several different owners and a few tragic mining accidents, the mine closed for good.

Today’s Lake Whatcom retains a few reminder of its historical past. The 12 acres of land on which the Bloedel Donovan Lumber Mill resided at the north end of the lake was donated to the city of Bellingham in 1946 and was dedicated the Bloedel Donovan Park on August 11, 1948 before a crowd of over 1,000 people. Complete with a beach for swimming, sports fields, a playground, pits for barbeques and tables for picnics, the park has become one of the most popular parks in the area and has the only public boat launch within the city limits on the lake. Many city events are held there annually like the “Kid’s Festival” in August, and it is open daily from 6am-10pm. A gravel trail system, including the Railroad Trail and the Klipsun Trail, are also connected to the park, all of which are relatively short, the longest being 3.2 miles. Bloedel Donovan Park is also the starting point for the annual Lake Whatcom Classic, a 12-mile long boat race, which runs halfway down the lake, around Reveille Island, and back.

 To the east, connected by trails to Bloedel Donovan Park, is Whatcom Falls Park. The falls form as Whatcom Creek runs from the small man-made dam at the north end of the lake, and a walking path follows the water’s turbulent journey over falls and past the Bellingham Hatchery, which supplies the lake annually with rainbow trout. (At the south end of the lake, the Lake Whatcom Hatchery raises Kokanee to be released into the lake.) Perhaps the most well known symbol of this 241-acre park is its moss-covered stone bridge built back in 1939.  Along the creek are many opportunities for swimming and fishing and the park also has tennis and basketball courts, a picnic area and a playground, all of which are open the same hours as Bloedel Donovan Park – 6am to 10pm.

 On the northeast side of the Lake Whatcom, located on the grade of the old railroad, is another popular trail called the Hertz Trail (aka North Lake Whatcom Trail). At 3.1 miles long, the trail is relatively flat and follows the waterside. Open to bikers, hikers, joggers and dog walkers, it also passes a picturesque waterfall and has several beaches and access to the lake. An out and back trail, it is a favorite with families and also offers an information kiosk at its start. In the same area, for those hikers looking for a more challenging trail, there is the Powerline Trail, which follows the BPA powerline access road. It has no official “end” and offers panoramic views of the lake.

Finally, though the majority of the lake is surrounded by waterfront private properties, as Lake Whatcom Boulevard heads south the houses become fewer and the trees on either side thicker. Curving around a bend of the lake at the fork of the South Bay Road and Cain Lake Road, it passes the Whatcom County Fire Station for district 18. Right next to the station is another public boat launch maintained by the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, which is generally less busy than Bloedel Donovan Park’s. Across the small bay from the launch is the sole campground of the lake (though there are several private organizational retreats that can be rented.) The Wildwood Resort offers tent and RV camping, as well as, cabins and has a waterfront and private boat launch open for its guests’ use. It is, however, open only between mid-April and early October.

From its start as an economical resource with coal mining and logging to its evolution into one of the most popular places for family fun in Western Washington, Lake Whatcom has always been an integral part of the community and provides countless opportunities for fun and learning all year long.