Trail Running

The Chuckanuts offer some of Bellingham’s best trail running just ten minutes south of downtown. This location is the Pacific Northwest's mini version of Big Sur and the only place where the Cascade mountain range meets the sea. 

A great place to start your run is Larrabee State Park. Ascend 1,000 feet to and around Fragrance Lake or stop earlier at a lookout to soak in views of beautiful Chuckanut Bay. 

For more mileage, continue up the road to the Ridge Trail and enjoy the stunning sights of Mt. Baker.

Looking to climb even higher? Take a short drive east along the Mt. Baker Highway [SR 542] to try any one of the incredible hikes in the Mt. Baker Wilderness. 

Climb up almost 4,000 feet from the valley to the top of knife-edged Church Mountain or ascend slightly less than 1,500 feet to a breathtaking glacier on the well-maintained Heliotrope Ridge Trail. 

Anyone wanting calmer (but still ferny) trails has a couple options closer in the city of Bellingham: 

• Stimpson Nature Reserve along Lake Louise Road between Bellingham and Sudden Valley, includes four beautiful hilly miles of multi-use trails with a couple of loop options.
• Whatcom Falls Park also offers four miles of multi-use trails. This unique location also features a 1939 stone bridge connecting the trails across the park's signature water fall.

• Bellingham Distance Project
• Greater Bellingham Running Club