Beaches in Bellingham: Where to Find Shoreline and What to Plan

Bellingham’s shoreline choices differ by setting and activities: Boulevard Park and Locust Beach face Bellingham Bay, while Bloedel-Donovan Park has a swimming area on Lake Whatcom.

Boulevard Park combines beach access with overwater boardwalks, a fishing dock, trails, viewpoints, picnic tables, a playground, restrooms and a food concession.

Locust Beach offers a larger stretch of public beach and tidelands, with activities including kiteboarding, skimboarding, wading, birding, beach walking and picnicking. At Bloedel-Donovan Park, you’ll find unsupervised swimming alongside boat launches, fishing access, play areas and sports facilities.

For an outing away from the shoreline, Sehome Hill Arboretum’s trails and views offer a different setting.

Boulevard Park is a Bellingham Bay waterfront park in the South Hill neighborhood, along South State Street and Bay View Drive.

Plan to combine time by the water with the park’s boardwalks, trails or viewpoints. The South Bay Trail and Taylor Dock connect the park with Fairhaven. Parking is available at Boulevard Park and South State Street, with trail access at 10th Street and Mill Avenue.

The park is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Restrooms are at 470 Bayview Drive, with hours from dawn to dusk.

Locust Beach gives you access to more than 200 acres of public beach and tidelands on northeast Bellingham Bay.

Reach the shoreline by the existing trail from Locust Road. The range of activities includes kiteboarding, skimboarding, wading, birding, beach walking and picnicking, so the beach suits a different kind of visit from a park with a defined swimming area.

The City has described parking and access improvements at the Greenway property on Locust Road at Marine Drive as planned, dependent on funding and permitting approval. Check current access conditions before setting out.

Bloedel-Donovan Park has a public swimming area on Lake Whatcom, with swimming unsupervised.

The park is at 2214 Electric Avenue. Along with swimming, you can use the power-boat launch, hand-carry launch for kayaks and canoes, fishing access, picnic tables, play areas and sports facilities.

The City says a sand filter installed along the shoreline helps treat stormwater to protect Lake Whatcom water quality. For a different park outing, Whatcom Falls Park’s trails and waterfalls offer an inland alternative.

Daily hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Year-round restrooms are at the park, with hours from dawn to dusk. Dogs may be off leash from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. year-round; wet-weather turf damage can affect where off-leash access is allowed.

Check opening hours, access details and water conditions before choosing a Bellingham beach.

For a park outing with facilities, Boulevard Park and Bloedel-Donovan Park both have daily hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Restroom hours at both parks are dawn to dusk. At Bloedel-Donovan, swimming is unsupervised, so plan accordingly.

From White Orchid, you can make your choice based on the shoreline and activities you want; check the official site before you go for current park information.

Which Bellingham beach has a swimming area?

Bloedel-Donovan Park has a public swimming area on Lake Whatcom. Swimming is unsupervised.

Where can you find a beach on Bellingham Bay?

Boulevard Park and Locust Beach both have Bellingham Bay shoreline. Locust Beach provides access to more than 200 acres of public beach and tidelands.

Can you walk trails at Boulevard Park?

Yes. Boulevard Park has trails, and the South Bay Trail and Taylor Dock connect it with Fairhaven.

Are there boat launches at Bloedel-Donovan Park?

Yes. The park has a power-boat launch and a hand-carry launch for kayaks and canoes.