With an abundance of parks, trails, and towering evergreens right outside our doors, camping is among the most popular summer activities for families in Bellingham and Whatcom County! Bring your RV, tent, or find local accommodations that will fill that desire to commune with nature.
Discover hiking and camping around Whatcom County. Learn tips and see what to expect about spending time exploring one location - Anderson-Watson Lakes!
Oostema Farmstead offers 7 individual RV sites, all with fabulous views of sweeping farmlands and mountains. They also offer a little farmhouse and glamping farm cabin.
If you are looking for a quiet, rural location where you can park your RV with trees, grassy sites, individual fire pits, and breathtaking views, then Oostema Farmstead is the perfect place for you.
The closest RV park to Mt. Baker! Monthly stays here are perfect for skiers or hikers looking for a cozy home base for their adventures.
Includes 30 full hook-up RV sites, tent camping, clean bathrooms, hot showers, laundry, and Wi-Fi at every site.
Set on the seaward side of Chuckanut Mountain near Bellingham, Larrabee State Park is known for its postcard views of Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands. The park is also notable as it was Washington's first state park.
The park offers a unique opportunity to pitch a tent on famed Chuckanut Drive. Campers are also in reach of activities such as boating, paddling, fishing, shellfish harvesting, diving, and teeming tide pools.
This park is perfect for quiet contemplation, a romantic date, or a playful family outing.
Located in a blue cove between Bellingham and Blaine, WA, Birch Bay State Park is away from the hustle and bustle without being too far from urban amenities.
Take a walk along the rock-strewn beach with dramatic views of the Canadian Gulf Islands and jagged North Cascade Mountains. Birders should head onto the Terrell Marsh interpretive trail to a rare saltwater and freshwater estuary teeming with birds and other creatures, including great blue herons.
Silver Lake Park is located in the serene Mount Baker Foothills, accessible from the Mt. Baker Highway and Silver Lake Road.
The park offers multiple camping areas including two RV campgrounds with water and electric hookups, one tent campground with no hookups, and a group camp suitable for RVs. The park also offers a selection of cabins for rent.
Located in Point Roberts, on the southern tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, this 21 acre oceanfront park is one of the best places to view Orca whales from land.
Sit on a log and gaze out on the Strait of Georgia from the rocky beach. The park offers camping, beach access, picnic areas, a playground, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
The best spot for camping on U.S. Forest Service land in Whatcom County is at beautiful Baker Lake. Take your pick of the following campgrounds:
Another backcountry camping location is at Anderson and Watson Lakes. [Want to see a full camping experience? Watch the video above!]
Information from the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Website:
"Dispersed camping is the term used for camping in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Typically, it refers to roadside car camping, but also refers to backpacking in undeveloped sites. Dispersed camping means there are no services like trash removal, and amenities such as toilets, tables and fire pits, are not usually available."
"It is your responsibility to plan ahead and learn the extra skills necessary for dispersed camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers."
Learn more about dispersed camping in the forest here.
The North Cascades Learning Center offers a camp-like experience for those who like to be outdoors, but also enjoy the comforts of lodging.
Roughly two hours from Bellingham, North Cascades National Park offers jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys and witness some of the steepest mountains in the lower-48.
The park offers numerous campsites along with plenty of epic backcountry camping destinations.
