Bellingham’s Newest Waterfront Trail Open for Walkers

Bellingham’s newest trail is now open. The Waterfront Trail starts at the Hotel Bellwether and winds around the old Georgia-Pacific (ASB) Aeration Stabilization Basin Pond. There are great views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands from the trail. The route is accessible from Bellwether Way to the ASB breakwater with some hidden beach access.

The trail is a portion of the Waterfront District Redevelopment plan that the Port and the City of Bellingham are cooperating on with the community. The plan will redeveloping 237 acres on Bellingham’s central waterfront formerly a pulp and tissue manufacturing facility owned and used by Georgia Pacific. The city and port are looking to create a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood with parks and trails and even thousands of new jobs. This surely won’t happen overnight; it will happen slowly in phases over the next 40-50 years before the project is completely done. This is the beginning the trail will be extended, to connect with existing trail at Boulevard Par and go all the way to Fairhaven.

This area was used for  industrial operations for many years, and the soil and beach are contaminated. Different cleanup options to address this contamination are being considered.  Take heed and stay on the trail to minimize potential exposure to contaminants and avoid traffic.