Whatcom Paddlers [Need a seasoned B'ham paddler to replace this text and write this section describing what this non-club is all about and what makes it so great!]
Birch Bay - the long fetch coming from the west and northwest can provide surfable waves with a west wind that does not have to be as high as the amount of wind usually needed in Bellingham Bay. Look here on days with a west or northwest wind starting in the mid teens. Also make sure you are not going to hit low tide and get stranded by the shallow shoreline mud flats.
Deception Pass Challenging, technical surfing 45 minutes from Bellingham.
Ambleside Surf Laps**Tidal rip surfing in downtown Vancouver, BC, an hour away with a Nexus Pass and take your chances without.
Lummi Bay
A Strong south wind coming up Hale's Passage can produce a great 10 mile run from the Lummi Ferry to Gulf Rd Beach.
Always take care with cold water and most years you need to take adequate precaution for dealing with water in the mid 30’s in the winter in our lakes.
You will need an invasive species sticker. Whatcom Boat Inspections The checking station at Lake Whatcom - Bloedel Donovan Park is closed in the winter, but you should always follow the recommended precautions to prevent invasive species spread.
Lake Whatcom - largest of our local lakes. Can get decent downwind waves when wind is blowing in longer fetch directions - from the east being one of the better setups. Can get a lot of motorized traffic in the warmer months. Site of the Wednesday night races during warmer months.
Bloedel Donovan Park relatively large (for Bellingham) park and parking area. Leave the lower parking available for boat trailers in the busy season. You can stop temporarily in the lower area to unload your boat, then park above.
Lake Padden There are several launch sites and a decent amount of parking for a small lake. Padden can get wind, but it is usually the best protected from wind of the local lakes. Please take extra care in avoiding spreading the little snail that has now invaded Lake Padden to other lakes. Location for Monday night interval training during warm months.
Lake Samish
Lake Samish County Park Picnic Area and Beach Parking is pretty limited and the park often gets quite crowded during the summer. You can scope out odd hours when it is less crowded during the summer or go off season when it typically is much less crowded.
Bellingham Bay is cold water paddling. The average monthly water temp varies from 6 degrees Celius (42.8 Fahrenheit) to 13 degrees Celius (55.4 degrees Farenheight). When in doubt, dress to swim.
The Bellingham Coast Guard has a program where you may register your GPS radio and with one button push they will know your location and that you need assistance.
Adaptive Paddling
Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation of Whatcom County (AIROW) held its first adaptive paddling event on June 30, 2019 with 29 participants. Watch for more to come.