Surfski Knowledge Base

Largest of Bellingham lakes, can be good for flatwater and occasional downwind paddles (Safer than the Bay if the Bay is too rough, but take care with very cold water in winter). Flatwater paddling is better at the edges of the day in summer or during the off season when there is not as much motorized traffic on the lake.

Reivers Dustin “Lake (Whatcom) is nice: fresh water, good safety, less cross-chop, waves never get mean. But I've been on the lake in big air when the waves never really got surfable. So it's a direction thing as well as wind velocity….”

Can get decent downwind waves when wind is blowing in longer fetch directions - from the east or southeast being some of the better setups. Probably don't have to worry about motorized boat traffic so much in downwinding conditions.

• L. Whatcom Southerly Boat Launch to L. Whatcom Park Trailhead - approx. 4 miles
• L. Whatcom Southerly Boat Launch to Bloedel Donavan Park - approx. 9 miles
• Lk.Whatcom Downwind Reports
  • Waves on Lk. Whatcom 2009
  • Gale warnings 2012

• Station near Smith Creek if no one has visited this site sometimes it will report old data - but it seems to get back in sync again after there have been more recent visits - so if the data is old, give it a day and it may get current again. Also its location is a bit protected and will probably be showing wind speed that is somewhat less than the wind on the lake.

• 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. Site of the Wednesday night races during warmer months.
• Lake Whatcom Park Trailheadhttp://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/2098/Lake-Whatcom-Parkthere is a small parking area close to the water
• AM/PM Beaches, Sudden Valley - small beaches belonging to Sudden Valley sometimes used for downwinding launch with S/SE winds. On the SW side of lake across the lake from Lake Whatcom park trailhead.
  • 31 Morning Beach Dr, Bellingham, WA 98229, USA
• Lake Whatcom Southerly Boat Launch (Wa. Fish & Wildlife) Need Discover Pass to Park
• Western Washington University's Lakewood Facility (For students, alumni, faculty/staff) - you can also purchase seasonal access pass if you participate in senior education program at Western.
• RL used to have a home on Agate Bay??