Get your snowshoes on

Lots of spots for day adventures in the east county

by Christina Claassen
Despite the hit-or-miss snow this season, there is plenty of time and opportunity to get out and play. One easily accessible winter sport, for young and old, is snowshoeing, and Whatcom County has dozens of trails and areas that are perfect for walking on snow.

Bud Hardwick of the Mount Baker Club recently gave a presentation at the Bellingham REI about the various areas in the region people can explore. Actually, his talk was about “67 local snowshoe outings,” and his photographs were enough to entice anyone. He encourages people to explore the hills, woods and mountains on snowshoe because the experience is unique and the sights breathtaking.

So, where does one begin? Right off Mount Baker Highway of course.

The Nooksack Nordic Ski Club offers approximately four miles of snowshoeing trails at Salmon Ridge. (These are in a Sno-Park areas, and therefore require a Sno-Park pass. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up at Crossroads Grocery or Maple Fuels in Maple Falls.) The trails are marked with blue flagging, an easy way for snowshoers to stay in the designated areas. The snowshoeing trails are: Elk Trail (.75 mile), River route (.75 mile), Huckleberry Trail   (1.1 mile) and the rather steep Grizzly Trail (.4 mile).

To get there, travel east on Mount Baker Highway about a half-mile past milepost 46, just across from the Silver Fir Campground area.

Another area to explore is Canyon Lake Community Forest, accessible by going south on Mosquito Lake Road, then left onto Canyon Lake Road. Hardwick said that there was a very big washout on the road, so the gate to the park is closed, (therefore an excursion would begin from the gate). This area is great for a tour around the lake, or a longer day-trip following the ridge. If going further to find the viewpoint, which includes views of Mount Baker and the Sisters range, as well as old growth stands, expect to travel more than 10 miles round trip. Consult with maps for this route.

Some other spots Hardwick recommended past Glacier are West Church Ridge, which has open views and peaceful forest glades. Coal Pass (FS 39) is a more challenging outing and requires avalanche knowledge. Nooksack Falls and the Wells Creek Basalt Bluffs were also suggested for spectacular views. Caution is required around the falls and crossing the bridge, and he did not recommend going down Wells Creek Road, which is a major avalanche risk area. Another option in the area is Hannegan Road, especially following the Nooksack River. He mentioned the Jerry Bourne Connector Trail, which the Forest Service has flagged and leads to a historical gold quarry dump.

The Mount Baker Ski Area obviously provides various access points and opportunities. Hardwick said Picture Lake is good for beginners, kids, and those looking for amazing pictures. Snowshoers can make a picturesque loop. “You feel like you’re in the wilderness even though you’re in a low place,” Hardwick said.

And of course, there is always the Heather Meadows area. You can’t beat the beauty there, especially on a clear day. Park in the lot near the end of Mount Baker Highway, throw on your shoes and head out.

Hopefully these areas will help get you started on a snowshoe outing this winter. Be sure to learn about safety and avalanche awareness before taking off, and follow maps for better route-finding. For the best information check out the Forest Service website (fs.fed.us/r6/mbs),  the Mount Baker Club’s website (mountbakerclub.org) and the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club site, which has a specific snowshoe page at nooksacknordicskiclub.org/snowshoe.html.

Christina Claassen lives in Bellingham and is a freelance writer and editor. She loves to craft and bake, and explore the outdoors.