Destination
Back to the beginning
Directions
Take I-5 to exit 246. Northbound travelers, turn left onto Samish Way. Southbound travelers, turn right, cross over the Interstate, then turn left onto Samish Way. Follow the road until you see the entrance to Lake Padden Park on your left. After entering the park, continue past the golf course entrance, continue through a forested area, and park near the south end of the lake in the lot above the basketball courts/playground area.
Note that there are two different entrances to Lake Padden Park on Samish Way. One entrance is shared with the Golf Course as mentioned above. The other entrance, a little farther north, is near the swimming area. Unless you are interested in adding a couple miles to your trek, use the entrance shared with the golf course.
From the parking lot above the basketball courts/playground area, start on the trail near the playground area near the shore of the lake. Head south along the trial. Heading north takes you along the main trail encircling the lake.
Notes
The trail system around Lake Padden is open year-round and heavily used by hikers, joggers, walkers, mountain-bikers, and horse-riders. Be sure to give the right-of-way to the equestrians and be on the lookout for mountain-bikers. This hike starts off on part of the main trail that encircles the lake. Follow the trail to the South and after a short distance, you'll reach the first spur where you'll want to keep left.
Leave an open section of trail and enter a canopy-enveloped one. After leaving the forest you'll come to a clearing with power-lines dominating the skyline.
At the next fork, continue to the right. You'll head up a decent sized hill. At the next fork, again, continue to the right to a steep, twisty, downward part of the trek. At the next fork, go left. Eventually, after a series of ups-and-downs, you'll reconnect with the main trail where you left it earlier. From here, continue back to the playground area to finish.
If you're up for adding about 2 miles to your trek, instead of heading back to the rig along the main trail where you came in from, head up the hill following the main trail. Note that there are many different forks along the trail around the lake for extending the hike. If you stick to the main trail, you'll make it back to the rig.
This is a gem of an area so close to Bellingham.