Lake Padden — Attraction in Bellingham

Although, the Basketball Court and Hoops are't kept in the best condition,...overall, Lake Padden has so many other great features that it still easily deserves 5 Stars ! ! ! A beautiful maintained trail that goes all of the way around the lake, with lots of benches to rest and enjoy the view. There are lots of Picnic tables and Barbecue pits along the (Sunny) East Bank of the lake. DOG LEASHES REQUIRED AT LAKE PADDEN !!! But there is an off leash dog park area with multiple fenced in areas, at the far south end of the lake. There are also a set of Public Restrooms right next to the Dog Park. 3 Restroom facilities in the total in the park. 1 set of showers. (Closed in winter months) Head North of the Dog Park, and you will find lots of parking spaces and a Softball Field that is also sometimes used for playing Cricket. Next to the Softball Field is a full Basketball Court. The hoops aren't very level. The court's surface is often covered with scattered pine cones, leaves, and tree branches. The backboards have lots of moss growing on them.... (sigh!) 😢 Right next to the Basketball Court is a large set of kid's playground equipment, and 2 covered areas that can be reserved for wedding receptions, birthday parties and other events. There are 3 docks on Lake Padden. One is next to the boat ramp. It's primary use is for loading Boats and Kayaks. There is a handicapped parking space near the bottom of boat ramp (for the convenience of boaters with disabilities). The other two docks are a short walk from any parking areas. They are often used for fishing...

This park is absolutely amazing. This is an amazing place to fish in April. The fishing hatchery always releases between 5 and 10000 trout into this Lake.

I have been bringing my kids here for over a decade and they absolutely love to fish here you could just use simple power bait Powerball rubber balls. I usually use either green or pink. And they're killer for this area. Absolutely the best place to catch trout during peak season.

This place is also nice for swimming. However, keep in mind, you may get swimmer's itch because this is a little bit of a dirty Lake, so swimmer's beware. But going kayaking or boating here is very ideal. The water is always very warm and it's nice to squash around when I was younger. I used to swim all the way across this Lake from the South entrance all the way to the trail.

Space is also nice to take a bicycle ride on There's a nice trail that goes all the way around. If you like to bicycle, this is an amazing place to bring your bikes and ride with either your family or your kids, or if you're just trying to get in shape. And you want to whip around and tire Lake. The trail goes all the way around the entire Lake. Which is also really amazing considering the fact. You can keep doing as many loops as you want.

However, if you're in really bad shape, keep in mind some of the areas around the trail, they stem off into very inclined areas. And you may regret it, so either come with a guide or be aware that you may be sent off on a journey. That is very dangerous and can get you into a...

Lake Padden, cradled in Bellingham’s embrace, is a place unmarred by the rush of modern life. Its waters, clear as a winter’s dawn, mirror the vast, open skies and the dense, unyielding pines. One walks around the lake, the earth firm and yielding beneath their boots, and the air, crisp and filled with the scent of pine and earth, fills the lungs deeply. The lake, a silent companion, listens and reflects.

In the mornings, the mist clings to the water, a ghostly shroud that dances in the light. Fishermen, solitary figures of patience, cast their lines into the still waters. There is a simplicity here, a return to the elemental joys of man and nature.

Kayaks and canoes cut through the water, leaving ripples that tell tales of quiet exploration. Families gather, laughter mingling with the calls of birds, and the world feels right, reduced to the simple joys of water, sky, and earth. In the evening, the sun sets in a blaze of glory, casting golden light upon the water, and the world holds its breath in reverence.

Lake Padden, in its stillness and serenity, is a testament to the enduring beauty of the Pacific Northwest, a beauty that asks for nothing but your presence and rewards...