Maritime Heritage Park — Attraction in Bellingham

Heritage Park is one of those rare places that manages to feel like a hidden sanctuary right in the middle of town. If you’re looking for a peaceful, educational, and visually stunning escape from the bustle of city life, this park is an absolute must-see. I give it five stars without hesitation.

The first thing that struck me about Heritage Park was the feeling of being transported to a different world. Even though you're still technically in the city, the surroundings immediately shift. The air feels fresher, the sounds of traffic fade, and you’re enveloped by the beauty of nature. It’s a perfect balance of well-maintained trails and wild, natural scenery. Back to the wildlife I've been to almost every US State and have never seen or heard of black squirrels or purple head mallards. Very nice experience. Sorry the pics weren't better

I saw my very first Sequoia—or Redwood—tree here, and even though it wasn’t a towering giant, it was an awe-inspiring moment. These trees are living legends, and seeing one up close was an unforgettable experience. That alone made the visit worth it for me.

But the park offers so much more. A scenic creek winds its way through the grounds, adding both movement and sound to the landscape. Following the trails alongside this creek was incredibly peaceful. The trails are clean, well-marked, and offer something for everyone, from casual walkers to curious learners.

What really sets Heritage Park apart is its educational value. Along the paths, there are numerous interpretive plaques that provide fascinating information about the birds, trees, and ecosystem you're walking through. These signs helped me appreciate the diversity and richness of the local environment—something I might have missed without the thoughtful explanations. I spotted a variety of birds flitting among the trees, and even saw a few species I’d never encountered before.

Eventually, the trail leads to a lovely little waterfall that adds a touch of magic to the walk. What really caught my attention were the smooth, circular carvings in the bedrock beneath the falls—unique natural features created by the movement of the water over time. There’s even a bridge crossing the creek near this spot, offering great views and photo opportunities.

Just beyond the bridge is a salmon fish ladder that leads to a hatchery. It’s incredible to witness how thoughtfully this park integrates natural beauty, wildlife support, and education. Watching the salmon navigate the ladder is humbling, and it gave me a greater appreciation for the efforts made to protect these creatures and their environment.

Heritage Park isn’t just a place to stretch your legs—it’s a destination that feeds the soul. Whether you're there for the nature, the history, the wildlife, or just to escape for a while, it has something special to offer. It’s clear that the community takes great care of this space, and that love shows in every corner. I highly recommend visiting and taking your time to truly absorb all it has to offer. Heritage Park is a true gem in Bellingham, and it deserves every one of...

I love going to this park because of all the different variety of plants. Also love walking over their bridge and checking out the creek. I feel so surrounded by all of the nature of there environment. Super cool that they have label of the plants with their scientific names. Makes it much easier for me to read the label of a particular plant without having to guess. My favorite time is during summer time when the salmon are around to spawn. I love to come and check out their hatchery to get to see the different stages of the Salmon cycle. Only downside about this park is all the homeless people hanging around. You do run into a few people who seem to be acting very crazy. I did run into a lady having a full conversation with herself that she was literally screaming. On occasionally you do happened to find a few camp sites under the bridge area. Most of the time they'll leave you alone if you happen to...

At the park I was disheartened. Sence I was their age 15, they haven't been keeping original heritage. They took out the dam,drain the lake swimming hole.fish ladder taken out,all done illegally violating heritage park act.dissalowing conssesion food stands, chamber commerce hotdog hamburgers pop restaurant's building out,paddle boats removed,only 2$ per hr, calibrations started July 1st threw august 21st. Public conssesion food stands played spot rent 70's 10% of their take or 6.00$ a day, upper south walkway from oak tree around bend, front steps down to water trail. High school student life guard, swimming from noon to 7:00pm everyday.I remember like it was yesterday.see picture of the lake in images,fish hatchery was controlled by lummy tribe,they did celebrations attractions,if you want it back to heritage original write chamber of congress...