Outdoors - Hiking and Trails

POSTED: Friday, Apr. 04, 2008

Hovander Homestead Park: Great walk for birding

This is a gem of a walk on a clear day with its wide-open vistas and views of the Nooksack River, woodlands and wetlands. Bring your binoculars and your birding field guide. There are tons of the winged wonders out here making a cacophony of noise — quacking, chirping, honking and whatever other words you would use to describe bird calls.

This route will start from the parking lot for the boat launch for the Nooksack River, then wind its way to Hovander Homestead Park. Stop for a while at the park. The barn and farm animals — goats, chickens, rabbits, peacocks and more — will please the kids, while the grownups will enjoy seeing old farm tools on display and touring historically rich Hovander House, when it’s open for the summer season.

Then pick the trail back up to go to Tennant Lake Interpretive Center. On a clear day, the world is laid out before the viewer like a treasure in the form of snow-covered Mount Baker floating over sparkling-blue Tennant Lake.

Also impressive when they’re in full summer bloom are the Fragrance Garden near Tennant Lake Interpretive Center and the Demonstration Garden at Hovander Park.

Difficulty: Easy.

Elevation gain: None.

Round trip: 4.1-miles.

Hiking time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Users: Walkers and bicyclists

Best time to hike: Yearround

Family friendly: Yes

Amenities: Portable toilet near the parking lot. Restrooms at Tennant Lake Interpretive Center and at Hovander Park, where picnic tables also are located.

Dogs: The walk starts in an off-leash dog area. But dogs must be on a leash as the walk gets closer to Hovander Homestead Park.

Driving directions: Take Interstate 5 north from Bellingham to exit 262 (Main Street/City Center). Turn right at the stop light onto Main Street. Stay on Main until Hovander Road, and then turn left. Soon after, turn right at the sign that reads “Nooksack River Access” and drive a short distance to the parking lot. Distance from Bellingham: 14 miles.

Getting there: The signed trail starts from the end of the parking lot. Follow as it splits left to go into the main parts of Hovander Homestead Park. Walk along the back parts of the park (away from the buildings and along the tree line). Once in a while, there will be an opening that allows you walk in a little way to see the Nooksack. Eventually, you’ll see a sign (past the red barn) that tells you Tennant Lake is .82- miles away.

Take that for a pleasant jaunt that will take you along the wide-open scenes of the river to Tennant Lake Interpretive Center. Climb the viewing tower to enjoy a nearly panoramic view that takes in Tennant Lake below you, waterfowl and mountains, including Baker.

A note about pets: Dogs are not allowed on the Tennant Lake side and other parts of the lake because it’s a wildlife sanctuary. Yet, nearly half of Hovander is an off-leash area. Make sure you and your pooch are walking where you’re allowed by checking the map that’s posted near the parking lot. Or find the dogwalk maps online by going to www.co.whatcom.wa.us/parks, clicking on “Hovander” under “County Parks,” and then selecting “Dog Walk Map & Information.”