Pup-friendly Shopping and Snacks - Rotary Trailhead to Fairhaven

I noticed recently that the Rotary Trailhead for the Interurban Trail has reopened. It was closed for a large portion of last year due to a big creek re-routing project. Now that it's reopened, I decided to go on one of my favorite walks with the dog.

The Interurban Trail stretches from Fairhaven all the way to Larrabee State Park, so the trail itself is quite long. From the Rotary Trailhead off Old Fairhaven Parkway though, it's only about a mile to Fairhaven. From there you can go west and take the Lower Padden Trails or north to a connector to South Bay Trail. Or you can just stop in Fairhaven and turn around to go home.

Parking is at the Rotary Trailhead, a well-marked parking lot on Old Fairhaven Parkway just west of 20th street.

Rotary Trailhead to Fairhaven

Bellingham Parks and Rec

Parking permit: none needed

Distance: 2 miles

The recent work was very evident. The pedestrian bridge has been replaced; the original was about 15 feet or so further east.

The work involved widening the culvert under Old Fairhaven Parkway. It was barely evident the creek ran through here before, as a segment of it was underground in this area..

Now, it's much more obvious.

Across the bridge you'll come to Julia Ave. Hang right to head toward Fairhaven.

More views of the recent work.

Looking back at the trailhead

This section of trail was closed in addition to the trailhead itself.

Away from the new work, you can see the old culverts that route the creek under the trail. I'm unsure if there are plans to do anything with these.

A sign points you toward Fairhaven Park (south) and Padden Creek Trails.

The trail takes you under 12th Street Bridge before you reach the streets of Fairhaven.

More culverts

Eventually you reach 10th street. You can go downhill to the Lower Padden Trails or you can go straight along 10th Street to run into the connection to South Bay Trail.

This is a great area to take a dog. The Lower Padden Trails lead to an off-leash dog park. South Bay Trail has a Woods Coffee shop with a walk-up window so you can get your caffeine fix with your pooch.

In Fairhaven itself, there is the Whatcom Humane Society shop as well as Village Books, a pet-friendly bookstore.

At the end of this block, on the corner of Mill and 11th, is the bookstore.

There is also Fairhaven Fish and Chips at the corner of Harris and 10th. It's the double-decker red bus. Pet's aren't allowed in the inside seating areas, but most of the space is outdoors so you can walk up with your pooch and grab a bite to eat. They also serve ice cream. They are open weird hours, but you can swing by and see if you can get your hands on some fried food.

In fact, after a quick errand to the bank, that's where we went on this walk. Ozzy waited rather impatiently as the food was prepared.

I barely got him to sit still for a pic.

Heading back, I took a detour through Fairhaven Park. There is a playground and waterpark here, as well as picnic shelters and lots of field space. This also could serve as an alternate trailhead, though if the parking at the rotary trailhead is full it likely means parking here is full, too.

They also have a stone labyrinth.

"It's for people who like walking around in circles", another walker told her friend as they went by. Of course, she made the comment because her friend had wondered aloud why I was walking in circles.

Oh yes, I went off the trail and walked it. I will always walk it, to the annoyance of anyone I am with.

Detail of the center, with pup

So that's my favorite Fairhaven-area walk. From the rotary trailhead to the fish and chips and back was about two miles, but I often will walk it all the way to Boulevard Park.