Safety Not Guaranteed - Connelly Nature Creek Corridor

I didn't have time for a big hike this week. I finished finals last weekend but won't get an actual day off until next weekend. Even then, the weather has been crap lately.

Tuesday, though, I managed to finish and turn in my last term paper and had a bit of time before work. We're also getting a brief sunny break in the weather, so I was able to take the dog for a walk.

Connelly Creek Trail isn't much of a trail. There's no real trailhead parking. It's mainly for those who live in the neighborhood, and it stretches a mile from Ferry Ave to Donovan Ave.

Connely Creek Trail

City of Bellingham

Length: 1 mile (one-way)

Parking: Street parking only

I added some red "P"s to the map to show decent parking (the one by Sehome HS at the end of Voltaire Ct is the faculty parking lot, so it is only available when school is out).

We started out trek at Ferry Ave trailhead, which is at the corner of Ferry Ave and 31st St.

Helpful sign tells you what's to come

It's a nice trail to walk down during the day, but I do not advise going after dark. I have learned this from experience.

Adams Ave trailhead, and trail marker that's been well vandalized

Happy Valley is not the worst neighborhood in Bellingham, but it's also not the best. During the day, it's usually safe, but after dark you can run into...interesting people. It's not as bad as it used to be, but if you look close you can still sometimes find evidence of where people camp in the woods.

Trailhead by Sehome High School, just off the faculty parking lot.

The trail was surprisingly clean today, though, so I think a work crew may have recently been through here.

Some minor trash on the trail. Not as much as I am used to seeing, though.

Even in daylight, this trail has seen more than it's fair share of assaults, so always be on guard. I make sure I get text alerts from WWU so I can be apprised of any criminal activity going around in the neighborhood (non-students can still get the alerts).

Not much growing at Joe's Gardens on Taylor Ave yet.

It's not all doom and gloom, though. During the daytime, there are plenty of legit trail users walking, running, and biking through the corridor.

Puppy looking adorable on a fallen tree.

After all, we ran into three other trail users, and only one of them had meth mouth!

The namesake Connelly Creek. This is it.

Despite it all, the trail is an important connector between the Interurban Trail and Sehome Arboretum, as well as connecting many apartments in the area to WWU's campus and corresponding bus routes.

Donovan Ave trailhead.

Just remember to always be aware of your surroundings, on this trail and others, and try not to carry too many valuables. It's good advice in general, and it especially holds true for this trail.

Don't mind the bullet dents in the sign.

And hey look, butterfly!

Springtime!