The best things to do in Birch Bay WA all start with the water. This shallow, west-facing bay along Whatcom County’s western edge warms up faster than the open coast, which is why it turns into the county’s beach town every summer. Bellingham locals drive up for the day. Guests staying nearby build whole weekends around it. The pace stays unhurried even when the state park lot fills up on a Saturday.
Here’s how to spend a day, or several, in Birch Bay this summer.
Birch Bay State Park and the Beach
Birch Bay State Park sits at the south end of the bay, and it’s a great starting point for a summer visit. The park has more than 8,000 feet of saltwater shoreline plus freshwater frontage on Terrell Creek. Even on a busy Saturday, the beach doesn’t feel packed. Low tide exposes wide tidal flats, good for slow exploration, less good if you’re expecting deep water for a swim. Check a tide table before you go if swimming is the plan, since the shoreline changes shape meaningfully across the day.
The half-mile Terrell Marsh Interpretive Trail loops through one of the few remaining saltwater-freshwater estuaries in the area, with ten signs along the way explaining what you’re looking at. It’s flat, shaded, and short enough to fit in before or after a beach afternoon. Dogs are welcome on leash, eight feet or shorter, though not on the designated swimming beach. Bird activity picks up in the marsh in the early morning and evening — plan your walk around either end of the day to spot great blue herons, egrets, and other waterfowl working the mudflats.
Campsites are reservable from May 15 through September 15 at washington.goingtocamp.com, up to nine months ahead. Summer weekends book out early, so if camping is part of the plan, reserve as soon as your dates are set.
On the Water: Kayaking, Paddling, and Crabbing
Birch Bay’s calm, shallow water makes it one of the more forgiving spots in the county for beginners on a paddleboard or kayak. Remember to check the tide and wind before you launch, especially with kids or new paddlers. Rentals are available in the village if you’re not bringing your own gear.
Crabbing here doesn’t require a boat. At low tide, wade into the eelgrass beds that cover the flats and check the depressions and kelp lines — Dungeness crab tend to sit tight there as the water pulls back. If you’d rather set a pot, drop it just off the beach on the incoming tide; the bay’s shallow enough that you don’t need a boat to reach good water. The bay falls under Marine Area 7 North, where the season typically opens in August and runs through the end of September, open Thursday through Monday each week; check WDFW’s current-year crab season dates and limits before you go, since both shift year to year. Everyone crabbing needs a Puget Sound crab endorsement and a Dungeness crab catch record card, regardless of age; anyone 16 or older also needs a Washington fishing or shellfish license. Both are available online through WDFW or at local sporting goods stores. We haven’t found a pot-rental shop directly in Birch Bay, so plan to bring your own or pick one up in Blaine or Bellingham. If you’ve never crabbed before, it’s a low-key way to spend an afternoon and a good excuse to be on the water without much gear.
In the Village: Go-Karts, Mini Golf, and Local Treats
When the beach day runs its course, Birch Bay’s small commercial strip has plenty going on to fill an evening. Station 49 has go-karts, mini golf, a scaled-down train loop, and an arcade, with no admission fee to get in the gate; you pay per ride. A family can wander in without a plan and spend as much or as little time as they like.
The C Shop has been making candy and ice cream in Birch Bay since 1971, and it’s open daily from when school lets out through Labor Day. Fudge, peanut brittle, and snow cones are the draw. The Sugar Shack ice cream truck covers the same May-to-September window, setting up in the state park’s day-use area during the day and swinging through the campground loops most evenings.
Where to Eat
For something more than ice cream, Drayton Harbor Oyster Company in nearby Blaine is a real treat. The oysters are farmed less than a mile from where they’re served, and the menu stays short and unfussy: oysters a few different ways, chowder, not much else to overthink. It’s a natural stop if you’re already spending the day in the Birch Bay–Blaine area, and it pairs well with a walk along Blaine’s waterfront afterward.
Planning Your Visit
Late June through August is the reliable window for warm weather and calm water in Birch Bay. May can be beautiful but unpredictable, so plan around late June if warm water and reliable sun are the priority. Birch Bay also keeps a full summer events calendar, from a kids’ kite festival in June to a sand sculpture competition in August. Check current dates before you build a trip around any single event.
Between the state park, the water, and the village, there’s enough here to fill more than one day. None of it demands much of a plan. Just a tide table and sunscreen.
If you’re visiting earlier in the season, our spring coastal guide covers what Birch Bay looks like before the summer crowds arrive. Traveling with kids and want more ideas for the wider area, our guide to family-friendly activities in the region rounds out a longer stay.
Where to Stay
Blue Heron Hideaway and Tideview both sit minutes from the bay, close to the state park, the beach, and the village, without much drive time between any of it. Salt & Ember Cottage, also in Birch Bay, is smaller than Tideview but sits a short walk from the beach — comfortable and easy for families.
We manage a small portfolio of properties across Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Birch Bay included. If you’re planning a summer trip and want a place that puts you close to all of this, we’re easy to reach.