A small, tranquil and inviting island.

A few miles north of Bellingham is Lummi Island, a tranquil island that was named one of 28 “Best Secret Islands on Earth” by Travel & Leisure magazine in 2011. Not a tourist destination in the traditional sense, Lummi offers a relaxing retreat for art and nature lovers. This is where you’ll find a vibrant artist community living on “island time” and enjoying every minute of the laid-back lifestyle.

Quiet, tree-lined country lanes traverse the island, making biking and walking easy and natural choices for visitors.  Meandering aside, there are a variety of activities both recreational and cultural to fill visitors’ itineraries.

In the summer months, find a spot to watch reef netters hard at work in the bay. Wild Pacific salmon reef net fishing is a traditional Pacific Northwest salmon-fishing method and has been practiced for centuries by Indigenous local tribes using cedar canoes and cedar nets to catch wild sockeye and other wild Pacific salmon.

Visit one of three preserves protected by the Lummi Island Heritage Trust. The Otto and Curry preserves are both perfect for a casual walk, but the real hidden gem is the Baker preserve, offering a short but vigorous hike up a steep and winding trail with a great payoff – an overlook with breathtaking views of the San Juan islands.

If introspection is what you’re seeking, the Lummi Island Congregational Church welcomes the public to the beach behind it, as well as access to a secluded stone labyrinth for walking meditation. Lounge in the sand and rocks at Sunset Beach on West Shore Drive around sunset for a chance to see watching orcas swim by the island.

On the way home, visit the Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa on the way back to I-5. Silver Reef offers several restaurants, including an award-winning steak house and wine room. The on-site hotel makes Silver Reef a great homebase for visitors looking to explore Lummi Island as well as the surrounding areas of Whatcom County. If you win big at the casino, be sure to spend some of your winnings stocking up at the Lummi Bay Market.

To get to Lummi Island, take the Slater Road exit from I-5 and head west 3.2 miles to Haxton Way. Turn south on Haxton Way and drive 7 miles to the Gooseberry Point ferry dock.

The Whatcom Chief ferry runs at least once an hour throughout the day. For current fare rates click here. 

Lummi Island provides a beautiful backdrop for visitors to find relaxation and peace among the wildflowers native to the island, such as camas, lupine, fireweed and wooly sunflowers.

For more information, visit lummi-island.com.