Hike of the Week: Squires Lake

Peaceful and serene-yet so close to so many people.

Squires Lake

Peaceful retreat on the Whatcom-Skagit County Line






by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

March 10, 2006

Quick Facts
Location: Squires Lake County Park
Land Agency: Whatcom County Parks
Roundtrip: 2.0 miles
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Access: From Bellingham, follow I-5 south (Seattle follow I-5 north) to exit 242. Head southeast on Old Highway 99. Trailhead is reached in less than one mile.
Special Note: Dogs must be leashed.

Located halfway between Bellingham and Mount Vernon, Squires Lake Park is a popular place for Whatcom and Skagit County residents looking to stretch their legs. Opened to the public in 1997, this little park, located just off of busy I-5 has become a popular place for casual strollers, novice hikers, bird-watchers, trail runners, and hardcore hikers looking for a good winter walk.
Comprised of land belonging to the Squires Family since 1905, the little lake and its surroundings were acquired by the Whatcom County Parks Department 90 years later. From the trailhead, a well-used and well-graded trail climbs 100 feet in .3 mile to the lake’s outlet at a small dam built in the 1920s. Here you can sit and enjoy the view and admire the resident waterfowl, or set off to make a 2 mile loop.
Take the well-worn Squires Lake Loop Trail or the more adventurous South Ridge Trail to begin your park circuit. Continue to the Beaver Pond Loop. Beaver Pond isn’t anything exceptional but the forest near its outlet is quite attractive.
On the north side of Squires Lake enjoy plenty of good shore views. Lots of nice lounging spots line the lake as well. Finish your loop back at the dam. But, if you still want to do more before hiking back to your car, the Pacific Northwest Trail, a 1,200 mile hiking trail from the Olympic Coast to Glacier National Park in Montana, runs through the park. You can access it from the South Ridge Trail. Here the PNT heads south to a ridge on Little Baldy. It’s mostly through cut-over lands, and while it’s not the most appealing naturally, the denuded hillside does offer good views of the nearby Chuckanut Mountains.
Enjoy this peaceful spot that lies so close to the busy I-5 corridor.