On the Lake Louise Rd. route out to Sudden Valley one can notice an unmarked small parking lot on the left. This is parking for the trailhead at Stimson Family Nature Reserve. The core of this reserve was donated to the Whatcom Land Trust in the year 2000 in memory of Edward and Catharine Stimson by their seven children.
The Reserve consists of the 138 acre Lake Louise Natural Resources Conservation Area, 196 acres owned by Whatcom Land Trust and 34 acres jointly owned by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County. The Reserve is managed by the Whatcom County Parks Department and is held in permanent Stewardship by the Whatcom Land Trust.
There are several miles of trail, gaining and losing elevation through old forest, around the natural lake and in some younger forest. The Stimson Family Nature Reserve is a magnificent example of lowland forest close in to Bellingham. It is well worth visiting.
The first quarter mile or so of the trail is wheel chair accessible. This portion terminates at an overlook to some pristine wetland.
Thank you for looking.
David Helm
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