Ten miles south of Blaine in Whatcom county, 8 miles west of Interstate 5

Acreage

193.21 acres with 8,255 feet of saltwater shoreline on Birch Bay, as well as 14,923 feet of freshwater shoreline on Terrell Creek.

Acquired

Birch Bay State Park was acquired in six parcels through purchase, the Nature Conservancy and DNR; the first in 1954 and the last in 1991 for a total cost of $334,570.

Historical Background

Numerous archeological investigations have been done attesting to the use of this area over extended periods of time. Evidence indicates that Birch Bay was inhabited by Semiahmoo, Lummi and Nooksack Indians. Descendants and heirs of the original Indian residents of about 1800 continued to use the resources of the area well into the 20th century. In prehistoric days as well as today, an abundance of shellfish, migratory waterfowl, and salmon drew people to harvest these resources.

The Bay was named by the botanist, Menzies, during the 1792 Vancouver expedition because of the abundance of the black birch trees. At the turn of the century, the huge fir trees of the area were logged with ox and horse teams. Large stumps, with their springboard marks, remain as evidence.

Facilities

A campground reservation park consisting of 194 picnic sites, 3 picnic shelters, 1 comfort station/bathhouse, 408 parking spaces, 8 fire rings, 7 comfort stations, 147 standard sites, 20 trailer hookup sites, 57 camp visitor parking sites, contact station, 2 residences, mobile home, 1 shop, 3 woodsheds, fuel storage building, vehicle bridge, 2.2 miles of trail, 2 wooden foot bridges, 4.55 miles public road, concrete water reservoir, primitive group camp which serves 40 persons, 1 vault toilet, 2 trailer dump stations, 1 sewer lift station, 5 shellfish/information bulletin boards, 1 pay telephone, 1 wood concession building, and 1 pit toilet. Water is supplied by the City of Blaine. Park is on Campsite Reservation Program.

Activities

Fishing, picnicking, hiking, clamming, bird watching, water skiing, crabbing, beachcombing, camping, scuba diving, windsurfing, kite flying and photography.

Of Special Interest

Terrell Creek Marsh - One of the few remaining saltwater/freshwater estuaries in northern Puget Sound. The north end of the park, on the beach, is a natural game sanctuary acquired through the Nature Conservancy under the condition that no development would occur there. Its inhabitants, which include smaller birds, migratory waterfowl, American bald eagles and the Great Blue Heron, can be observed feeding along the banks of Terrell Creek.