Bellingham on foot
Fairhaven and the waterfront walk
Brick storefronts, a dock above Bellingham Bay, and the shoreline paths of Boulevard Park make a rewarding walk between town and water.
A trail closure changes the connection
The city reports the South Bay Trail is closed through the Fairhaven Center construction site between Douglas Avenue at 10th Street and Mill Avenue at 10th Street. A temporary connection uses 11th Street; the city’s project page has the detour map and latest construction information. Conditions and signs can change, and separate work near Taylor Dock may affect 10th Street.
See the city’s closure and temporary routeStart in Fairhaven
A railroad dream in brick
Begin around the Village Green and the shops along Harris Avenue and 11th Street. Fairhaven was platted in 1883; speculation that a transcontinental railroad would end at its deep-water harbor spurred a commercial building boom in 1889 and 1890. The railroad terminus never arrived as imagined, but the compact historic district retains buildings from that burst of ambition.
Look for the exposed brick streetcar bed at 11th and Harris, a remnant of the electric railway. The city’s historic district guide explains the surviving commercial buildings and the industrial waterfront that helped sustain the town after the boom.
Read the city’s Fairhaven history
The waterfront
From the village to the bay
1. Fairhaven to Taylor Dock
From the Village Green, use the city’s current temporary connection toward Taylor Dock rather than entering the closed trail through the construction site. Check the linked project map and posted signs for the route in effect when you visit.
2. Across the water
Taylor Dock once served waterfront industry; reconstructed for public use in 2004, it now carries walkers over the bay. Continue toward Boulevard Park for the shoreline, viewpoints and interpretive displays. Park amenities include restrooms and a food concession.
3. Return or continue
Return the same way, using the signed temporary connection back to Fairhaven. For a longer outing, follow the South Bay Trail north toward downtown and return the way you came; consult the city trail map and allow for the extra distance.
Prefer a shorter walk without the construction connection? Start at Boulevard Park, explore its waterfront paths and boardwalks, and return to your starting point. The park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; check current notices before going. The city’s older trail guide describes mostly gravel paths and gentle grades, but it predates the present detour: do not assume that connection is step-free.
A working waterfront, then and now
The bay was more than a view for early Fairhaven. Mills, a salmon cannery and deep-water wharves connected the town to timber, coal and shipping. Taylor Dock’s industrial past makes the change in use visible: what once supported waterfront work is now a place to walk above the water.
Back in Fairhaven, the Village Green and the surrounding streets make a convenient finish among the district’s shops, bookstore and places to eat. Check individual businesses for their current hours.
Good to know
- Dogs must be on leash on the trail and in Boulevard Park.
- Construction can change access and parking; follow posted signs and the city’s latest detour map.
- The city trail guide shows the broader network, but its map predates the current Fairhaven closure.
Before you go
City maps and current access
Check the construction notice alongside the trail map; the older map does not show the temporary closure.