Dog walking in Nooksack

Downtown Lynden

The Bender Fields Dog Park in Lynden is the closest dog run to Nooksack, so it’d be a huge faux paw not to visit! This dog park isn’t the biggest, but it’s not usually crowded, so there should be plenty of space for your fur ball to run around and tire themselves out in. Bags and water are provided on-site. After you two have worked up an appetite, you can chow down at JoFish Seafood and Grill! This pawpular family-owned restaurant serves up the best halibut and chips in the area, and caters to canine customers outside.

Glacier

If you and your pooch love hiking, you’re in luck -- Nooksack is near some of the best hiking trails and most splendid scenery the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Glacier is a great starting point for many furrific treks. The Nooksack Falls trail is just over a mile long, easily walkable, and features a fabulous view of the falls. More athletic animals might like to try a stretch of the Heliotrope Trail, a rockier path that features several steep inclines. Just remember to bring your own waste bags to keep the area clean!

Whatcom Falls

Make no bones about it -- if your pooch likes to swim as part of their off-leash adventures, they’ll have a whale of a time splashing about at Bloedel Donovan Beach in Bellingham! Part of the larger Whatcom Falls Park, this pawsitively excellent off-leash area allows pups to swim in the lake between the hours of 6 AM and 10 PM. The Waterline Trail is also open to free-roaming furry friends, so you and your buddy can take a walk as a warm-up. Be careful, though -- neither of these off-leash areas are fenced, so you might want to keep an eye on your little tearaway!

Ferndale

Cultured canines might get a kick out of a visit to Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale! This huge 350-acre park has a historic trail that lets visitors peer into Washington’s pioneer farming past, and your pooch is welcome to join as long as they’re leashed. If history isn’t your cup of tea (or your dog’s bowl of water), there’s also a long walking trail along a serene section of the Nooksack River. Once you and your buddy are all tuckered out, why not chill out with a bowl of ice cream from Edaleen Dairy? A Whatcom County staple, this ice cream joint does some seriously special homemade gelato.

Fairhaven

Though Fairhaven is a 30-minute drive from Nooksack, this fantastically fur-friendly neighborhood is a real mutts-visit. You and your pooch can pop in to  Paws for A Beer, a truly unique bar with its own off-leash play area! Pups and their well-behaved owners are allowed both inside and out, so there’s no need to leave your best friend outside while you order. Or, you two can curl up with a good read at Village Books, a bookstore that lets your buddy browse with you. If beers and books aren’t your scene, Fido can get a workout in at the Fairhaven Dog Park, a small off-leash area where waste bags and water are provided.