by Betsy Gross
My husband John and I moved from San Diego to Bellingham in the summer of 2003, exchanging the deserts of the Southwest for the lush rain forests of the Northwest. John had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, a particularly tragic turn of fate. Instead of remaining in San Diego and simply witnessing his decline, we chose to change our lives while we still could.
After spending 20 years in San Diego, we closed that chapter and moved north. Although both homes are within a mile of Interstate 5 and an hour from an international border, the similarities end there. The climate and latitude differences support dramatically distinct flora and fauna. We left behind palm trees, rattlesnakes, and cactus for western red cedars, bears, and Douglas firs.
We found our home on a five-day house hunting trip, spurred by an irresistible offer on our San Diego house while we were away. We loved the beauty of our new home and yard, though we knew little about the neighborhood — a true leap of faith. Our son Tom volunteered to drive one of our cars with John from San Diego, arriving just before the moving van. I stayed behind for two more weeks to finish work, securing a better pension.
Lake Padden
While I was away, John began exploring the neighborhood and discovered we lived near a lake. Our first evening together in Bellingham, we walked down to Lake Padden, sat on the dock, and watched an osprey fishing. Oh! The joy of the beauty of nature, and so close by! San Diego had its appeal, but John and I, both raised in the Midwest among forests and lakes, preferred the Pacific Northwest. We felt as though we’d come home. And, now we’d found the first treasure in our new corner of paradise.
Curious about other natural wonders nearby, we began to explore. At the top of our street, we discovered a trailhead — a dusty two-track jeep trail lined with blackberry bushes — inviting us into the woods. The next morning, I rose early to walk our dog and entered the woods, immediately captivated by their magic. I wandered through miles of forest trails, encountering coyotes, hawks, eagles, migratory songbirds, and watchful owls. Years later, after John’s death, I found comfort in the quiet serenity these woods offered. For over 22 years, I have walked these trails almost daily, adopting the forest as my extended backyard.
photo: Kie Relyea / Salish Current
Two hikers walk through the woods on Samish Crest to a clearing with sweeping views.
Home to Wildlife, Wild Berries
The Samish Crest Open Space is home to deer, bobcats, coyotes, cougars, a wide variety of wild birds, raccoons, and badgers. I enjoy foraging for huckleberries, salmonberries, thimbleberries, black raspberries, and the everpresent blackberries, which I harvest to make jam for the winter. In winter, I follow animal tracks through the snow and have come across abandoned campfire rings, a makeshift wooden tepee, and an old, stripped-down car. Three overlooks provide breathtaking panoramic views of the Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands, Vancouver Island to the west, and Mount Baker to the east.
This forest is deeply spiritual to me. Walking among the trees, I sense a universal presence that welcomes me, dissolving the boundaries between myself and the natural world. I feel a profound connection to all living things. The forest itself is my house of worship.
Despite its beauty, Samish Crest Open Space faces threats from a growing population. I have spent much time contemplating how to balance the protection of wildlife corridors, trails, and scenic views with the need for more housing. I believe that with thoughtful planning, it is possible to achieve both objectives.
Two Opportunities to Protect Samish Crest
With the help of fellow forest lovers, I have twice acted to help protect these woods. The first instance was in 2011 when the area was threatened by development. The southern part of Samish Crest Open Space lies within Lake Padden’s watershed and was designated an Urban Growth Area (UGA), making it a target for annexation and development by the City of Bellingham. Our goal was to protect the lake’s water quality, which would suffer from clearcutting and development.
Despite the county’s recommendation for annexation and the financial incentives for development, our group — People for Lake Padden — with support from the Sierra Club, Western Washington University’s College of the Environment and Geology Departments, and the city’s water treatment plant, undertook scientific studies of the lake and its watershed. For two years, WWU interns collected and analyzed water samples under expert supervision. With the help of a retired microbiologist neighbor, we also monitored fecal coliform levels due to the proximity of an off-leash dog park. These samples were analyzed at the Post Point Water Treatment Plant.
We shared our findings with the public and local decision-makers, presenting to government bodies, nonprofits, and neighborhood groups. Our studies revealed that much of the land in the lake’s watershed is undevelopable due to many critical areas, steep slopes, and ravines, and that the lake’s condition would worsen with further development. Ultimately, People for Lake Padden succeeded in having the remaining undeveloped watershed land’s UGA status removed and rezoned as Urban Reserve, protecting it from development. We considered this to be a victory for science over politics.
Much has happened to this forest over the intervening years. Portions of it were clearcut in 2017. The City of Bellingham purchased several tracts and plans to create a Greenways trail that joins Whatcom Falls Park to Lake Padden through these woods. Many more locals will have the pleasure of walking or biking through them.
High Population Growth Projected
That said, the Samish Crest Open Space is again under potential threat. Washington counties are required to periodically update their comprehensive plans and development regulations, revisiting growth projections, UGAs, and community priorities. This process is now underway. Currently, a high population growth projection is favored. This would likely result in much of Samish Crest Open Space being clearcut for development.
Once more, those of us who cherish this forest are coming together to strategize ways to preserve it, seeking solutions that allow for necessary urban development without sacrificing this irreplaceable natural treasure. The newly formed Friends of Samish Crest Open Space has begun leading the public and local decision-makers on guided walks in these beautiful woods. To know them is to love them, and to love them inspires us to make every effort to protect them.
See the original, shorter article here:
https://salish-current.org/2025/09/29/bellinghamsbeautiful-forest/
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Betsy Gross is a retired mental health professional. She and her family moved to Bellingham in 2003. She is a mother, grandmother, outdoor enthusiast and environmental activist. Betsy has devoted her time to several local causes over the years, primarily to environmental activism.
