Cattails, shoreline trees, and water lilies abound in this pond that feeds Fever Creek. It’s a magnet for wildlife, water borne creatures, and birds.

Barkley Trails

Cattails, shoreline trees, and water lilies abound in this pond that feeds Fever Creek. It’s a magnet for wildlife, water borne creatures, and birds.

The Barkley Trails Discovery Tour shows how the City of Bellingham is managing stormwater runoff and reducing water pollution in this area. On this tour, you will enjoy the gentle grade and dry gravel trail through a natural area of forests and wetlands as well as interesting features along the way. This tour will introduce you to four different stormwater facilities: the largest stormwater pond in the city, a wet pond, and several bioswales. 

The Barkley Trails Tour is great route for walking, jogging or riding a bike. Sites are located along or near the Railroad Trail. A loop is included in one part of the tour. Connect from Whatcom Falls Park, the Barkley Hill neighborhood, Roosevelt School, Barkley Village or downtown for a great trip around this part of the City.

approximate distance

assets_icon-distance

2.0

miles

approximate time

1

hour

30

minutes

This tour is best accessed by bus and neighborhood trails. There are many bike and pedestrian access points from neighborhoods and streets near the area. For this tour, public parking of all types is limited and access is generally unpaved. You can get east access from the parking lot at Bloedel Donovan Park and west access at Memorial Park on King Street. For safety and water quality, please keep dogs on a leash, bring extra bags, scoop every poop, and keep the bag until it can be put in the trash.

This tour is not accessible with a wheelchair.

Use this button below to open map in Google Maps or skip map

A

Cattails, shoreline trees, and water lilies abound in this pond that feeds Fever Creek. It’s a magnet for wildlife, water borne creatures, and birds.
Cattails, shoreline trees, and water lilies abound in this pond that feeds Fever Creek. It’s a magnet for wildlife, water borne creatures, and birds.

B

You can see how the terrain is sculpted into an S-shape bisowale which slows the water and allows it to filter into the ground naturally.
You can see how the terrain is sculpted into an S-shape bisowale which slows the water and allows it to filter into the ground naturally.

C

This bioswale along the trail between New Haven Place and Roslyn Place, looks a bit like a lawn. It also keeps the trail dry and protects water quality.
This bioswale along the trail between New Haven Place and Roslyn Place, looks a bit like a lawn. It also keeps the trail dry and protects water quality.

D

This wet pond holds water year round. It needs regular maintenance such as alder and debris removal to keep it from clogging pipes. The sloped grass provides access for cleaning out the pond.
This wet pond holds water year round. It needs regular maintenance such as alder and debris removal to keep it from clogging pipes. The sloped grass provides access for cleaning out the pond.

E

Verona Street bioswale handily fits alongside this property line and provides drainage for stormwater from areas uphill of it.
Verona Street bioswale handily fits alongside this property line and provides drainage for stormwater from areas uphill of it.