Birch Bay State Park

A special feature of this park is the Terrell Creek Marsh, one of the few remaining saltwater/freshwater estuaries in northern Puget Sound. The beach on the north end of the park 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

Camping facilities in the park consist of a primitive group camp which serves 40 persons, 147 standard sites, 20 trailer hookup sites, 57 camp visitor parking sites, 194 picnic sites, three picnic shelters, one comfort station/bathhouse, eight fire rings, seven comfort stations, one vault toilet, one pit toilet and two trailer dump stations.

Other amenities include over two miles of trail with two wooden foot bridges, a pay telephone, parking for 408 cars and a wood concession.
The park is on the Campsite Reservation Program.

Recreation - Some of the activities enjoyed in the park are fishing, picnicking, hiking, clamming, bird watching, water skiing, crabbing, beachcombing, camping, scuba diving, windsurfing, kite flying and photography.

Climate - Washington's climate varies with each region. Birch Bay State Park is located in an area "protected" by surrounding ocean waters and mountain ranges. Temperatures are consistently moderate, rarely topping 80 degrees in the summer and rarely falling below 30 degrees in the winter.

Annual rainfall averages 36 inches, less than Seattle. In the summer months, and especially during July and August, the park may go for weeks without a cloud in the sky. Snowfalls occur mainly in January and February and usually total only one or two inches. Northeast winds may cause temperature extremes.

Island tides range over 14 feet. The extreme low tide of 4.0 feet to the extreme high tide of over 10 feet.

Location - Birch Bay State Park is located ten miles south of Blaine in Whatcom County, eight miles west of Interstate 5.