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New Waterfront Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 67 Google reviews · Running trail in Bellingham, Washington · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from New Waterfront Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedScenic

Scenic park with a playground, skatepark, plus a rocky beach, picnic area and a brewery.

What runners say about New Waterfront Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (67 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Views are great, some interesting history and monuments, very well maintained and clean.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Very nice place to go for a walk it's got a great view easy to walk recommend coming here for just a nice casual stroll”

Don’t miss ASB trail and Sandy’s Beach! Most locals aren’t even aware of these things. And no, it doesn’t loop unfortunately.

★★★★★ — Jake , Mar 2024

Beautifully maintained paved path along the waterfront from the Bellwether along to Zuanich park. The Port of Bellingham does a great job maintaining the flowers and such along the way. The views are absolutely stunning. This is a treasure of Bellingham, truly.

★★★★★ — Jim , Aug 2019

Oh this is iconic Bellingham....Love the what did and a used a used Acid Ball that has served many years of active duty ....Is now something We all can walk right up and under and start licking it instead of the windows thank you waypoint administration

★★★★★ — Shaun , Feb 2022

Views are great, some interesting history and monuments, very well maintained and clean. Totally recommend this walk and park in good weather. Some places can get spray in high winds.. But frankly I even enjoy it then.

★★★★★ — Alan , Sep 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 67 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 9 mentions

“Very nice place to go for a walk it's got a great view easy to walk recommend coming here for just a nice casual stroll”

More trails like this →

🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Beautifully maintained paved path along the waterfront from the Bellwether along to Zuanich park.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

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Plan your run at New Waterfront Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday 6 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–10 PM
Thursday 6 AM–10 PM
Friday 6 AM–10 PM
Saturday 6 AM–10 PM
Sunday 6 AM–10 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find New Waterfront Trail

501 Hilton Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

Get directions

Running trails near Bellingham

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Zuanich Point Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,514 reviews

Bellingham, WA

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Harborside park with picnic tables, a playground, paved paths & a bay-view rental facility.

under a mile away

Squalicum Creek Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 826 reviews

Bellingham, WA

Dog-friendly

Community park next to a creek with walking trails, sports fields, a basketball court & playground.

under a mile away

Bay To Baker Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 19 reviews

Bellingham, WA

Dog-friendly

1.4 miles away

Bellingham Boardwalk

4.8 ★★★★★ 928 reviews

Bellingham, WA

BoardwalkLitScenic

Breezy park boasting a boardwalk and beach access, plus cafes and playgrounds.

1.9 miles away

South Bay Trail

5 ★★★★★ 15 reviews

Bellingham, WA

BoardwalkScenic

2.2 miles away

Connelly Creek Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 24 reviews

Bellingham, WA

2.2 miles away

All running trails in Bellingham, WA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.