Welcome to Bellingham, WA

Boating in Bellingham, WA Map View

Squalicum Boat Harbor, adjacent to and SE of the Squalicum Creek Waterway, is protected by breakwaters on its SE and SW sides. The harbor can be entered from the SE between the two breakwaters, or from the NW from the Squalicum Creek Waterway. The ends of the breakwaters at the SE entrance are marked by lights. The entrance from Squalicum Creek Waterway is marked by a light. Depths inside the harbor are 10 to 15 feet.
Berths for about 1800 pleasure craft and fishing boats are in the harbor. A guest float is maintained near the harbormaster’s office on the NE side of the harbor. Gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, water, ice, and marine supplies are available. Several marine equipment repair and fishing supply firms are in the area N of the SE entrance to the harbor.
A small-craft basin, protected by a breakwater on its S side, is N of I & J Street Waterway. The basin can be entered from I & J Street Waterway. Depths of 9 to 12 feet are in the basin. A boat ramp is on the E side of the basin.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this harbor.
Bellingham Bay, from William Point to the head, is about 12 miles long and 4 miles wide. Anchorage may be obtained almost anywhere in the bay S of the flats; the depths, over the greater portion, range from 6 to 15 fathoms. Because of the mud bottom, vessels are apt to drag anchor in heavy weather. Recreational and commercial fishing is popular in this area. Numerous crab pots fill the bay during crabbing season.
Bellingham is at the head of Bellingham Bay on the E shore. The S terminal of the Port of Bellingham, on the N side of Post Point at South Bellingham, includes the Alaska State Ferry Terminal Dock, a boatbuilding plant, and a boat ramp. Bornstein Seafoods is on the I and J Street Waterway; fishing boats unload at this wharf. There are several other light industry and commercial facilities around the harbor.
Whatcom Creek Waterway at the SE end of Bellingham Harbor, Squalicum Creek Waterway at the NW end of the harbor, and I and J Street Waterway in between, provide dredged channel access to the port facilities at Bellingham. Bellingham Yacht Harbor is adjacent to and SE of Squalicum Creek Waterway
A Federal project provides for a depth of 30 feet in Whatcom Creek Waterway Outer and Middle Reaches; thence 18 feet through the Inner Reach, 26 feet in Squalicum Creek Waterway, and 18 feet in I and J Street Waterway. Depths in Whatcom Creek Waterway are usually near project depth to the port wharf; the controlling depth for Middle and Inner Reach of this waterway may be considerably less than project depth. The controlling depth for Squalicum Creek Waterway and I and J Street Waterway may also be considerably less than project depth.
Squalicum Creek Waterway is marked by lighted buoys and a lighted range. I and J Street Waterway is marked by lights and buoys. Whatcom Creek Waterway is marked by a lighted range. The port authority maintains depths of more than 30 feet alongside the Whatcom Creek Waterway port wharf, and also dredges the small-craft basin.

Coastal Stories See All

Southern Resident killer whales swim just off Seattle’s shore. NOAA experts anticipate that the West Coast and the Pacific Islands will feel the effects of the 2026–2027 El Niño event most directly. Credit: NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center; taken under NOAA permit #781-1824

How Will El Niño Affect Your Local Fisheries?

10/10/2026

By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. What does El Niño mean for U.S. fisheries and marine life? What can fishermen and coastal communities expect to observe and experience as this event continues and potentially intensifies? And what are scientists at NOAA Fisheries doing to track this natural phenomenon? The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is a powerful… SEE MORE

NOAA's flood inundation map (left) depicting the forecast for flooding extent in New London, Wisconsin, and a photo of flooded streets in New London (right), dated April 17, 2026. (Image credit: NOAA NWS)

NOAA’s flood mapping tool now covers nearly 100% of U.S.

10/7/2026

By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. NOAA’s National Weather Service announced today that Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM), a revolutionary tool for predicting river flooding, is now available on an experimental basis to nearly 100% of the U.S. population. This is a massive expansion from FIM’s prior coverage of 60% of the country. FIM… SEE MORE

Meet Hawaii Fish Company, Tilapia Farmers in Hawaiʻi

10/4/2026

By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov. For husband and wife duo Ron and and Estralita Weidenbach, fish farming is a family business. The couple met in the 1970s while Ron was consulting at the East West Center in Honolulu and the World Bank, focusing on sustainable aquaculture projects in Asia. Estralita was a… SEE MORE

Bellingham, WA

Welcome to Bellingham, WA

Monthly Tide Chart

Weather

Maps & Charts

Featured Local Businesses

Bellingham Yachts

Boating in Bellingham, WA Map View

Quietly Sophisticated: The Hood 42 LM

Coastal Stories See All

How Will El Niño Affect Your Local Fisheries?

NOAA’s flood mapping tool now covers nearly 100% of U.S.

Meet Hawaii Fish Company, Tilapia Farmers in Hawaiʻi

Photo Credits