Arroyo Park
by Ginger Oppenheimer12/18/2007 12:53:58 PM
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Arroyo Park is mostly known as the steep trails you run/hike/bike through to get to the flat side! But it’s a gem of a park, a destination all its own, tucked between Samish Drive, California Street, and Chuckanut Drive. The park is, indeed, a unique link between the north and south ends of the Interurban trail, which forks off to the many forested trails in the Chuckanut Mountains and Larrabee Park.If your family is hiking or biking on the Interurban trail, you can barely avoid trekking through Arroyo. Several twisty trails take you quickly up from the creek bed. The creek and the switchback trails are a nice diversion from the flats of the Interurban trail.
The bridge over Chuckanut Creek.While this park may not seems as diverse as some other local parks, its fascinating history and remnants of its past—both archeological and geological—make it a great place for families to visit and kids to learn about our recent past and to study creek life.
There are two obvious features of Arroyo Park: Chuckanut Creek, which runs through the gorge (below Samish Drive), and the steep trails connecting the south and the north ends of the Interurban Trail. But there are some hidden features, too.
For example, why, you might ask, is the trail named the Interurban anyway? And what about that name “Arroyo?” Here’s a little history, which makes for some fun exploring in the park itself. We’ll get to that in a minute.
History of Arroyo Park
The Interurban Trail is flat because it used to be a railroad bed. Well, what about that big gorge where the Old Samish highway is and Chuckanut Creek? Must have been a bridge, right? Well, yes, and quite a span it was.
In 1911, a 700-foot long,150-foot high span was built of wood. Called Hibridge, it supported the passage of a trolley, the Bellingham Skagit Interurban, which ran between Bellingham and Mt. Vernon. The bridge was replaced by a steel trestle in 1925. In 1920, Chuckanut Drive was paved from Fairhaven to Larrabee Park, the very first state park in Washington. Traveling by motor car and bus on beautiful Chuckanut Drive was suddenly much more exciting than the trolley. It fell into disfavor and the bridge was torn down in the 1930s.
Signs of the Old Bridge
The old railroad bridge support on the north side of the Interurban Trail.But there are remnants still today. Walking up to the end of the trail on the north side of Old Samish, you’ll see the old concrete supports. Take your kids to this viewpoint and help them imagine this graceful structure spanning the Chuckanut Creek gorge almost 100 years ago and what it must have been like to travel by train between Bellingham and Mt. Vernon.
Here’s the neat part. You can also find a matching support on the other side, high above the creek. And if you’re all very good sleuths, there are a few concrete supports covered with moss, lichens, and ferns at the edge of the creek bed. Look for unnatural, square-edged “rocks” directly below and between the two high concrete supports. Wow—history comes alive!
Arroyo Park is Born
In 1923, Cyrus Gates, a Bellingham businessman, donated 38 acres of woods to the city of Bellingham for a park. The Park Board named it Gates Park in his honor, but he preferred a name that reflected its most obvious geologic feature: a deep gulley with water running through it, or arroyo. He urged the Park Board to name it Arroyo Park and the new name was adopted.
A gentle waterfall at the top of the switchback trails.Chuckanut Creek
Chuckanut Creek is an integral part of the park and acts as the bedrock—literally!—of the park. If you’re driving to the park, there are two small parking lots on Old Samish, both which lead to trails that drop down to the creek. The graveled trail here follows the creek—the trails are narrow and like a mini-roller coaster. Kids on bikes have a fun challenge on this short stretch of trail. Cross the wooden bridge and now you start to climb!
But before heading up, up, and away, Chuckanut Creek is a perfect place to explore. The canopy is thick with huge old maples and dense, tall second-growth evergreens. It’s dark and quiet here, except for the sound of the creek and the occasional bird. You can find evidence of first growth firs; look for the stumps and help your kids measure their diameter and circumference.
You can sometimes spot an American dipper in the creek. It’s a gray songbird that “dips” underwater looking for morsels. Watch it disappear in one place and pop up downstream. Redtail hawks and bald eagles can sometimes be spotted on branches high above the creek. You can see them swoop through the gorge looking for tidbits of spawning salmon to eat. Chuckanut Creek is home to several species of salmon. Visit the park in early November and watch the chums make their way upstream.
The creek is also a great place for peaceful reflection. There’s a bench right by the bridge for sitting. Or to look for bugs and larvae. The creek is very much alive and can serve as a fabulous outdoor learning lab.
Switchback Trails
Now, back to those climbing trails. As you head south and switchback up from the gulley, you’ll top out and begin to walk on relatively flat trails again. The marshy areas are easy to find because you’ll be on boardwalk right on top of them. In the spring, stop here to examine the skunk cabbage, which has leaves that can grow as tall as 3 feet. “Skunk Cabbage?” you say. “Must be stinky!” Not unless you crush the leaves. So just look, don’t crunch! Check here for ways to identify skunk cabbage.
Cross the bridge heading south and you'll face the trail switchbacks.Further along you’ll find that matching concrete abutment, again a great place to stop to view the gorge looking north. Watch for hawks in the branches below you. Turn back onto the trail going south again and you’ll find a waterfall and more marshy areas, which you’ll cross on boardwalks. Suddenly you’re at California Street and a quick crossing takes you onto the Interurban Trail. You’re now officially out of Arroyo Park, the gateway to the Chuckanut Mountain trail system.
Remember to keep an eye out for bikers and runners, who sometimes barrel down the trails in Arroyo Park. You’ll sometimes see horses as well; hikers and bikers yield to horses. If you decide that Arroyo Park is your sole destination, check here for the additional trails.
A day in Arroyo Park is enjoyable for small children, tromping through the woods, exploring the creeks and marshy hillsides, and peacefully studying a waterfall.
Further Information
Arroyo Park
Chuckanut Drive and Lake Samish Road
Bellingham, WA 98225