Chantrelle Full Loop via Hertz Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Spring · Swimming · Views

A smooth, man-made, doubletrack, and bench cut trail that slowly meanders up and down Stewart Mountain. You are treated to several beautiful overlooks of Lake Whatcom and the surrounding Bellingham are at two different way points along this route.

There are two parking lots. The upper lot is rather small and fills up quickly on the weekends and even mid-week on sunny days. There is also an enclosed pit toilet in the main upper parking lot.

The trail is smooth and wide with excellent footing, and a great loop for training if you're into big climbs and big descents.

This trail can be done either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the desired experience. Starting on Hertz Trail and going down along the Lake is a great warm up and the start of Chantrelle Trail is steeper on that side. However, if you start from the parking lot and go clockwise you'll have a longer more gradual climb and finish with a flat stretch back to the parking lot.

The majority of the trail is shaded by large evergeens covered in ferns, so you don't need to worry too much about getting a sun burn. However, you'll still be greeted with two view points overlooking Lake Whatcom and the greater Bellingham region. Chantrelle Trail will cross the gravel road numerous times along the way but each intersection is extremely well marked and it is incredibly obvious where to go to stay on the trail. If you go clockwise and end on the Hertz Trail be wary of the steep stairs that are used to tackle the steepest section of the hillside as they can be treacherous in the wet.

You may encounter other runners in either direction as well as cyclists using Chantrelle Trail to access the popular downhill mountain bike trail Brown Pow.