Whatcom County, U.S.
. . . . .
| ROUND TRIP | 45.1 km (28 miles) |
| TERRAIN | Paved roads; a few hills |
| TRAFFIC VOLUME | Low, except in Lynden and Ferndale |
| ALLOW | 3 ½ to 4 ½ hours |
| HIGHLIGHTS | Dutch Village in Lynden, farms, orchards, views of Mount Baker, Pioneer Park in Ferndale, Hovander Homestead Park (optional) |
| PICNIC SPOT | Pioneer Park at 22.6 km |
| STARTING POINT | Lynden City Park on Depot Road (3rd Street) |
| HOW TO GET THERE | BY CAR: Cross the U.S. border on Hwy 13 and continue south on Guide Meridian Road (SR 539). Turn left on East Badger Road and right on Depot Road. The park is on the left after 1.7 km. |
| BY TRANSIT: The best option is to begin and end the ride at Ferndale. Take the bus to King George Boulevard at 8th, cross the border and catch Whatcom Transit Authority Route 55 to Ferndale. | |
| WHEN TO GO | Late July to attend the Old Settlers’ Picnic in Pioneer Park. |
| CONNECTS WITH | Nooksack Valley—Everson |
General store, Pioneer Park
AS THIS ride begins south of the U.S. border, carry the required identification and medical insurance. This longer ride from Lynden into the Nooksack Valley has for its destination a charming pioneer village. Eleven log cabins, all more than a hundred years old, have been moved from their original sites around Whatcom County and arranged in a village setting beside the Nooksack River in Ferndale. A church, general store, post office, schoolhouse and several homes, complete with contents, are there for your inspection. Costumed volunteer staff members are on hand to answer questions and add to the atmosphere of bygone days. If you visit in late July, you can join in the Old Settlers’ Picnic, an annual community event held in the village.
Adding to the pioneer flavour of this outing is the Nooksack Valley’s Dutch heritage, evident in the farms along the route and exemplified in the town of Lynden. (See the Nooksack Valley—Everson ride.)
An added attraction near Ferndale is Hovander Homestead Park. The beautifully restored farmhouse, surrounded by flower beds and an herb garden, was built in 1901 by immigrant Swedish architect Hakan Hovander. To reach this destination from East Main Street (east of the Nooksack River) in Ferndale, turn south on Hovander Road then right onto Neilson Avenue. The side trip adds about 6 kilometres to the ride described. The county park is open year-round; Hovander House is open Fridays through Sundays in summer.
KM THE ROUTE
0.0 Lynden City Park.
Left on 3rd Street (Depot Road).
0.6 Left on Main Street.
0.9 Right on 1st Street, which becomes Hannegan Road.
2.0 Cross the bridge over the Nooksack River and continue on Hannegan Road.
4.7 Right on van Dyk Road.
Left on Huisman Road.
5.9 Right on East Wiser Lake Road. Winding road. Pass Wiser Lake on your left.
Cross Guide Meridian Road (SR 539) at the roundabout. Use caution.
12.4 Left on Woodlyn Road. Raspberry fields.
15.5 Right on Piper Road.
16.2 Left on Northwest Drive.
17.3 Right on Paradise Road. This is a winding road with ups and downs.
19.9 Left on Barrett Road.
20.8 Right on Main Street. Heavy traffic entering Ferndale. Cross I-5. Caution: Very narrow shoulder for cyclists.
Go underneath the railway, then bear right and cross the Nooksack River. Note the sign: “Pioneer Park Left.”
22.3 Left on 1st Avenue.
22.6 Cherry Street. Pioneer Park ahead. Pioneer village, picnic tables, toilets.
22.6 Left on Cherry Street.
22.7 Right on 3rd Avenue.
23.0 Cross Main Street, then cross Vista Drive.
23.7 Right on Washington Street.
23.9 Left on 2nd Avenue.
25.0 Right at the roundabout to Portal Way, through the I-5 underpass. Continue on Portal Way.
27.5 Straight ahead on Enterprise Road where Portal Way bends left.
Cross Grandview Road.
30.7 Right on Harksell Road.
31.3 Left on North Enterprise Road.
32.9 Right on Willeys Lake Road. Lake and orchards. The road becomes Rathbone Road.
37.7 Right on Birch Bay– Lynden Road.
39.4 Left on Berthusen Road.
40.6 Right on West Main Street.
Cross Guide Meridian Road (SR 539).
44.7 Left on 3rd Street (Depot Road).
45.1 Right into Lynden City Park.