Hertz Trail

The City of Subdued Excitement

Been wanting to go up Hertz Trail for sometime, now. Finally was able to make the trek this summer. I don't know what kept me back after living up here for 8 years? But it was so worth it that I made the trail 3 times since! It's not a hard trail at all, light to moderate all the way and only takes a good hour or hour and half to slowly hike it. You can't help going slow because there is so much to observe, especially if you go when I did at the end of summer and all different species of mushrooms are out. I think we took pictures of around 14 different species.

Anyway, first, to get to Hertz Trail. You first take Northshore Drive off of Alabama or Electric Avenue. Stay on it till while you're going around Lake Whatcom and you come to a fork in the road. Stay to the right, and keep going till you come to another fork, then, go left. You'll see a sign for the Hertz Trail head park, which will be on the left.

You can park there as you come in the lot. You'll see an outhouse (perfect!) and looking back into the woods to your left there is a parking lot which is closer to the trail head. If you go off from the lower lot and off to the right you'll end up on the Northshore Trail. To get on Hertz, go back to the back parking area. You'll find the trail head back there to the left. Off to the right of that is the fire road. You can go up that to get to the area of "great scenery" but why? Take the trail!

This trail is probably a bit under-rated because the trail does cut off after a bit of treking it and you do have to walk up a bit of the fire road to get to the rest of the trail. Not many people know that there is another part of the trail and they end up going all the way up the fire road. YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!! I know this sounds a bit funny, but if you walk up the fire road just a little ways and keep looking up the trees to your right, you'll see this silly face on a tree stump! At least he's smiling and doesn't look creepy-scarey! After you see this guy, you'll go around the corner. Then, is when you want to look for the tree with the red paint on it. This is the marking for the rest of the Hertz Trail! (I know...only in Bellingham, WA! But truely, I believe this where a lot of hikers miss it because it's not marked very well.

This is the tree you'll be looking for. You can "faintly" see the red paint sprayed on it about half way down the tree. The first time we went up in August, it was pretty easy to spot. However, when I went up there the last time in October, it was hidden by brush and such more, so, you'll want to keep an eye out for it on the right, right after going around the corner after seeing the "look-out dude!"

It's through this area that, if you go hiking during the end of summer or early fall seasons, that you'll find a bunch of different species of mushrooms, (for all you mushrooms hunters). I don't think I've ever see so many different species on one trail before!? I never was much of a mushroom hunter, but seeing so many different species sure can peek ones interest in them! They were all so unique and beautiful! It's no wonder that so many people do take on a hobby of searching for them. (Just a side note: I saw that REI and one of the colleges in town offer classes about them.) Anyway, back to the hike...

You keep on this trail, it'll zig zag up the mountain. You don't get many glimpses of Whatcom Lake. This was a big teaser to me! But you can tell when you're getting close to the top. You'll see the "ugly part" of the hike up Hertz Trail just before getting to the top to meet the fire road again. There was definitely some logging going on in the past. I understand it's neccessary evil, but it is the "ugly part" if you can get past and up top on the fire road, you'll see a one in a million-breath-taking view!

This looks out down to the start of Lake Whatcom in Bellingham to clear out towards Bellingham Bay, Sandy Point and beyond! It also offers a spectacular view of the Sudden Valley Bellingham neighborhood area and marina. And if you walk south down the fire trail just a few hundred feet you'll see the end of Lake Whatcom to the southern tip and on a clear day you'll be able to see a glimpse as far as Skagit Bay and the southern tip of Whidbey Island area! It's truely a spectacular view! When you're finished with the viewing, you can go back the way you came, or, you can walk down the fire trail. There will be one more trail head, there, up Hertz Trail to your right. It isn't very long, but it's still a trail! But you'll end up having to walk back down the fire road along the power lines, which are real creepy to me! And then, of course, you'll want to keep watching as you go down the fire road for the first part of the Hertz Trail. It'll be on the right side coming down the road or you can keep on the road back to the parking lot. Enjoy! Happy Trails!

Jump back to the top of Hertz Trail

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