Birch Bay is a slow-paced, coastal community with mountain views directly south of the Canadian border in Washington. “I recently told someone that I live in Birch Bay, and they responded, ‘Oh, you must be happy,” says Mary Jane Thompson, visitor center coordinator at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce. With its warm, shallow water, surrounding state parks and golf courses, the area has endless outdoor opportunities. Historically, Birch Bay leaned touristy and was a popular spot for retirees. But, officials say, that is changing. “It used to be a lot more resort-oriented; now there are more families,” says Danielle Gaughen, executive director at the Chamber. “Our age is coming down. There are a lot more housing developments for families.” Birch Bay is unincorporated, so its services come through Whatcom County. Community members have tried to get the city incorporated multiple times, and a feasibility study was underway as of February 2025. The current population is just over 10,000 residents, but it gets busier in the summertime. “The population doubles or triples in the summer. Then, it quadruples on the Fourth of July,” Gaughen says. “There used to be a lot of second homes. Canadians would buy second homes, but that is minimized.”
Birch Bay is a coastal community with mountain views directly south of the Canadian border.
Practice your short game surrounded by nature at Loomis Trail Golf Course in Birch Bay.
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Gated communities and waterside condos
Birch Bay has a mix of communities and home styles, including gated areas and neighborhoods with lots of acreage. “The neighborhoods have their unique personalities. Some are spread out, and some are closer,” Gaughen says. “If you want to know your neighbors, you can easily do that in any of them.” Birch Bay Village is a gated community with a private swimming pool and golf course. Properties with acreage are further inland, and condos and Pacific contemporary homes are on the water. The median home price is $621,000, and the median price for a condo is $407,000.
Make timeless memories in a contemporary home in Birch Bay.
Beautiful condominiums with coastal views are a popular choice for living in Birch Bay.
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Plentiful water activities at Birch Bay State Park
Birch Bay residents have access to land and sea recreation. Birch Bay State Park offers hiking, camping, swimming, kayaking, windsurfing and scuba diving; other activities on the water include fishing, crabbing and shellfishing. Gaughen says outdoor activities happen mostly between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Point Whitehorn Park also has hiking trails, and golfers can hit their balls at Loomis Trail Golf Course. Semiahmoo Resort Golf and Spa has membership options for its 18-hole course; locals can get day passes for the resort’s swimming pool. The course is open year-round and includes a clubhouse. “The Berm” is a 2-mile walking spot along the coast. The area also has a waterpark, the Birch Bay Waterslides, which is next to a classic amusement center with a mini train, mini golf, go-karts and an arcade called Station 49. The Canadian border is 8 miles north; at Peace Arch Historical State Park, visitors can see the multiple landmark structures commemorating peace between the two nations.
Meet up with friends to play a round of golf at Loomis Trail Golf Course in Birch Bay.
Take a scenic walk and have a picnic at Peace Arch Historical State Park near Birch Bay.
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Polar Bear Plunge to start the year
Birch Bay hosts dozens of events that bring together thousands of people. The area kicks off its season with the Polar Bear Plunge. This event receives over a thousand participants. The community hopes to break the world record soon for most people participating in the plunge. Teams create unique sculptures at the Sand Sculpture Competition. “We always pick the best weekend for the tide, and we just get some beautiful creations,” Gaughen says. Thousands come out to Birch Bay for the Fourth of July to light up the skies with individual shows. Derby Day is a day-long event that puts on the best parts of the city through various activities like a crab derby, poker run and duck derby. Locals can travel 8 miles north to the Peace Arch Historical State Park on the U.S-Canada Border. Visitors can see the multiple landmark structures that commemorate peace between the countries.
Water views at Birch Bay restaurants
Most of the city’s shopping and dining options are along Birch Bay Drive. Diners can have sit-down meals with water views; restaurants include American, seafood and Mexican eateries. There are also a handful of bars and breweries. Bay Center Market sells groceries, and locals travel to Blaine or Bellingham for other shopping needs. Bellingham has Costco, HomeGoods and Target. Gaughen says that some residents will shop and dine over the border in Vancouver; those who wish to travel back and forth between countries will need a NEXUS pass.
Meet up with some friends for a pint and a meal at Shores Restaurant in Birch Bay.
Birch Bay residents head to Bay Center Market for all their grocery needs and more.
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Commuters connect to Whatcom County through Highway 538
Most residents commute to other parts of Whatcom County, like Bellingham and Blaine. Highway 548 links to Interstate 5, the primary route down the Pacific Coast; Birch Bay is 7 miles from Blaine and 22 miles from Bellingham. “It’s located in a convenient area of Whatcom County, and all the areas are within 20 to 25 minutes of each other,” Gaughen says. “It’s two and a half hours to Seattle.” The Whatcom Transportation Authority, or WTA, has one bus route between Birch Bay and Bellingham; the route operates Monday through Saturday. Bellingham International Airport has multiple daily flights to Seattle through Alaska Airlines.
Students travel north to Blaine schools
Most students attend school through the Blaine School District, which earns a C rating from Niche. The tiny school district has just under 2,100 students across five schools. The Ferndale School District is another option that earns a B-plus rating from Niche.
Ferndale High School provides top-notch education with excellent after school programs.
Blaine High School prepares students for graduation and beyond.
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Police service by Whatcom County Sheriff
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office is the law enforcement agency for Birch Bay. According to the sheriff’s office, there were 136 offenses between February 2023 and 2024, most notably theft and burglary. Birch Bay gets all four seasons, which Gaughen says is one of the reasons she enjoys the area. “We have seasons, which is what I didn’t get living in Southern California,” she says. “We get snow, and it’s 80 degrees in the summer. It’s nice to be able to experience that.”
Written By
Courtney Murphy
Photography Contributed By
Jake Chaplin
Video By
Luke Basinger
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