Bellingham Bay Webcam – Squalicum Harbor, Washington

The Bellingham Bay Webcam looks out over the water from Zuanich Point Park, the grassy headland at the mouth of Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, Washington. The Port of Bellingham runs the camera, and the open bay stretches across the frame beyond the park’s waterfront path and rock shoreline, with boats heading in and out of a harbor that is home to more than 1,400 vessels. Kayaks and paddleboards often cross the view on calm days, and the light on the water shifts from flat winter grey to long summer evenings. A second tab on this page switches to the Rocky Shore Tank at the Port’s Marine Life Center, a free public aquarium a short walk along the harbor, so you can move from the bay itself to the creatures that live under it.

About Bellingham Bay and Squalicum Harbor

Bellingham sits in Whatcom County near the top of Washington’s coast, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) north of Seattle and 84 kilometers (52 miles) south of Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadian border is only 34 kilometers (21 miles) away. The city counted 91,482 people at the 2020 census. Lummi Island shelters the bay from the west, and the Cascade peak of Mount Baker, 3,285 meters (10,778 feet) high, rises about 50 kilometers (31 miles) inland.

Squalicum Harbor lies along the northern shore of the bay. It is a 1,386 slip marina serving everything from small skiffs to commercial fishing boats up to 30 meters (100 feet) long, and it is home port to more than 1,400 commercial and pleasure boats, including a large charter fleet. The harbor holds a 5-star EnviroStars and Certified Clean Marina rating. Zuanich Point Park wraps around its edge on 1.6 hectares (4 acres), with a big lawn where people fly kites, a nautical themed play structure for children and the Squalicum Harbor Fishermen’s Memorial by the water.

The Marine Life Center, shown on the second tab, is at 1801 Roeder Avenue, beside the harbor. The Port runs it as a free aquarium of local Salish Sea species and does not accept donations. Its residents include giant Pacific octopuses, anemones, crabs, sea stars, flounder and rockfish. The Rocky Shore Tank camera is a live look into one of its displays, and the center keeps a separate tank at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal as well.

Weather and Climate in Bellingham Bay

Bellingham has a mild marine climate. January averages a high of 8 C (46 F) and a low of 1 C (34 F), so winter on the camera is mostly grey skies, low cloud over the water and rain rather than ice. Snow is light, around 26 centimeters (10.4 inches) a year, and a snowy day on the bay is rare enough to be worth catching. November is the wettest month, when frontal storms roll in off the Pacific and wind can chop the bay into whitecaps.

Summer is the dry, clear season. July averages a high of 23 C (73 F) and a low of 13 C (55 F), and the long evenings bring the paddlers, sailboats and charter boats out across the frame. Total precipitation runs to about 885 millimeters (34.8 inches) a year, most of it between autumn and spring. Spring and autumn bring fast changing skies, when a squall can cross the bay and clear again within the hour. At night the bay goes dark apart from harbor lights, and the aquarium tab is the better watch after sunset.

Things to Do Near Bellingham Bay

Start right beside the camera. Zuanich Point Park has parking, open lawn and the Fishermen’s Memorial, and the harbor walkways lead along the docks past the charter boats. The Marine Life Center is free to enter and open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Wednesday, with a lunch break from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on weekends. It sometimes closes during regular hours for classes, so check the Port’s social media before you go. Groups larger than eight need to book ahead.

Further afield, the historic Fairhaven district, founded in 1883 and now part of the city, sits on the south side of the bay, and Bellingham is the southern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway ferries. Downtown, the Whatcom Museum, the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention and the 1927 Mount Baker Theatre, with its Moorish style interior, are all within a short drive. Whatcom Falls Park covers 98 hectares (241 acres) and has four waterfalls along its creek. Western Washington University, with more than 16,000 students, is the city’s main employer and gives the town much of its character.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Bellingham Bay Webcam located?

The camera is at Zuanich Point Park, on the edge of Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. Bellingham is about 140 kilometers (90 miles) north of Seattle and 34 kilometers (21 miles) south of the Canadian border.

What can you see on the Bellingham Bay Webcam?

The main view looks across Bellingham Bay from the park, with boats entering and leaving Squalicum Harbor and kayakers and paddleboarders out on calm days. The second tab shows the Rocky Shore Tank inside the Port of Bellingham’s Marine Life Center.

What is the weather like in Bellingham?

Mild and damp for most of the year. January highs are around 8 C (46 F) and July highs around 23 C (73 F). November is the wettest month, while summer is dry and clear, which is when the bay looks its best on camera.

Who operates the Bellingham Bay camera?

The Port of Bellingham, which also manages Squalicum Harbor, Zuanich Point Park and the Marine Life Center. It publishes the camera alongside its other webcam, weather and tide information.

Is the Marine Life Center in Bellingham free?

Yes. Entry is free and the center does not take donations. It opens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on Wednesdays, with a lunch closure on weekends.

What animals live at the Bellingham Marine Life Center?

Local Salish Sea species, including giant Pacific octopuses, anemones, crabs, sea stars, flounder and rockfish. The Rocky Shore Tank on this page is one of its displays.

How many boats are in Squalicum Harbor?

Squalicum Harbor has 1,386 slips and is home port to more than 1,400 commercial and pleasure boats, from small skiffs up to 30 meter (100 foot) fishing vessels, plus a large charter fleet.

Can you see Mount Baker from Bellingham?

Mount Baker, at 3,285 meters (10,778 feet), stands about 50 kilometers (31 miles) inland from the city, so it can appear over the rooftops on clear days. Lummi Island lies to the west across the bay.

Source: Port of Bellingham