Just moved to Bellingham, or getting back into it after a while? These groups are beginner-friendly and welcoming — no need to be fast, experienced, or know a soul.
Greater Bellingham Running Club
Mondays, 6:30pm · all paces, rotating trailheads
📍 Rotating local trailheads
The club’s flagship weekly trail run — show up at the posted trailhead and run with a pace group.
Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition
Seasonal community rides on Galbraith — see calendar
📍 Galbraith Mountain trailheads
Group rides on the 70+ miles of singletrack the coalition builds and maintains on Galbraith Mountain.
Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts
Ten monthly meetings a year + free instruction — see calendar
📍 See WAKE website
Bellingham’s sea-kayak community — monthly meetups plus free instruction and group trips on the Salish Sea.
Greater Bellingham Running Club
Wednesdays · structured track workout
📍 Local track (see club schedule)
Greater Bellingham Running Club
Seasonal local race series — see calendar
📍 Varies by event
Tuesdays, 6:00pm · all paces, pace-grouped
📍 Fairhaven Runners & Walkers
Tuesdays, 6:00pm · road or trail route, pace-grouped
📍 Fairhaven Runners & Walkers
Community swim/bike/run workouts — see schedule
📍 Varies by discipline
Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition
Volunteer trail-building days — see calendar
📍 Galbraith Mountain trailheads
Casual social road ride — see club schedule
📍 See club schedule
Weekend group hikes — see schedule
📍 Rotating North Cascades trailheads
Winter snowshoe outings — see schedule
📍 Rotating Mt. Baker-area trailheads
Winter cross-country ski outings — see schedule
📍 Rotating Mt. Baker-area sno-parks
Seasonal paddle outings — see schedule
📍 Rotating Salish Sea launches
The Mountaineers — Bellingham Branch
Branch hikes & trips — see activity calendar
📍 Rotating North Cascades trailheads
The Mountaineers — Bellingham Branch
Climbing courses & outings — see activity calendar
📍 Varies by course
The Mountaineers — Bellingham Branch
Winter snowshoe trips — see activity calendar
📍 Rotating Mt. Baker-area trailheads
Guided hikes on protected lands — see events
📍 Rotating conserved properties
Volunteer restoration & stewardship days — see events
📍 Rotating conserved properties
Open 24 hours · clinics, youth & yoga programs
📍 Vital Climbing Gym
WWU Wade King Rec Center Climbing Wall
Open climb during posted hours · students + alumni/guests
📍 Wade King Rec Center, WWU
Winter group ski outings on groomed trails — see schedule
📍 Salmon Ridge Sno-Park
Monthly club meetings — see schedule
📍 See club website
North Cascades Audubon Society
Monthly urban birding walks in Bellingham — see calendar
📍 Rotating Bellingham parks
North Cascades Audubon Society
Year-round birding field trips — see calendar
📍 Rotating Whatcom County sites
North Cascades Audubon Society
Fourth Sunday of the month · Hall of Birds program
📍 See chapter website
A monthly fourth-Sunday program for the local birding community.
North Sound Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Chapter meetings & events on Nooksack/Skagit waters — see schedule
📍 See chapter page
Fly-fishing classes & guided outings — see shop schedule
📍 The Confluence Fly Shop
Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts
Winter pool sessions for skills practice — see calendar
📍 See WAKE website
Paddling classes, rentals & community paddles — see schedule
📍 Community Boating Center, Bellingham Bay
Mt. Baker Ski Area — Mountain Education Center
Avalanche-awareness & backcountry-fundamentals clinics — see schedule
📍 Mt. Baker Ski Area
Guided excursions & clinics — see program calendar
📍 Departs WWU campus
Sea-kayak trips, clinics & rentals — see program calendar
📍 Departs WWU campus
WOOT orientation trips + ski/climb/raft clinics — see calendar
📍 Departs WWU campus