Sehome Hill Arboretum is a 175-acre forested hill rising directly above Western Washington University and downtown Bellingham, in the Sehome neighborhood. It is one of the best in-town hikes in the city: about six miles of trails wind through second-growth forest, past a hand-cut rock tunnel, up to an observation tower with views over the city, the bay and the islands. Despite sitting between campus and downtown, it feels genuinely woodsy. Bikes are not allowed, which keeps it quiet for walkers and trail runners. For students, residents and anyone who wants a forest fix without leaving town, it delivers.

What you’ll find

Sehome Hill is a forest preserve, so the draw is the trail network and the views rather than built facilities. Roughly six miles of trails climb and contour through the woods, including a memorable hand-cut rock tunnel. At the top, an observation tower gives a wide outlook over Bellingham, the bay and the San Juan Islands. There is parking at the upper access, but no restrooms, and the terrain is natural and sometimes steep. Bikes are not permitted, which preserves the quiet, walking-and-running character of the place. It is one of the few spots where you can feel deep in the forest minutes from campus and downtown.

Good for

This park suits hikers, trail runners and anyone who wants real forest and a viewpoint inside the city. It is hugely popular with WWU students given how it sits right above campus, and with residents who want an accessible woodland workout. The tower and tunnel make it a fun outing with older kids who can handle uneven trails. The trade-offs are real: there are no restrooms, the trails are natural and can be steep, parts are not wheelchair accessible, and bikes are not allowed, so it is a walkers’ and runners’ park rather than a do-everything one.

Getting there

Sehome Hill Arboretum is in the Sehome neighborhood directly above Western Washington University, with vehicle access to an upper parking area off the campus-side approach and multiple trail entrances around the hill. There is parking but no restrooms on site. Many people reach it on foot from WWU, downtown or the surrounding Sehome streets, since trailheads ring the base of the hill. The trails themselves are natural-surface and can be steep and uneven, so footwear matters and the terrain is not suited to strollers or wheelchairs.

A local broker’s take

The Sehome neighborhood draws a lot of interest from people connected to Western and from buyers who want forest and trails within walking distance of downtown. Having 175 acres of woods and a viewpoint essentially in your backyard is a strong selling point, and it is part of why this area holds steady demand, including from investors eyeing the student-rental market. If you are looking around Sehome, I can help you sort owner-occupant streets from rental-heavy blocks and explain how proximity to campus and the arboretum plays into both lifestyle and value.

Good to know

How long are the trails at Sehome Hill Arboretum?

There are about six miles of natural-surface trails winding through the forested 175-acre hill, including a hand-cut rock tunnel, leading up to an observation tower.

Are bikes allowed at Sehome Hill Arboretum?

No. Bikes are not permitted, which keeps the arboretum quiet for walkers and trail runners. There are also no restrooms on site.

Is there a viewpoint at Sehome Hill?

Yes. An observation tower at the top offers wide views over Bellingham, the bay and the San Juan Islands, reached via the hill’s trail network.