Whatcom County's most beloved community tradition returns this Sunday, May 24, when thousands of athletes and spectators gather across a 93.5-mile course stretching from the slopes of Mt. Baker all the way to the waterfront at Bellingham Bay. The annual Ski to Sea relay race brings with it significant traffic impacts throughout Whatcom County, and residents planning to travel Sunday should expect delays along the course.
Whatcom County Government issued a reminder this week encouraging spectators to come out and cheer for participants while being mindful of road conditions along the race route. The race spans seven legs crossing multiple towns, valleys, and waterways between the Mt. Baker ski area and Marine Park in Fairhaven, and draws tens of thousands of visitors from across the Pacific Northwest on Memorial Day weekend.
The race course runs through Glacier, Kendall, Nugent's Corner, Everson, Lynden, Ferndale, Bellingham, and ultimately into the Fairhaven neighborhood. Spectators will find the biggest crowds and most festive atmosphere near the finish line at Marine Park, where teams are cheered in as they arrive by canoe on Bellingham Bay. The finish line area typically sees the highest concentration of parking challenges and congestion.
Planning ahead is key to enjoying race day. Whatcom Transportation Authority will run enhanced bus service this Sunday to help residents and visitors avoid the parking crunch near the finish line. WTA will offer buses every 10 minutes between Downtown Bellingham Station and Fairhaven Amtrak Station, providing direct service to Marine Park and the surrounding Fairhaven area. Taking transit is one of the easiest ways to join the celebration without dealing with parking.
Carpooling is also strongly encouraged for anyone coming from outside the immediate Bellingham area. With more than 15,000 people expected along the course and at the finish, roads near Fairhaven and the lower race legs typically back up significantly in the afternoon hours when the majority of canoe finishers arrive.
Ski to Sea has been a Memorial Day weekend fixture in Whatcom County since 1973, making it one of the longest-running multisport relay races in the United States. Teams of up to eight participants each tackle a different leg of the course, which includes cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, road cycling, cyclocross, sea kayaking, and flatwater canoeing. The race celebrates both the athletic culture and the remarkable geographic diversity of Whatcom County, from alpine snowfields to saltwater shoreline.
For spectators, the most accessible and rewarding vantage points include the transition areas in Everson, the cycling legs through the Nooksack Valley, and of course the finish at Marine Park. The Fairhaven Village Green also hosts food vendors and live entertainment throughout the afternoon as teams finish.
Full course maps, transition point locations, and road impact details are available on the official Ski to Sea race map page. Residents who need to travel through affected areas on Sunday should check that resource and plan to allow extra time or find alternate routes where possible.
