Thousands of racers and spectators will descend upon portions of Whatcom County for the 51st annual Ski to Sea race on Sunday, May 26. Work is being done behind the scenes to make sure everyone can get to where they need to be by the finish line.
Ski to Sea organizers recommend that spectators heading to the finish line in Fairhaven leave with plenty of time to spare and use public transportation or other modes of travel other than vehicles. Delays are expected along the entire route, especially in Everson at the road bike/canoe handoff, and near Mt. Baker Highway.
Law enforcement will be stationed along the race route and in Bellingham and Fairhaven. Expect to see Bellingham Police officers, including extra officers assigned to help with the event, Whatcom County and Skagit County Sheriff’s deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers.
Whatcom County Sheriff Traffic Sgt. Tony Paz said spectators should plan their day to accommodate road closures, and to be patient with racers and safety flaggers.
If you’re competing or planning on watching portions of the course, here’s what you need to know about planned road closures, traffic and parking.
Road closures
Mt. Baker Highway, or Highway 542, between Canyon Creek Road in Glacier to Mt. Baker Lodge, will be closed from 7:15–11 a.m. Teams parked at Mt. Baker Lodge will be allowed on the highway after 10:45 a.m., when Ski to Sea releases its sweep van, followed by Washington State Patrol.
Viewers, participants and support vehicles must pass Canyon Creek Road before 7:15 a.m. to get to the lodge for the ski legs. Cyclists on their bikes heading up to the exchange point will be allowed to pass Canyon Creek Road after 7:15 a.m.
No other major highway closures are planned. Priority is given to cyclists along the 41-mile road bike route and law enforcement will control three intersections: Highway 542 and Canyon Creek Road; Highway 542 and Silver Lake Road at the town of Maple Falls; and Highway 547 and South Pass Road junction at Kendall Road.
In Everson, Park Drive between Main Street to Trapline Road will be closed to traffic, where the road bike finish line is located.
Traffic will also be rerouted between Lynden and Everson along Van Buren Road and Hampton Road to accommodate the exchange between cyclists and canoes in Everson. The area around Riverside Park in Everson will be closed to traffic.
Anna Rankin, Ski to Sea race director, warned that downtown Everson will be slow-moving to vehicles as cyclists finish their leg and hand off to canoeists.
For the cyclocross leg, Seaview Avenue will be closed between Eldridge Avenue and Roeder Avenue for incoming bicycles.
At the finish in Fairhaven, Harris Avenue will be closed between 4th Street and 6th Street. Only racers with passes to pick up kayaks, volunteers and sponsors will be allowed past the closure in their vehicles.
Additional street closures in Fairhaven will accommodate the Fairhaven Festival, and include: between 12th Street and 10th Street, Mill Street, Harris Avenue, McKenzie Avenue and Larrabee Avenue. Old Fairhaven Parkway through 10th Street to Harris Avenue going west will remain open.
Motorists should be aware of cyclists and cyclists must obey regular traffic laws.
Parking and bus schedule
Ski to Sea and Fairhaven Festival organizers recommend spectators wishing to watch the finish and attend the festival either carpool or use public transportation. Extra Whatcom Transportation Authority buses have been added for the day and the red line bus will run three times an hour between downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven.
People can also park for free at Lot C on the Western Washington University campus, located on Bill McDonald Parkway at West College Way. Buses along Route 14 will depart from the bus shelter, called the Bill McDonald Parkway at WWU Rec Center, on the west side of Bill McDonald Parkway.
Route 14 will run every 15 minutes from 11:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. After 7:15 p.m., Route 14 will return to its normal Sunday schedule.
Returning from Fairhaven, riders can catch Route 14 at the shelter at 12th Street and McKenzie Avenue, near Haggen.
Route 1 between downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven will run every 30 minutes.
Each ride costs $1 and requires exact change.
For people biking to Fairhaven, a bike valet will be located at the entrance to the South Bay Trail.
If you must drive to Fairhaven, regular street parking will be available, as well as $20 cash-only paid parking at Evil Bikes, located at 700 Harris Ave. Park-by-donation at the Sacred Heart Church, located at 14th Street and Knox Avenue, starting at 12:30 p.m.
For parking at other race legs:
Ski legs: If you pass Canyon Creek Road before 7:15 a.m., you can park at the main lodge parking lot in Heather Meadows. Parking will also be available at the Salmon Ridge Sno-Park, half a mile past the Shuksan Department of Transportation snow shed. Spectators walk with the skiers and runners up to the parking lot at Heather Meadows and find a viewing spot from there.
Run: Parking will be available at the Salmon Ridge Sno-Park, half a mile past the Shuksan DOT snow shed.
Road bike: Parking will be available at the Salmon Ridge Sno-Park, half a mile past the Shuksan DOT snow shed. Volunteers will be directing traffic. Spectators will have to walk the half mile to the running/road bike exchange area.
Canoe: Vehicles will not be allowed in Riverside Park. Instead, volunteers will direct people to a field on 3rd Street off of Park Drive. Spectators can watch canoeists from anywhere along the Nooksack River between Everson and Hovander Park.
Cyclocross: For the handoff between canoeists and cyclocross participants, spectators can park in an area of Hovander Park. For the finish of the cyclocross leg, spectators can park at or nearby Zuanich Point Park.
Sea kayak: Folks can park at Zuanich Point Park to watch the start of the sea kayak leg.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
