Chuckanut Drive, WA-11

Driving

by Plot Along: Cascades

Washington State Route 11 along the Chuckanut and Samish bays, from Bellingham's Fairhaven district south to the farm village of Edison. About 17 miles. The road climbs out of Fairhaven onto the wooded flank of Chuckanut Mountain, runs along a cliff shelf above the water with the San Juan Islands spread out to the west, then drops to the flat Skagit delta at the south end.

It is one of the oldest scenic drives in the state. It began as a wagon route in the 1890s and later carried the original Pacific Highway before the main road moved inland to the Skagit flats. The southern end is oyster country: the tideflats of Samish Bay have been farmed for shellfish for more than a century, and the roadside oyster bars are part of the tradition. Larrabee, the first state park in Washington, sits near the midpoint, where short trails drop through the forest to rocky coves.

The drive is open year-round with no seasonal closures. It is narrow and winding with blind curves and a low speed limit, so it rewards an unhurried pace. Sunset over the islands is the classic time to run it.

Learn more: en.wikipedia.org

Fairhaven, Bellingham
The historic south district of Bellingham and the north end of the drive, a compact grid of restored 1890s brick buildings now full of cafes, bookshops, and a village green. The route starts here, off Old Fairhaven Parkway near I-5.
Inspiration Point
A roadside overlook near the north end of the drive, perched on the shoulder of Chuckanut Drive above the water. It looks southwest across Chuckanut Bay toward the San Juan Islands.
Larrabee State Park
The first state park in Washington, established in 1915. The entrance is on Chuckanut Drive; a park road and trails lead down to a boat launch, tide pools, and rocky beaches at Wildcat Cove.
Chuckanut Drive Heritage Marker
A roadside pullout on the cliff section with an interpretive marker on the drive's history. The view opens west across Samish Bay to the San Juan Islands, the signature outlook of the route.
Taylor Shellfish Farms
A working shellfish farm with a retail counter on the Samish Bay tideflats, one of a few roadside oyster stops at the drive's south end. Oysters, clams, and mussels sold fresh to go.
Edison
The route ends at Edison Cafe, a village diner on the corner of Edison School Road and West Bow Hill Road. Edison is a small farming and arts village on the edge of the Skagit delta, with galleries, a bakery, and oyster bars within a short walk.

Fairhaven, Bellingham

Inspiration Point

Larrabee State Park

Chuckanut Drive Heritage Marker

Taylor Shellfish Farms

Edison