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Birch Bay has some of the warmest water on the Pacific Coast, making the crescent-shape bay a favorite place for swimming during summer season.
Birch Bay is a popular resort community especially during summer. Because of its location, many people come here for holidays and weekend getaways.
Ruddy-Duker Company billboard advertising Birch Bay, Washington State. Photograph taken in BC, Canada.
Photo by Julius Reque of Traveling12feet
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North AmericaUnited StatesWashington

Birch Bay

Washington, United States · North America

About Birch Bay

Birch Bay sits on the route: 15 minutes from Blaine, 48km from San Juan Islands.

Birch Bay is in Washington, United States, with about 8,400 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Blaine, about 8 km away.

Birch Bay (Tsan-wuch, Say-wak) is a census-designated place (CDP) along the shore of the bay named Birch Bay in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 8,413 at the 2010 census, a 69.6% increase over the 4,961 individuals in the 2000 census. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,115.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Birch Bay

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see near Birch Bay?

Within an hour or so of Birch Bay: Chuckanut Drive (WA-11) (35 km), San Juan Islands (48 km), Stanley Park Totem Poles (50 km), Vancouver Aquarium (51 km).

Are there any good drives near Birch Bay?

The nearest famous roads are Chuckanut Drive (WA-11), Sea-to-Sky Highway (BC-99) and Whistler.

Where is Birch Bay?

Birch Bay is in Washington, United States, about 8 km from Blaine.

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Quick Information

Population
8,413
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
Washington
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Coordinates
48.9179, -122.7446

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesWashingtonTown

Worth the detour from Birch Bay

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

coastal drive

Chuckanut Drive (WA-11)

Washington's first scenic byway clings to sandstone cliffs between Bellingham and the Skagit flats, with oyster bars and Samish Bay sunsets over the San Juan Islands.

35 km · about 40 min drive

natural wonder

San Juan Islands

A scenic Pacific Northwest archipelago accessible by ferry, renowned for orca whale watching, kayaking, and peaceful island life.

48 km · about 55 min drive

landmark

Stanley Park Totem Poles

Collection of First Nations totem poles in Vancouver's Stanley Park, one of the most visited attractions in British Columbia.

50 km · about 60 min drive

landmark

Vancouver Aquarium

Canada's largest aquarium in Stanley Park dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life in the Pacific Northwest.

51 km · about 60 min drive

bridge

Lions Gate Bridge

Vancouver's iconic 1938 suspension bridge spanning the First Narrows from Stanley Park to the North Shore, gateway to the Sea-to-Sky Highway with mountain and harbour views from its green towers.

53 km · about 60 min drive

bridge

Capilano Suspension Bridge

A 137 m footbridge swaying 70 m above the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a granite cliffwalk: one of BC's most visited attractions since 1889.

54 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Birch Bay

4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.

  • 35 kmChuckanut Drive (WA-11)Washington's first scenic byway clings to sandstone cliffs between Bellingham and the Skagit flats, with oyster bars and Samish Bay sunsets over the San Juan Islands.
  • 53 kmLions Gate BridgeVancouver's iconic 1938 suspension bridge spanning the First Narrows from Stanley Park to the North Shore, gateway to the Sea-to-Sky Highway with mountain and harbour views from its green towers.
  • 54 kmCapilano Suspension BridgeA 137 m footbridge swaying 70 m above the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a granite cliffwalk: one of BC's most visited attractions since 1889.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Birch Bay.

Blaine

🇺🇸 United States

8 km awayPop. 5,056

White Rock

🇨🇦 Canada

12 km awayPop. 23,670

South Surrey

🇨🇦 Canada

15 km awayPop. 77,170

Cloverdale

🇨🇦 Canada

21 km awayPop. 73,355

Langley

🇨🇦 Canada

21 km awayPop. 132,603

Surrey

🇨🇦 Canada

22 km awayPop. 568,322

West Clayton

🇨🇦 Canada

24 km awayPop. 13,102

Willoughby

🇨🇦 Canada

24 km awayPop. 31,305

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence