big rock garden

a short walk through the quiet woods takes you past a dozen or more interesting and different sculptures.

It's worth spending a few extra minutes finding this gem of a secluded sculpture garden. Wandering through the trees leads to surprise sculptures and shaded views. Peaceful and serene. Thanks to all who put in hard work to maintain this lovely site.

This place is a hidden gem among private homes above Lake Whatcom in the Silver Beach neighborhood. Get directions online--easy to find, ample parking, and hardly every busy. Just busy/close enough to houses to feel safe even when you're the only one there. It's a suburban oasis with a well-laid-out walking trail that's easy to walk (no hills) with gorgeous, varied sculptures and interpretive signs along the loop. Short, fun, artsy, and a great side detour during your Bellingham day(s). Great place to take visitors just before or after a bite. Takes less than an hour to do, but it's worth it.

Big Rock garden is a small city park located near Alabama Hill and Lake Whatcom, Bellingham, WA. The winding trails, superb art installations, and great plantings provide a green, quiet place of refuge. On Mother's Day there are special events, with music, artists in action and refreshments provided by the friends of Big Rock Garden.There are several parking places in front of the entrance and trails nearby provide a great walking spot.

This lush sculpture garden is an ideal in-town destination for quiet reflection. The rich variety of sculpture is well-placed in a lush Japanese garden.

Tucked in a neighborhood close to Lake Whatcom is Big Rock Garden. It has many sculptures of world class quality with the landscaping constantly improving to complement the art work. This is a free exhibit of very high quality. Recommend for all ages and times of the year. Bring you camera for that unexpected magical moment.

This city park is designed to be a quiet place of escape. Pathways meander through plantings of Japanese maples and rhododedrons, intermixed with native forest plants and Douglas fir trees. Volunteer gardeners and the city parks department keep this garden looking interesting and attractive. There is a permanent collection of 39 sculptures by local and international artists. Also, sculptures are placed here on a temporary basis. There is a small water feature. I visit the park all the time but the spring and fall colors are spectacular. My son had his wedding on the deck at the lower level of the park. There is a Korean tiled-roof pavilion near the deck. Occasionally musical events take place here. The park does not receive a lot of publicity so many Bellingham residents have not been to Big Rock. Sometimes, they see it for the first time when they are showing visitors around Bellingham. A few of the sculptures seem to have special appeal to children. I've overheard many conversations about the meaning of some of the pieces. The name is kind of a misnomer since no "big rocks" are visible. The park pathways are level on the upper portion so one can get a view of some of the sculptures and landscaping in that part. Other paths have gentle up and down slopes. The park is open from 8 a.m. to dusk. There is a parking lot at the entrance. Other city trails, including the one up to Northridge Park, lead from this parking lot. Dogs are not allowed in this park. Big Rock Garden is on the side of Bellingham that includes Bloedel Donovan Park and Whatcom Falls Park so it can make a nice combination trip for touring Bellingham parks.