Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Just outside the Ferndale city limits, Tennant Lake Park expands east from popular Hovander Homestead Park. The 624-acre site is covered with extensive wetlands, deciduous forests, and riparian vegetation. The shallow lake attracts a host of migratory birds and other fascinating wildlife, all of which can be best observed from the Tennant Lake Marsh Boardwalk.

The interpretive center is a great place to start, and it offers hands-on displays and maps that explain the flora, fauna and natural processes encountered throughout the park. Just outside is the award-winning fragrance garden, where raised beds elevate examples of over 200 plant species. During blooming season, a slow stroll through the garden’s intense blend of colors and scents makes for a sensational experience.

Perhaps the most conspicuous structure on the grounds is the 50-foot observation tower. Views from the top offer a fun perspective on the lands below. Also, the tower is rigged with a unique monitor system that allows disabled visitors to observe first-person views from the base. Looking east, cloudless skies enhance the scenery, with Mount Baker rising wide and tall over the North Cascades.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

50-foot lookout tower. Fragrance garden. Marsh boardwalk.

Cons

Inconsistent hours throughout the year.

Features

ADA accessible
Flushing toilets
Bird watching

Location

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