Camping

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (www.wa.gov/dnr [1], free) maintains a small and primitive kayak-accessible campground on the east side near the south end of the island. This is the only place to camp on Lummi Island [2].

Public tent ($17) and RV ($23) sites are just a few miles northwest of Ferndale [3] at Birch Bay State Park [4] (5105 Helwig Rd.). Make reservations ($7 extra) at 888/226-7688 or www.parks.wa.gov [5].

The privately run Cedars RV Resort (6335 Portal Way, 360/384-2622) has full hookups and a large heated outdoor pool.

Mountain View Mobile Home Park (6006 Portal Way, 360/384-2860) or Nor West RV Park (1627 Main St., 360/384-5038) also provide RV spaces.

Other places to park RVs include Ball Bay View RV Park (7387 Jackson Rd., 360/371-0334), Beachside RV Park (7630 Birch Bay Dr., 360/371-5962 or 800/596-9586), Richmond Resort (8086 Birch Bay Dr., 360/371-226), and Seabreeze RV Park (4700 Alderson Rd., 360/371-5603).

Lovers of old-growth stands should pitch a tent at the shady campsites offered at Berthusen Park (8837 Berthusen Rd., 360/354-2424, $12 tents, $17 RVs), which once was a sliver of a 19th-century homestead owned by a pioneer with the foresight to leave about 20 acres of virgin forest untouched when he developed the land.

Additional RV hookups are available at Lynden KOA (three miles east of Lynden [6], 360/354-4772 or 800/562-4779, www.koa.com [7]), and Hidden Village RV Park (7062 Guide Meridian Rd., 360/398-1041 or 800/843-8606).