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• Hidden Mountain Spring Retreat

  • Start
    Friday, May 09, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    Saturday, May 10, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Hawk Meadow Farm, 1102 Kelly Road, Bellingham, WA 98225
  • Spaces left
    0

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  Hidden Mountain Spring Retreat with Nomon Tim Burnett and Reizan Bob Penny:
  

  

  Join us at Hidden Mountain Zendo at Hawk Meadow for our annual weekend retreat hosted by Reizan Bob Penny with Guiding Teacher Nomon Tim Burnett.

  Hidden Mountain Zendo is an intimate yurt zendo in a place called Hawk Meadow, 20 minutes from Bellingham, which is surrounded by several hundred acres of woodlands. Hawk Meadow is the source of several watersheds, including Spring and Baker creeks, which flow to opposite sides of King Mountain and then join back together, miles away, and then flows right by Sansui-ji, Red Cedar's new temple home.

  You can begin setting up tents and exploring the farm by 4pm on Friday. The retreat begins gradually with cooking some dinner together at 5pm, and starts proper with Zazen beginning at 7pm.  The retreat continues overnight with a 4pm Saturday close. Three vegetarian meals are included.

  You may arrive as late as 7pm if your schedule is constrained - please note this in the comment field of the registration.

  This gentle, accessible retreat will include indoor and outdoor Zazen, indoor and outdoor walking meditation, a Dharma Talk by Reizan Bob Penny, the availability of private Dokusan with Nomon Tim Burnett, and an outdoor ceremony in the Cedar Grove.

  Sleeping outside (in tents) is an integral part of this nature-based Dharma experience. Some extra tents are available for those needing one.  If you are unable to sleep in a tent indoor sleeping may be able to be arranged.  Please inquire about this option, if you desire, in the comments section on your registration form
  

  Please register at redcedarzen.org

  Please direct inquiries to Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org.  Directions to the retreat will be emailed upon registration.

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• Lay Entrustment for Reizan Bob Penny

  • When
    Saturday, May 10, 2025
  •  
    3:00 PM
  • Location
    Hawk Meadow Farm, 1102 Kelly Road, Bellingham, WA 98225

  Register

  

  Lay Entrustment Ordination: 

  This year's Hidden Mountain Retreat retreat will also include a lay entrustment ceremony for Reizan Bob Penny, conducted by Nomon Tim Burnett, on Saturday afternoon at 3pm. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to get parked and over to the Zendo. All are welcome! But please, RSVP register for the ordination so we know how many to expect.

  Please register at redcedarzen.org

  Please direct inquiries to Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org.  Directions to the retreat will be emailed upon registration.

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• Hike: Lake Whatcom Watershed Hike

  • When
    Saturday, May 17, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    Carpool from the Cedarwood Zendo or meet at trailhead

  Register

  
  

  
  

  Lake Whatcom Watershed Hike

  A hike to perform rituals honoring the gathering of water in the Lake Whatcom Watershed.

  The whole group begins together on this hike. Then there are two options, and the group can divide to each complete a different option, and the two groups will finish the hike separately. 

  Option #1 Hertz Lakeside Trail (Easy)

  • a variable length of between 2 to 6.4 miles, depending on group choice
  • Little to no elevation gain or loss
  • Flat, wide trail, with a short boardwalk near the start, and a few places in the latter half where the trail is narrower and might be muddy.
    

  Option #2 Lake Whatcom Overlook (Difficult)
  

  • 5.4 miles round trip
  • Very steep 1,000' elevation gain/loss over 1 mile
  • Steep stair climb, and then decent, of 310 steps

  Join us as we experience the views of the lake, the surrounding hills, waterfalls, and the surrounding forest of giant old Douglas Fir trees. This hike is an experience of the midland foothills terrain of our area, between the shoreline hills and small mountains at the edge of the Salish Sea and the high alpine ridges and back country of Mt. Baker. Lake Whatcom is the gathering place for the drinking water of the entire City of Bellingham, and is an important marker in our annual cycle of celebrating our local watershed.

  Our climb up the 310 steps to the expansive view over the Lake Whatcom Watershed is suggestive of of many pilgrimage destinations in China, which involved completion of long flights of "Steps to Heaven" up sacred mountainsides. 

  We'll return to Bellingham by about 3:30pm.

  What to Bring: Bring lunch, rain gear if warranted, good walking shoes or boots, and at least two liters of water.

  Directions: Meet at 2509 Cedarwood in Bellingham or the Lake Whatcom Park trailhead.  You will specify your transportation plan during registration. Carpooling is an indoor "event" please consult our current Covid Policy.

  Timing: Be ready to leave Cedarwood at 9:15 am or to be met by the group at the trailhead at 10:00am. We hope to be back to Cedarwood at about 3:30pm but hiking times vary. 

  Registration: While our day hikes are offered without charge, we do incur about $10 of program administration cost for each registration. There is the opportunity during registration to donate to cover these costs for your own registration or, additionally, to help another cover their registration expenses. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. As we do on the trail, we support each other.

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

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• Annual Sangha Meeting with the Board

  • When
    Saturday, May 31, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    2509 Cedarwood, Bellingham, WA

  Register

  We invite you to the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Sangha from 1-4PM on Saturday, May 31st on site at 2509 Cedarwood and also over Zoom. 

  The Board will also present updates on our finances, Board members and officers, volunteer opportunities, and policies and as at all annual meetings there is also the invitation for open feedback on the topic of your choices.

  The Board would appreciate any attendees who are able to bring cookie dana for the meeting.
  

  Location: The new zendo is at 2509 Cedarwood, Bellingham, WA, near the intersection of Cedarwood and Northwest Avenue. 

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• Opening to Nature Walk: 100 Acre Wood

  • When
    Saturday, June 07, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Fairhaven Park, 107 Chuckanut Drive, Bellingham
  • Spaces left
    9

  Register

  A mindful hike through Fairhaven's charming 100 Acre Wood. 

  

  • 2.5 miles
  • easy terrain with only slight elevation gain/loss
  • soft forested trails

  This wonderful extension of Fairhaven Park, also known as the Chuckanut Community Forest, is a wetland forest  filled with Douglas firs, tall cedars and cottonwoods. Bird and plant life are rich and diverse as are the many "social trails" lovers of this area have created. Walking together we'll enjoy a wandering loop of about 2.5 miles on mostly flat terrain.

  We'll start at the Upper Fairhaven Park Pavilion, then proceed up and down the trails viewing large cedars and firs and hemlocks, and even forest gnomes should they decide to show. We'll visit Se'Si'Le (the 100 Acre Woods' "Grandmother Cedar" tree) and pause for a brief ceremony and a snack, then head back through the woods. Some may wish to walk the Fairhaven Labyrinth at the end (optional).

  The hiking is a moderate, winding, walk on a network of park and local trails, gently up and down, with a few short, steep, sections. We anticipate it will take about two hours. Please bring water and snacks, and a hiking stick or poles if you use them.

  Timing: Meet at the Upper Fairhaven Park Pavilion near the tennis courts at 10am. Parking is limited there, you may need to park in the lot near the entrance and walk up. We expect to return around noon. Bring a bag lunch and stay for an optional sangha social time after the silent walk if you choose.

  What to Bring: Bring a trail snack and water. Trails can be muddy, consider hiking boots. Dress for the weather. Bring a sack lunch if you'd like to stay and eat together after the walk.

  Registration: While our day hikes are offered without charge, we do incur about $10 of program administration cost for each registration. There is the opportunity during registration to donate to cover these costs for your own registration or, additionally, to help another cover their registration expenses. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. As we do on the trail, we support each other.

  Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.

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• Samish Island Sesshin 2025

  • Start
    Friday, June 13, 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • End
    Saturday, June 21, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Samish Island Campground, 11565 Scott Rd Bow WA 98232 and Online on Zoom

  Register

  Join us for our annual summer sesshin at Samish Island Retreat Center

  

  Join us for our annual 7-day (8 nights) silent Zen sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer at this beautiful church camp on the water on Samish Island in the Skagit Valley. 

  

  The retreat includes dharma talks by Zoketsu Norman and Nomon Tim, dokusan and practice discussion, sitting and walking meditation, and delicious vegetarian meals. Sesshin is a deep time for practice and reflection with the support of sangha and teachers.

  Teachers: 
  Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Nomon Tim Burnett, and Kanho Chris Burkhart will all be giving talks and offering dokusan (private interview).

  Our Covid Safety policy at the time of the retreat will be required. Details will be sent by email closer to the time.

  Schedule:
  You may attend the entire retreat or the first or second half. Second half attendance is only appropriate to those who have sat sesshin with us at Samish before. We are unable to offer other attendance choices. Signing up is making a commitment to be part of the retreat for the entire period you signed up for. 

  Full Retreat - Friday 6/13/25 5pm to Saturday 6/21/25 noon.

  First Half - Friday 5pm to Tuesday at 5pm.

  Second Half - Tuesday at 5pm to Saturday at noon.

  Schedule: See the full schedule here. 

  Prerequisites & Requirements

  This is a rigorous and structured experience. To benefit from being at Samish Sesshin please abide by the following requirements:

  

  • You should have attended at least one full day formal meditation retreat before attending this 7-day, 8-night retreat. Please do not register if you have never sat a full day of formal meditation (in Zen or other traditions is fine).
  • If you have never attended Samish sesshin please start at the beginning by attending the full retreat or the first half. Do not attend just the second half. Orientation and instructions are offered at the beginning only.
  • No attendance options other than the three listed above can be accommodated. 
  • This is a silent retreat without talking, reading, writing, computer or cell phone use. Please be prepared to follow these guidelines fully.
    
  • Following the full schedule is a core practice of Zen. Some alternate schedules can be arranged with the Ino in cases of health and other needs.
  • Plan on remaining at Samish Island camp during the entire time of your sesshin attendance; e.g., not leaving for errands or appointments, etc.

  Housing: Housing is provided with four options: E-Cabins, Rustic Cabins, RV Camping, and Tent Camping. 

  E-Cabins are more recently built with a full bath shared with one other room. E-Cabins are in short supply in this retreat. Please choose a rustic cabin if that is possible for you in order to leave the E-cabins for those with health challenges. Consider sharing an E-cabin to that more people can enjoy them.

  e-Cabin Exterior

  e-Cabin Interior

  Rustic Cabins - simple plywood cabins built in the 1950's. Camp style bathrooms in a separate building. Most rustic housing will be single (not shared); however, if couples or friends are willing to share a cabin, this can make a difference in accommodating everyone if the sesshin is full.

  Rustic Cabin, exterior

  Rustic cabin, interior

  RV Camping - if you would like to sleep in your own camper, van, or trailer use the RV Camping option. Full hook-ups are available, but there is no difference in charge whether you the hook-up or not. Please do not choose the tenting option if you are sleeping in a vehicle.

  Tent - you can bring a tent and camp on the lawn. This is the lowest cost option.

  Zoom online attendance - Access the full zendo schedule (zazen, kinhin, dharma talks, rituals) on Zoom. Dokusan and events outside of the zendo will not be available online. It is fine to come and go from Zoom attendance as your schedule allows.

  

  Dates and Cancellation

  • May 15 - Last day to cancel with full refund. Full payment due.
  • May 16 - Incomplete (unpaid) registrations may be cancelled at this time to make room for people on the waitlist.
  • June 1 - Last day to cancel with partial refund.

  See also the Red Cedar Cancellation Policy

  Scholarships

  Scholarships are available for the Rustic Cabins. They cover one quarter or one half of retreat costs and are on a first-come, first-served basis. No need to apply--simply choose a scholarship option if that is right for you.

  Samish Island Campground

  We have rented the Community of Christ's wonderful camp at the eastern end of Samish Island for thirty years for our residential retreats. A wonderful place of practice where sea meets sky.

  11565 Scott Rd, Bow, WA 98232
  Map and Directions

  Getting to Samish

  There is no public transportation to Samish Island. We are not able to provide an airport shuttle. If you can provide a ride for someone or need a ride please contact the registrar at registrar@redcedarzen.org and we will do our best to help.
  
  You can get yourself to Samish from SeaTac airport in this way: (1) take the Bellair Airporter Shuttle to Burlington and (2) take Uber, Lyft or Quick Cab the remainder of the distance to Samish.

  Another option is to coordinate rides via the website Group Carpool (groupcarpool.com). The link will take you to a Samish specific site where you can add or join a carpool. 

  REGISTER

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• One Day Sit

  • When
    Sunday, August 10, 2025
  •  
    7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Sansui-ji Mountains and Waters Temple, 2509 Cedarwood Avenue, Bellingham, WA

  Register

  

  One Day Sits are an opportunity for sustained quiet practice together in sangha and a great way to learn more about formal Zen practice.

  The day begins early, as is traditional in Zen training, and includes periods of sitting meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), the morning service ritual, two silent breakfast and lunch (eaten buffet style), a Dharma talk, opportunity for a private interview with the teacher (dokusan), and a question and answer time that’s especially helpful for newer sitters.

  Note that our One Day Sits are bit less formal and rigorous than our Zen Sesshin. One Day Sits include more instruction and the opportunity for quiet social connection during the meal breaks. 

  The day of practice is also available online via Zoom.

  Schedule: The One Day Sit schedule runs from 7:00am to 3:00pm with a vegetarian breakfast and lunch provided. The full schedule is available here.

  Registration: Registration is required. If you are attending in-person, for the safety of everyone you'll need to follow our current COVID protocols.

  NOTE: This one day sit will be immediately followed by a priest ordination ceremony for Seishin Tyndall. You can find details regarding this incredibly special ceremony here.  We hope you will join us for the full day!

  More options for Sits, Retreats, and Sesshin

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• Ordination Ceremony for Seishin Tyndall

  • When
    Sunday, August 10, 2025
  •  
    3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Sansui-ji Mountains and Waters Temple, 2509 Cedarwood Avenue, Bellingham, WA

  Register

  
  

  Red Cedar Zen Community would like to warmly invite everyone - sangha, family and friends - in support of the Novice Priest Ordination (Shukke Tokudo) for Seishin Taliesin Laughing Owl Tyndall. 

  At this ceremony Seishin will receive their formal priests' robes and bowls and begin a life-long journey serving the sangha and the world as a Sōtō Zen priest.

  This intimate ceremony will be immediately followed by a potluck reception and tea. Please bring finger food and your warm hearts. 

  If you have questions, need assistance registering for this event or anything else, please contact admin@redcedarzen.org.

  This special ceremony will immediately follow the community's August one-day sitting the details of which can be found here. The sitting and ceremony will occur in Sansui-ji, Mountains and Waters temple. For those supporting and celebrating Seishin on Zoom, you will join the ceremony using the link to our Online Zendo found on the Zendo page of our website.

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• Backpack: Mountains and Rivers Retreat

  • Start
    Saturday, September 06, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM
  • End
    Thursday, September 11, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM
  • Location
    Hawk Meadow Farm 1102 E. Kelly Rd, Bellingham and Mount Baker Wilderness
  • Spaces left
    5

  Register

  Mountains and Rivers Backpacking Retreat

  Nature Awareness, Backcountry Zen practice, and Exchanging Water

  • Requires a phone interview about your experience and abilities, with a discussion of the route, to complete the registration process
  • 2.9 mile approach hike, river crossing on log, 1,800' elevation gain, soft forested trail, with a long switch-back grade in the middle and a few tough steep places near the end. 
  • Day hiking to higher elevations from camp, alpine above timberline, several miles
  • 9 mile exit hike, a gentler grade 2,300' elevation loss, soft forested trails, rocky areas, river crossing on log
  • Between two and eight 30-minute periods of seated Zen meditation (zazen) each day, trailside rituals, and sutra chanting services.

  

  Inspired by Eihei Dogen's 1240 text the Mountains and Rivers Sutra (Sansuikyo), this retreat includes a day of guided nature awareness and meditation in the front-country followed by four days and three nights of silent backpacking through a beautiful old growth hemlock forest to a seldom-visited base camp at Mazama Park, just south of Mount Baker at the foot of Park Butte. Our days will be interspersed with some social and free time.

  Activities include traditional Zen practice, a solo wilderness exercise, a day of Zen meditation, and opportunities for day hiking. The retreat is appropriate for new meditators and beginning backpackers.

  The retreat begins at Hawk Meadow Farm with a day of meditation, preparation, and nature awareness activities.  The ritual form of the backpack is a pilgrimage to our home mountain, "sutra mapping" the Sansuikyo on the upper watersheds of the South and Middle Forks of the Nooksack River.

  Led by Reizan Bob Penny & Nomon Tim Burnett - see our Practice Leaders page for more about them.

  Schedule:
  

  Saturday (9/6/25): Arrive at Hawk Meadow Farm at 1 PM for an orientation, gear inventory, sorting, and pack up, group dinner, and evening zazen.

  Sunday (9/7/25) : Hidden Mountain Zendo and Sansui-ji Mountains and Waters practice day. Start with zazen at 6 AM followed by breakfast at Hidden Mountain. Then, on to Sansui-ji for practice from 9:30-noon, including a jundo blessing for the departing pilgrims. We'll have lunch at Sansui-ji, followed by Cedarwood Pilgrimage Walk from 1-3 PM and return to Hidden Mountain for an intentions ceremony in the Cedar Grove. 

  
  

  Monday (9/8/25): We’ll start early with meditation, drive to the trailhead, and hike in to our backcountry zendo at Mazama Meadows just below Mount Baker. We hike in silence with regular stops to chant the Sansuikyo.

  Tuesday (9/9/25): In the backcountry with a mix of formal Zen practice, day hiking, and relaxed camp life. A personal solo morning at your own meditation spot on one of the days.

  Wednesday (9/10/25): Zazenkai (siilent retreat with zazen and kinhin) in the backcountry until 4 PM.
  

  Thursday (9/11/25): We’ll hike back out from the backcountry returning to Hawk Meadow Farm to close the program by about 7pm.

  Hike Difficulty:
  This is a moderately challenging backpack. The hike in is 2.9 miles long and gains 1,800 feet. The hike out (with lighter packs) is about 9 miles and mostly downhill. We'll have two in-camp days with moderate day hiking as well.

  Pre-hike interview required:  A telephone interview with Bob to assess questions around hiking gear and fitness is required before registration is completed.

  More information: Please contact Wilderness Programs Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org with questions and see our Wilderness Dharma Program webpage for an overview of this program.
  

  Timing: Meet at Hawk Meadow Farm (1102 E. Kelly Road, Bellingham) by 6pm on Friday. Plan to be back at Hawk Meadow between 6pm and 7pm on the following Wednesday.

  What to Bring: Full set of backpacking gear. All food is provided with the registration fee (informed by a discussion of individual preferences and needs). Details will be provided.

  Donations to the Leaders: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. Unlike our "indoor" retreats dana (teacher donation) is not collected during the event, but dana given before or after the event is always welcome, and you can do so on our Donate to a Teacher page.

  Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program. 

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• Samish Island Sesshin 2026 - Save the Date

  • Start
    Friday, June 12, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • End
    Saturday, June 20, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Samish Island Campground, 11565 Scott Rd Bow WA 98232
  • Spaces left

  Save the dates for the 2026 sesshin:
  June 12 - June 20, 2026

  Registration will be open in early 2026

  Our annual 7-day (8 nights) silent Zen sesshin with Zoketsu Norman Fischer with talks and interview also available with Nomon Tim Burnett and others, includes seven days and eight nights of silent practice of sitting and walking meditation in this beautiful church camp on the water on Samish Island in the Skagit Valley. Retreat includes dharma talks by Norman and other Northwest teachers, dokusan and practice discussion, sitting and walking meditation, and delicious vegetarian meals. A deep time for practice and reflection with the support of sangha and teachers.
  

  Many photos of Samish are available on our Photos page.

  The following information is from a past Samish sesshin to give you an overview before registration opens.

  To keep current on this and all our events, please join our email list!

  Please note that this sesshin will be Zoketsu Norman Fischer's last time teaching with Red Cedar as he moves into fuller retirement.

  Schedule:
  You may attend the entire retreat or just the first or second half. Second half attendance is only appropriate to those who have sat sesshin with us before. We are unable to offer other attendance choices. Signing up is making a commitment to be part of the retreat for the entire period you signed up for.

  

  Full Retreat - Friday 5:00pm to Saturday at noon

  First Half - Friday  5:00pm to Tuesday at 5pm

  Second Half - Tuesday at 5pm to Saturday at noon.

  Prerequisites & Requirements
  This is a rigorous and structured experience. To benefit from being at Samish Sesshin please abide by the following requirements.

  • You should have attended at least one full day formal meditation retreat before attending this 7-day, 8-night retreat. Please do not register if you have never sat a full day of formal meditation (in Zen or other traditions is fine).
  • If you have never attended Samish sesshin please start at the beginning by attending the full retreat or the first half, and do not attend just the second half.
    Orientation and instructions are offered at the beginning only.
  • No attendance options other than the three listed above can be accommodated. 
  • This is a silent retreat without talking, reading, writing, computer or cell phone use. Please be prepared to follow this guideline fully.
  • Following the full schedule is a core practice of Zen. Some alternate schedules can be arranged with the Ino in cases of health and other needs.
  • Plan on remaining at Samish Island camp during the entire time of your sesshin attendance, not leaving for errands or appointments, etc., and remaining at the camp through final clean up at noon on Saturday unless illness or unavoidable travel arrangements prevent this.

  Housing:
  There are currently four different housing options to choose from:

  E-Cabins are recently built multi-room cabins with a bath shared with one other room. E-Cabins are in short supply in this retreat. Please choose a rustic cabin if that is possible for you in order to leave the e-cabins for those with health challenges. Or consider sharing an e-cabin. 

  e-Cabin Exterior

  e-Cabin Interior

  Rustic Cabins - simple plywood cabins built in the 1950's. Camp style bathrooms in a separate building. Most rustic housing will be private (not shared), however, if couples or friends are willing to share a cabin this can make a difference in accommodating everyone if the sesshin is full.
  

  Rustic Cabin, exterior

  Rustic cabin, interior

  RV site with hookups - you can bring your own RV and connect to the camp's services.  A lower cost option.

  Tent - you can bring a tent and camp on the lawn. A lower cost option.

  Samish Island Campground

  We have rented the Community of Christ's wonderful camp at the eastern end of Samish Island for over a twenty-five years for our residential retreats. A wonderful place where sea meets sky.

  11565 Scott Rd, Bow, WA 98232
  Map and Directions

  Show details