West Alder · Glenhaven
Glenhaven · Whatcom County, Washington

Among the Highest Ground in Glenhaven

Two Premium Lots — Offered Together

From West Alder Drive, the ridge keeps climbing until there's simply no more hill left to give — and that's where Lots 15 & 16 sit, protected forest at their back, Cain Lake close enough to walk to. Lot 15 remains heavily wooded with mature cedar trees. Lot 16 was previously cleared and is currently mostly underbrush, with no large trees.

LOT 16 HAS A FULLY INSTALLED SEPTIC SYSTEM — SEPTIC TANK AND DRAIN FIELD ALREADY IN PLACE.
Privacy Elevated Setting Installed Septic on Lot 16 Community Recreation 20 Min to Bellingham
See the Property Explore the Area Filmed above the property · owner drone footage
The Six Reasons

Why buyers choose this ridge.

Everything that matters about Lots 15 & 16, at a glance, with more photos and detail further down the page.

Mature trees and natural forest terrain on the property
01 · Privacy

Forest at Your Back, Not a Fence

Protected forest borders the rear of both lots. Mature cedars still stand on Lot 15, and a privacy buffer lines Lot 16.

See the property ↓
Sweeping aerial view over the Lake Whatcom valley from height
02 · Elevated Setting

Among Glenhaven's Highest Homesites

Lots 15 & 16 sit at what's widely regarded as the highest ground in the community.

See the property ↓
Natural forest interior on the property
03 · Installed Septic

Tank and Drain Field in Place

Lot 16 has a fully installed septic system, including both the septic tank and drain field.

See the property ↓
Aerial view of the Glenhaven clubhouse at golden hour
04 · Community Amenities

A Real Neighborhood

Glenhaven's own clubhouse and maintained roads, plus Cain Lake within walking distance.

See the community ↓
Mountain biker on Galbraith Mountain trails
05 · Recreation

Two Lakes, a Volcano, 65 Miles of Trail

Cain Lake on foot, Lake Whatcom in six minutes, Galbraith's trail network in twenty, Mt. Baker on the horizon.

Explore the area ↓
Bellingham skyline with Mount Baker behind
06 · Proximity to Bellingham

Remote Feeling, 20 Minutes From Everything

I-5 in about eight minutes, Bellingham in about twenty — the quiet up here doesn't cost you the convenience.

See why it holds value ↓
The Region

Life on this ridge moves at the pace of the seasons, not the commute. Mornings might start with a paddle across Lake Whatcom or a quiet walk down to Cain Lake before the rest of the county is awake. On clear days, Mount Baker holds the horizon like a permanent fixture. When you want a town, Bellingham is twenty minutes down the hill, and Fairhaven's brick storefronts and harbor are barely further than that.

The Area

The highest-value ground nearby.

Most listings say "close to trails." Here's the actual inventory — the destinations that matter most, and how long it takes to reach them.

Property photography and drone video throughout this page are owner-filmed. Area and lifestyle photography represent the destinations described.

Dock on Cain Lake at sunset

Cain Lake

Walking distance

Glenhaven's own nearby lake. The valley near the property runs down toward its shore.

Aerial view of Lake Whatcom

Lake Whatcom

≈ 6 min to boat launch

Ten miles of freshwater stretching from Bellingham into the hills — boating, fishing, and shoreline parks. Glenhaven sits just over the ridge from its south end.

Aerial view of Lake Samish and its shoreline community

Lake Samish

≈ 10 min

A quieter third lake in the same corner of the county — a shoreline community, fishing, and another reminder of how much water surrounds this ridge.

Lakefront homes and docks at Sudden Valley on Lake Whatcom

Sudden Valley

≈ 15 min

The master-planned community on Lake Whatcom — golf course, marina, beaches — where homes trade well into seven figures. Proof this corner of the county carries serious value.

Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters at dusk

Mount Baker

On the horizon · ski ≈ 90 min

A 10,781-foot glaciated volcano — and the view potential from a future second story on these lots. Its ski area holds the world record for snowfall in a single season.

Mountain biker on Galbraith Mountain trails

Galbraith Mountain

≈ 20 min

65+ miles of purpose-built mountain bike trail on the ridge between Lake Whatcom and Bellingham — one of the best-known riding networks in the country.

Summit viewpoint over Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands from the Chuckanuts

Chuckanut Drive & the Chuckanuts

≈ 25–30 min

Washington's famous coast road, carved along the cliffs where the Cascades' foothills meet saltwater — oyster bars, viewpoints, and Oyster Dome's summit view of the bay and islands.

Historic brick buildings in Fairhaven, Bellingham

Fairhaven

≈ 25 min

Bellingham's historic brick district on the bay — bookstores, restaurants, the village green, and the Alaska ferry terminal. The kind of neighborhood other towns try to build from scratch.

Washington State Ferry crossing to the islands

Anacortes & the ferries

≈ 40 min

The gateway to the islands — a working marina town where Washington State Ferries depart for the San Juans all day. Boat owners: this is where yours lives.

Aerial view of the San Juan Islands with a ferry

The San Juan Islands

Ferry from Anacortes

172 named islands in the rain shadow — orcas, harbors, farm stands, and some of the most protected sailing water in North America. A day trip from this ridge.

Bellingham skyline with Mount Baker behind

Bellingham

≈ 20 min

The city that anchors it all — about 100,000 people, Western Washington University, hospitals, and a food-and-outdoors culture that keeps landing on "best town" lists.

Aerial view of Bellingham International Airport beside I-5

I-5 & BLI Airport

≈ 8 min · ≈ 30 min

The detail that changes everything: this hilltop feels remote, but the freeway on-ramp is eight minutes away — and Bellingham International is thirty.

V

Vancouver, BC & YVR

≈ 90 min · border ≈ 45 min

One of the world's most livable cities, close enough for dinner — the Peace Arch border crossing is under an hour away. YVR opens direct routes across Asia and Europe.

S

Seattle & SEA

≈ 90 min

Ninety minutes south: the region's economic engine, pro sports, and Sea-Tac's global network. Close enough for a meeting or a flight, far enough that none of it follows you home.

Why It Holds Value

Three kinds of proximity.

01

Near the wealth

Sudden Valley's golf-and-marina community is 15 minutes away, with homes trading well into seven figures. Established high-value residential life already exists in this exact corner of the county, and this ridge sits right beside it.

02

Near the wild

Protected forest at the property line. Galbraith's trail network at 20 minutes. The Chuckanuts and the saltwater at 25. A record-snowfall volcano on the horizon.

03

Near everything

I-5 in 8 minutes. Two full-service towns in 20. Two international cities and two major airports within about 90 minutes, in opposite directions. Remote is a feeling here — not a logistics problem.

Samish Bay with Mount Baker on the horizon
Saltwater to volcano — the whole county in one frame.
Samish Bay & Mount Baker
Community Amenities

A real neighborhood, not just a mailing address.

Some rural land purchases mean building a sense of community from nothing. Glenhaven already has it in place.

Aerial view of the Glenhaven clubhouse at golden hour
Glenhaven's own clubhouse — photographed on-site, not a rendering.

The clubhouse and the roads — already built.

Glenhaven has its own clubhouse and maintained roads in place, real infrastructure around a homesite that still feels like the edge of the wild. Cain Lake is within walking distance of the property.

Unmarked trails are reported in the protected forest bordering the lots, on foot from your own driveway — no car required, unlike most homesites nearby.

Forest trail signage in the Whatcom County backcountry
Regional trail character, Whatcom County — for illustration.
The Milky Way over a dark lake
And this is the night sky — eight minutes from the freeway.
Dark-sky quiet, city convenience
The Property

Lots 15 & 16 — two titles, one ridge.

The annotated survey below marks the approximate boundary of both lots — where the line runs, how the two parcels divide, and what borders them on every side.

Annotated aerial survey showing the boundary of Lot 15 (13,068 sq ft) and Lot 16 (13,080 sq ft) along West Alder Drive
Lot 15 · 13,068 SF  +  Lot 16 · 13,080 SF  =  26,148 SF combined
Owner drone survey · property outlines approximate
Additional unannotated aerial photograph of Lots 15 and 16 and the surrounding forest
A wider, unannotated aerial of the property — for additional scale and context.
Mostly underbrush on previously cleared Lot 16
Lot 16

Installed septic, easier preparation

Lot 16 has a fully installed septic system, including the septic tank and drain field. The lot was previously cleared and is currently mostly underbrush, with no large trees. It is the easier of the two lots to prepare for construction.

Lot 15

Mature cedars, left natural

Lot 15 is the more heavily wooded lot, with mature cedar trees, and has not been cleared recently. It is walked here on video by the owner.

Previously cleared ground and underbrush on Lot 16
On the property, forest edge and undergrowth
On the property, mature trees and terrain

Walking the lots, June — owner photos. More photos and full drone footage available on request.

And one thing no other listing has: a glacial erratic.

A massive boulder carried here by ice-age glaciers and set down roughly 15,000 years ago sits on Lot 15. Landscape architects pay to install stone like this. Yours came with the continent's receipt.

Why This Property

Why these two lots — not just any Glenhaven lot.

Glenhaven has other homesites from time to time, but none combine these things in a single purchase. Some of this is specific to Lots 15 & 16 versus their neighbors on the same ridge; some is true of Glenhaven as a whole and worth knowing before comparing this ridge to land anywhere else in the county.

Among the Highest Homesites on the Ridge

Other Glenhaven parcels sit at varying points on the hillside. Lots 15 & 16 are widely regarded as being among the highest ground in the community, a position few other lots in the neighborhood can offer.

Forest on One Side, Not a Fence Line

Most platted lots back up to another lot or a road. These back directly onto forest — a rear boundary that stays a tree line instead of eventually becoming a neighbor's siding.

Two Distinct Lots Offered Together

Lot 16 was previously cleared and is now mostly underbrush with no large trees. Lot 15 is more heavily wooded, retains mature cedar trees, and has not been cleared recently.

A Lodge and Maintained Roads, Without the Isolation

Some rural land purchases mean building a sense of community from nothing. Glenhaven already has its own clubhouse and maintained roads in place — real infrastructure around a homesite that still feels like the edge of the wild.

Between Two Lakes, Not Just Near One

Cain Lake is walking distance from these lots; the Lake Whatcom boat launch is about six minutes by car. Few homesites anywhere put two separate lakes this close together.

Remote Feeling, City-Close Reality

I-5 is about eight minutes away, and Bellingham — roughly 100,000 people, a university, hospitals — is about twenty. Land with comparable elevation and privacy elsewhere in the county usually trades that quiet for a much longer drive. Here it doesn't.

DimensionTypical Glenhaven LotLots 15 & 16
Lot count & sizeOne lot; size varies by parcel Two adjoining lots sold together — 26,148 SF combined (13,068 + 13,080)
ElevationVaries by position on the hillside Widely regarded as the highest homesite in the community
Rear boundaryOften another lot or the road Protected forest — not another lot or the road
Ground conditionVaries by parcel Lot 16 was previously cleared and is mostly underbrush; Lot 15 is heavily wooded with mature cedars
Septic systemVaries by parcel Fully installed septic tank and drain field on Lot 16
Distinctive natural featureNone typically noted A glacial erratic boulder, roughly 15,000 years old, on Lot 15
Distance to Cain LakeDepends on the specific lot Walking distance from the lots themselves
Privacy buffer controlDepends on what a neighbor eventually builds next door Buyer holds both adjoining lots, with control over how much vegetation to retain on each

A fact-only comparison. No two lots in Glenhaven are identical, so treat "typical single lot" as a reasonable baseline rather than any one specific listing.

Compare it, then ask what else comes close.

Elevation, a forest border, walking distance to a lake, and two adjoining lots offered together — few parcels in Glenhaven combine all of this at once. Send your specific questions.

Ask a Question The more directly you compare this to alternatives, the clearer the combination gets — that's the only urgency here.
Property Snapshot

Two lots. One ridge. Everything you need to know.

The essentials, at a glance, before a site visit.

2Adjoining Lots
26,148 SFCombined (13,068 + 13,080)
InstalledSeptic Tank and Drain Field on Lot 16
HighestWidely Regarded Top Homesite in Glenhaven
The Land

What's for sale

  • Two adjoining lots — Lots 15 & 16
  • Approximately 26,148 sq ft combined
  • Widely regarded as the highest homesite in the community
  • Offered together, as a single purchase
Terrain & Character

What's on it

  • Lot 16 was previously cleared and is currently mostly underbrush, with no large trees
  • Lot 16 has a fully installed septic tank and drain field
  • Lot 15 is more heavily wooded, with mature cedar trees, and has not been cleared recently
  • A glacial erratic boulder, roughly 15,000 years old
  • A privacy buffer runs alongside Lot 16
Privacy & Access

What surrounds it

  • Protected forest directly behind the property
  • Unmarked trails reported in the forest directly behind the lots
  • Walking distance to Cain Lake
  • ≈ 6 minutes to the Lake Whatcom boat launch
Buyer Confidence

The questions serious land buyers ask.

What is installed on Lot 16?
A fully installed septic system, including both the septic tank and the drain field.
What is the current condition of each lot?
Lot 16 was previously cleared and is currently mostly underbrush, with no large trees. Lot 15 is more heavily wooded, has mature cedar trees, and has not been cleared recently.
Where are the boundaries?
See the annotated survey and companion aerial in the Property section above — the approximate outline and dividing line between Lot 15 and Lot 16 are marked directly on the photo.
How much privacy is there?
Protected forest borders the back of the property, mature cedars stand on Lot 15, and a privacy buffer runs beside Lot 16.
What community amenities exist?
See the Community & Amenities section above — Glenhaven's own clubhouse and maintained roads, plus lake access at Cain Lake and trail access into the protected forest behind the lots.
What's the asking price?
Pricing isn't published on this page. Because the two lots are sold together as a single purchase, contact Jimmy directly for current price and terms.
Is the drone footage real?
Yes — it's owner-filmed footage of this specific property, not stock. The walking photos of the lots were also taken on-site by the owner in June.
How do I finance vacant land like this?
Land loans are underwritten differently than home mortgages — down payment, terms, and timelines vary by lender. Speak with a lender experienced in raw land financing.

The two scarcest words in land are above and behind. Here, both are already spoken for — by elevation and by the forest that borders it.

Walk it before you decide.

Photos and a survey can only tell you so much about land. See the mature cedars and glacial boulder on Lot 15, and the previously cleared, mostly underbrush ground on Lot 16, in person.

Schedule a Site Visit See the lots, the tree line, and the surrounding community in person.
The Map

Where it sits.

Aerial view of the Glenhaven community and Cain Lake
The setting from above — Cain Lake and the Glenhaven community.
Protected forestproperty line
Cain Lakewalking distance
Lake Whatcom boat launch≈ 6 min
I-5 (Alger exit)≈ 8 min
Lake Samish≈ 10 min
Sudden Valley≈ 15 min
Bellingham≈ 20 min
Galbraith Mountain trails≈ 20 min
Fairhaven · Chuckanut Drive≈ 25–30 min
Bellingham International Airport≈ 30 min
Anacortes ferries (San Juans)≈ 40 min
Canadian border (Blaine)≈ 45 min
Mt. Baker Ski Area≈ 90 min
Seattle · Vancouver, BC≈ 90 min

Times approximate, normal traffic.

Come stand on it.

Lots 15 & 16 are offered together, as they are — the drone footage is real, the quiet is real, and the view works better in person than on a screen. There's no separate sales office here, so emailing Jimmy directly is the fastest way to get current answers.

Email Jimmy
Only two lots at this elevation, sold together. Contact Jimmy