Why Bellingham is the Perfect Place to TAKE A Wilderness Medicine Course
Let's be honest: Bellingham is an adventure lover's dream town. Tucked between the North Cascades' jagged peaks and the Salish Sea, Bellingham delivers legendary singletrack at Galbraith, old-growth forest trails to quiet beaches with San Juan Island views, and a downtown packed with great restaurants and breweries. Come for the certification, stay because you've just discovered your new favorite Pacific Northwest destination.
Here's the thing about backcountry adventures: eventually, something goes sideways. Maybe it's a bad fall on a technical descent, a twisted ankle miles from the trailhead, or someone showing signs of altitude sickness as weather rolls in. In those moments, "I wish I knew what to do" doesn't cut it. Wilderness medicine training transforms you from the person frantically wondering what to do with your first aid kit into the calm, capable one everyone's relieved to have around. You'll learn to assess injuries with limited resources, improvise treatments from what's in your pack, make smart evacuation calls, and—most importantly—keep your head when the unexpected hits. These aren't skills you'll use every trip, but when you need them, you really need them.
Bellingham Course Dates
WFR
March 23–27, 2026
June 15–19, 2026
August 17–21, 2026
September 14–18, 2026
December 14–18, 2026
WFA/WFR-R
February 7–8, 2026
May 16–17, 2026
June 13–14, 2026
September 12–13, 2026
WFR-R
April 25-26, 2026
November 14-15, 2026
Mountain Biking WFA/WFR-R
April 18-19
September 26-27
Backcountry Medical Guides doesn't do wilderness medicine education the boring way. Our instructors are the real deal—active mountain guides, ER doctors, Physicians Assistants, SAR team members, and medical pros who use these skills regularly. We believe the best way to learn wilderness medicine is by doing it in the field, which is why our Bellingham courses put you in the forests, on the trails, and in conditions that make every scenario feel real. Whether you're tackling the full WFR knocking out a weekend WFA/WFR-R, or diving into our mountain bike-specific training, you'll walk away with skills that stick because you practiced them. Plus, training in Bellingham means you get to spend a few days in one of the coolest towns on the West Coast. You're welcome.