Why visit Sumas
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 4 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Willow View Farms and Gallery 7 Theatre.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 76°F; January lows average 32°F.
Weather in Sumas
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Sumas
Sumas (SOO-mas) is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. It had a population of 1,583 as of the 2020 census. Sumas is located adjacent to the Canada–U.S. border and borders the city of Abbotsford, British Columbia. The Sumas–Huntingdon port of entry at the north end of State Route 9 operates 24 hours a day.
From the Wikipedia article Sumas, Washington (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks4
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes4
El Nopal
Restaurant · Mexican
625 Cherry Street, Sumas
Mo-Th 15:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 15:00-23:00; Su 15:00-21:00
Bob's Burgers & Brew
Restaurant · Burger
819 Cherry Street, Sumas
Mo-Su 08:00-21:00
History
The area was home to the Nooksack Indians in the millennia prior to the arrival of the first permanent settler Robert Johnson in 1872.
It was called "Sumas" meaning "land without trees" or "big flat opening." It is derived from a Cowichan tribe who also resided in the region.
Originally called "Sumas City," the town was officially incorporated on June 18, 1891. A post office with that name has been in operation since 1897.
The town was a railroad hub and briefly supported the Mount Baker Gold Rush, with some gold mining operations still ongoing in the area such as at Lone Jack mine. It was also known for a large rodeo in the early 20th Century, the "Sumas Roundup."
The area around Sumas drains into the Fraser River in Canada, in a broad floodplain. Floods from the Nooksack and Fraser rivers have been recorded ever since the area was settled. Although not the largest flood to have occurred prior to 1990, the November 10 flood received notoriety as it caused millions of dollars in damage.
On November 15, 2021, another regional flood event resulted in catastrophic flooding in Sumas. Approximately 85 percent of homes in the city were damaged and hundreds of residents were rescued after a partial evacuation.
Sumas was one of the cities hit by the 2025 Pacific Northwest floods. Residents were told to evacuate on Wednesday, December 10.
From the History section of Sumas, Washington on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries8
Map of Sumas
32 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 32°F | 7.0 in | 3.1 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 33°F | 3.9 in | 2.7 in |
| Mar | 53°F | 36°F | 5.0 in | 1.0 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 4.0 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 66°F | 45°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 70°F | 49°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 76°F | 51°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 76°F | 50°F | 1.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 46°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 42°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 36°F | 7.1 in | 1.3 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 32°F | 6.2 in | 2.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Clearbrook Hcn (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Whatcom County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2026-04-07: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2025-12-12: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2022-01-05: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-04-23: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Bellingham International Airport (BLI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Nooksack 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Everson 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Lynden 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Ferndale 18 mi southwest, about 28 min by car
- Geneva 18 mi south, about 30 min by car
- Bellingham 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Marietta-Alderwood 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Birch Bay 22 mi west, about 36 min by car
- Sedro-Woolley 34 mi south, about 54 min by car
- Burlington 37 mi south, about 59 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.