Biking is a popular Waterside pastime for good reason. The region has bike trails for both the whole family and experienced riders. Here are some highlights to pedal through this summer.
Surrey, B.C., home to Crescent Beach is an amazing place to bike. Download the “My Surrey” app for the latest bike route updates. Riding from Crescent Beach to White Rock; the ride will leave any biker hungry for a good meal on the pier.
Birch Bay State Park is a great place to bike along the waterfront. Bike to the main strip and stop at The C Shop. Take a break from the ride for a swim or a suntanning break. Birch Bay State Park is full of activities for the whole family. For more information, go to parks.state.wa.us/170/Birch-Bay.
South Bay Trail stretches from downtown Bellingham through beautiful Boulevard Park, across the Taylor Dock and into Fairhaven. Discover the beauty of that special place where Bellingham turns into Fairhaven. This is a family friendly ride lending itself to breaks for park time and light shopping. Visitors will also begin and end their ride in town centers full of eateries, shops and activities. For a map of this trail, visit cob.org/wp-content/uploads/South-Bay-Trail-Boulevard-Park.pdf.
Looking for more miles, or to get out of town for a couple hours? Start at Fairhaven Park and head south on the Interurban Trail. Besides a couple of gravel ascents and descents, the six-mile-long ride offers a straight, flat course to Larrabee State Park under the Chuckanut evergreen forest canopy. Paralleling the picturesque Chuckanut Drive most of the way there, this trail offers spectacular views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. For more information and a map of the trail, go to whatcomcounty.us/3620/Interurban-Trail.
The Hertz Trail is another beautiful 6.2-mile path outside of Bellingham that edges the east side of Lake Whatcom. Starting near the North Lake Whatcom Trail, which offers an intense climb and descent, the Hertz Trail is a more leisurely option with only a 100-foot elevation gain. This route is great for walkers and runners as well, as there are plenty of spots along the lakeshore to take a refreshing dip in the water. For more information, go to bit.ly/2SyyjDQ
Little Mountain Park in Mount Vernon boasts 6.5 miles of biking trails and 1.4 miles of road. This is a good place for an introduction to mountain biking as the trails are best suited for beginner to intermediate riders. For more information, go to bit.ly/2Ttu7Wa.
Olympic Discover Trail East in Port Townsend is a waterfront trail visitors won’t regret cruising. The trailhead is a 7.3-mile waterfront trail experience that will lead bikers through trees and natural beauty, sometimes running parallel to State Route 20. More information can be found at olympicdiscoverytrail.org.
For a more challenging island ride, try Mount Constitution on Orcas Island. This ride will prove exhausting but well worth the view. Mount Constitution is the highest point in the San Juan Islands. At the crest bikers will find a stone tower replica of a 12th century Russian watchtower. The 360-degree view from the tower is extraordinary. For more information, visit moranstatepark.com/mount-constitution.
