Hills of Bothell

This 25 mile ride starts at Log Boom Park and climbs some of the various hills north of the Burke-Gilman Trail and Sammamish River Trail.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Bridge over Sammamish River to Bothell Main St

Golf Club at Newcastle

This 46 mile trip starts at Seward Park, crosses the I-90 Bridge to Mercer Island, Then continues via Factoria for a 8 mile moderate climb up to the Newcastle Golf Club which offers some spectacular views and is on west side of Cougar Mountain Regional Park. Return via Coal Creek Parkway and SE 89th Pl to Lake Washington Blvd SE and a clockwise loop around the south end of Mercer Island and the I-90 Bridge.

There are several viewpoints and good rest stops along the way to include:

(a) Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island

(b) Newcastle Beach Park on the shore of Lake Washington

(c) Lid Park on Mercer Island

The Factoria Mall offers a variety of restaurants and take out options such as Square Lotus, Tokyo Japanese or Applebees which are all located on your right after crossing Factoria Blvd SE. at 11.2 miles. There is also a Starbucks and McDonalds on Coal Creek Parkway just north of where you intersect Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Golf Club Road (Mile 21.5) after decending from the Newcastle Golf Club.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

View from Newcastle Golf Club

Edmonds via Golden Gardens / Blue Ridge

This 40 mile ride heads west from Gas Works Park on the north side of the Ship Canal to Golden Gardens Park. Then it's north through Blue Ridge to Edmonds along Puget Sound. Edmonds is the perfect lunch stop; try the Edmonds Bakery for a great sandwich and nice assortment of bakery items. Take your lunch down to Marine Park or to a small ridge on Sunrise which offers a nice view of the ferry terminal with Puget Sound and the Olympic Mts in the background.

Return via 9th Ave N which climbs steadily above Edmonds downtown. Continue south on 100th Ave W and then on 8th Ave NW. Then head east on 195th /185th  (Note: after crossing Hwy 99 and the Interurban Trail on N 185th St there is a Starbucks in a small shopping center on your right should you need a caffeine fix) to Perkins Lane which offers a nice, fast descent to the Burke-Gilman Trail along Lake Washington.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Ferry leaving Terminal for Kingston

South Lake Washington Shoreline

This 52 mile ride starts at the Arboretum but quickly makes it way toward Lake Washington and hugs the shore for most of the ride. The ride highlights Mercer Island, the I-90 Bridge and Renton/Newcastle.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Lid Park, Mercer Island, looking west toward Seattle & Lk WA

Woodinville - Hollywood Hills - Snoqualmie Valley - Monroe - Snohomish

This 70+ mile ride starts at Magnuson Park and heads north on the Burke Gilman Trail to Log Boom Park then along E Riverside Drive to Woodinville. Climb the Hollywood Hills area for a delightfully peaceful, rural ride toward the Snoqualmie Valley on the way to Monroe. From Monroe head northwest to historic Snohomish which makes a good lunch stop with a good variety of restaurants such as the Snohomish Pie Company. After lunch head south, making your way back to Woodinville on Broadway Ave via Cathcart & Malby. Wilmot Gateway Park in Woodinville makes a good rest stop before returning to Magnuson Park via the Sammamish River / Burke Gilman Trails.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Historic Snohomish

Urban Century

This ride starts at Gas Works Park and heads west to Discovery Park and Magnolia. Then its onto Seattle's Waterfront and the International District, passing under the China Gate on King Street. Take the I-90 Trail/Tunnel/Bridge to Mercer Island Way West. Taking a counter clockwise route around the island, round the south end of the island to Mercer Island Way East to the East Channel Bridge and Bellevue. Head north to Lake Washington Blvd on 108th Ave then over Clyde Hill on 24th St to 112th Ave, skirting Kirkland or have lunch there.

Kirkland makes a great stop for lunch since it offers a wide variety of eateries (try Taco Del mar for a quick burrito). Kirkland's Marina Park makes a great place to eat or just take a break there. From Marina Park take Kirkland Ave to State Street which intersects 68th St to continue up Rose Hill.

Climb up Rose Hill toward Redmond and Marymoor Park. From Marymoor Park head south on East Lake Sammamish Pkwy to Issaquah. Head west on West Sammamish Pkwy to SE Newport Way toward Factoria. Take 124th Bike Trail to Coal Creek Pkwy / 119th Ave to Newport Hills then down to Lake Washington Blvd and into Renton. After passing along the south end of Lake Washington head north through Renton Airport toward Seward Park. Continue on Lake Washington Blvd to the I-90 tunnel and back to the International District via Dearborn. Continue along Seattle's waterfront through the Olympic Sculpture, Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks to Fisherman's Terminal and return to Gas Works Park via S Ship Canal Trail, Fremont Bridge and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

East Portal Viewpoint looking east toward Mercer Island

Lake Washington - Lake Sammamish Loop

This 76 mile ride starts at Magnuson Park and heads south on Burke-Gilman Trail through UW and then over the Montlake Bridge. Just follow the Lake WA Loop signs to the shores of Lake WA and continue onto Seward Park. Take the short climb up Juneau St and onto Seward Park Dr toward Renton. Once around the south end of the lake head north on Lake WA Blvd past the Seahawk Training Center and head over I-405 on Lake WA Blvd/112th Ave through Newcastle. Once over the climb up to Coal Creek Parkway take May Valley Road through the horse farms of southeast King County and onto Issaquah. Take the Issaquah-Preston/Highland Dr bike trail to the Issaquah plateau and onto Sammamish. Descend 228th Ave to Lake Sammamish Pkwy and onto Marymoor Park. Continuing north take the Sammamish River Trail and then the Burke-Gilman Trail (BGT) to Log Boom Park and the north end of the lake. Continue on the BGT to return to Magnuson Park.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

May Valley Road

Explore Whidbey Island from Clinton to Fort Casey

This 77 mile loop starts at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park with a 20 minute ferry crossing to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Once off the ferry explore many of the back roads and corners on the east side of the island (including the towns of Langley, Freeland and Greenbank) to Fort Casey. Return via the island's west side (including South Whidbey State Park) to the Clinton ferry. There are many variations and short cuts to expand or limit the mileage so use this route as a general guideline.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Fort Casey Lighthouse

Explore the Flats of Seattle

OK - this 20 mile loop does have one hill up 8th Ave NW which is one of the easiest ways (avg grade is 2%) to access Green Lake from the Burke Gilman Trail (BGT). In any case, enjoy the relatively flat route from Golden Gardens Park through Ballard to Green Lake and on to Gas Works Park returning to Golden Gardens via the BGT and Ballard.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Seattle Skyline from Gas Works Park

Best Hills of Discovery Park & Magnolia

Fit this 8 mile loop into any workout for a challenging climbing segment through Discovery Park and the quite roads of Magnolia. Loop starts at Commodore Park on south side of Hiram Chittenden Locks and climbs up to the north parking lot and then descends to South Beach/Lighthouse for the climb back to the Discovery Park view point near the FAA radar site. Exit the park via the south exit to descend Perkins Lane for the climb up W Raye and another climb up to the Magnolia water tower.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

South Beach Lighthouse

Mercer Island - May Valley - Issaquah

This 55 Mile loop starts at Seward Park and heads north over the I-90 Bridge to Mercer Island. At Lid Park take a right onto West Mercer Way for a counter clockwise ride through the rolling, rural terrain. This 10 mile stretch of Mercer Island has no stop signs or lights so is a great training segment. Cross over I-90 and over the East Channel bridge to 118th Ave SE in Bellevue. Merge on to the bike trail which parallels I-405.  Ascend Lake Washington Blvd over I-405 and descend back on Lk WA Blvd to NE 44th St / Lincoln Ave NE for the ascent to Coal Creek Pkwy and SE May Valley Road. Enjoy the horse farms and  rural scenery of May Valley before turning onto Issaquah-Hobart Rd toward Issaquah. Parallel I-90 on Newport Way through Factoria back to Mercer Island and Seward Park

Riding down May Valley Road

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Snohomish - Granite Falls - Arlington

This 46 mile ride was sponsored by Cascade Bicycle Club starting at the Pilchuck trail head on the Centennial Trail just north of Snohomish. After a  3 mile warm up on the Centennial Trail the ride travels through the rural countryside to Jordan Bridge Park. After crossing this foot bridge over the south fork of the Stillaguamish River there is a short (0.4 mile) section that has a steep 9% average grade as it ascends to Burns Road before the descent into Arlington. After lunch in Arlington (try the Blue Bird Cafe at 308 N Olympic) return to Snohomish via the Centennial Trail.


For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Jordan Bridge

Magnolia - Discovery Park Loop

This 27 mile  ride starts at Gas Works Park and heads west on the Burke-Gilman Trail then over the Fremont Bridge. Continue west on Nickerson (or alternately on S Ship Canal Trail) to Fisherman's Terminal. Detour to Cafe Appassionato at 4001 21st Ave W for a quick snack or great cup of coffee. Pass Commodore Park then ascend 40th Ave to Discovery Park. Ride through the park to Magnolia Blvd with views of Puget Sound and Olympic Mts. Cut off Thorndyke onto Plymouth St to further explore Magnolia and its eastern ridge. The ride then takes you through the flats to Smith Cove Park and then onto Centennial, Myrtle Edwards and the Sculpture Parks along Elliott Bay. Stop at Uptown Espresso at Alaskan Way & Broad St at end of Elliott Bay Bike Trail for cookie and coffee. Return to Gas Works Park via Elliott Bay Bike Trail, S Ship Canal Trail, the Fremont Bridge and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Downtown Seattle from Magnolia Park