Bike Outings

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Bike Highways

Bike Highways - Washington

Cross Washington Mountain Bike Route

Length: 700 Miles
Climbing: 50,000 Feet
Trail surfaces: Singletrack, dirt roads, rail trails, and pavement

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail

Length: 250 miles
Location: North Bend to the Columbia River near Vantage then to Idaho
Trail surfaces: Gravel
Trail category: Rail-Trail
Longest trail in the United States
Bring bike lights or headlamps and warm clothing for the 2.3 mile Snoqualmie Tunnel

Map Source: USGS

Snoqualmie Tunnel to North Bend

Two trail length options:
- 21 miles from Hyak to Rattlesnake Lake
- 29 miles from Hyak to North Bend
Option two allows you to stop in North Bend and have Burgers and Ice-cream. The last two miles of this route can be a butt kicker since it is flat and you will have to start peddling.
Park at either North Bend or Rattlesnake Lake, consolidated people and bikes and take minimum vehicles needed to Hyak. From Hyak when travel west via Snoqualmie Tunnel and Palouse to Cascades Trail. Lunch at end of route and send adults back up hill to get rest of vehicles. Plan for 1 hour turn around time to get vehicles. If parking at Rattlesnake Lake, plan for the lot to fill up early in the summer.
Highlights:
- 2.3-mile tunnel!
- Wonderful scenic trail
- Almost entirely downhill
- Easiest 20-30 miles on a bike that scouts will ever do
- This is a FANTASTIC experience!
Important Points:
- The tunnel ride is incredible and without lights - obviously everyone will need a headlight and/or headlamp
  - Basic economy headlamps aren’t great but will work - scouts will need to travel snow enough to see the handful of mud puddles in the tunnel
- Scouts on kid bikes can’t coast downhill and will need to peddle most of the way – this is exhausting
- 26” gravel type tires minimum
  - Street bikes with skinny tires won’t last on the gravel road
- This trail is NOT for scouts new to bicycling or those who just give up - quitting in the middle of a 20 mile ride without road access is rough on everyone
- The rangers just open up the tunnel around June - call first. Tunnel is closed in the winter due to risk of falling ice form the ceiling. It is also really cold inside the tunnel.
- Renting an electric bike is an option if you have special needs

Snoqualmie Valley Trail

Length: 31.7 miles
Location: Duvall to Rattlesnake Lake (near Riverbend) - Connects to Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail
Trail surfaces: Gravel (includes sections of Road)
Trail category: Rail-Trail
flattest portion of the trail extends about 9 miles from Duvall to Carnation
alltrails.com

Snohomish County Centennial Trail

Length: 30.5 miles
Location: Snohomish to Arlington
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
snohomishcountywa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Centennial-Trail-33
Some elevation and industrial zone pass-throughs
Crosses the Whitehorse Trail
Ends at the Nakashima Barn Trailhead
alltrails.com

Whitehorse Trail

Length: 27 miles
Location: Darrington to Arlington - Connects to Snohomish County Centennial Trail
Trail surfaces: Ballast, Gravel
Trail category: Rail-Trail
snohomishcountywa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Whitehorse-Trail-105
Mostly gravel with some muddy portions
Not as busy as many other trails
alltrails.com

Interurban Trail (North)

Length: 24 miles
Location: Everett to Seattle
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
Numerous gaps exist - and occasional closures
alltrails.com

Sammamish River Trail

Length: 11 miles
Location: Bothell to Redmond
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
alltrails.com

Burke-Gilman Trail

Length: 18.8 miles
Location: Ballard to Bothell - connects to Sammamish River Trail
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
Mostly flat asphalt route from Ballard to Bothell/Woodinville
Note:
- "the Missing Link" - 1.4 miles along Shilshole Ave NW
- Many busy street crossings
alltrails.com

Sammamish River Trail

Length: 11 miles
Location: Bothell to Redmond
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Rail-Trail
Starts at Burke-Gilman Train and ends at Marymoor Park, the start of East Lake Sammamish Trail
alltrails.com

East Lake Sammamish Trail

Length: 11 Miles
Location: Redmond to Issaquah
Trail surfaces: Being paved
Starts at Marymoor Park and follows Lake Sammamish Trail
alltrails.com

Willapa Hills State Park Trail

Length: 56 Miles
Location: Chehalis to South Bend
Trail surfaces: Starts Paved, then gravel then unimproved
5.5 miles of paved asphalt from Chehalis to Adna
compacted gravel until it reaches mile 27
alltrails.com

Cascade Trail

Length: 22.5 miles
Location: Sedro-Woolley to Concrete
Trail surfaces: Crushed Stone, Gravel
Trail category: Rail-Trail
Bike camping is a fun option with nearby Rasar State Park
Henry Thompson Bridge - the longest single span cement bridge in US when it was constructed
alltrails.com