The main goal of any outing is to have fun. Beyond that, there are many goals that Scouts will set when planning for and going on a bike outing. These include:
Going on an outing that doesn't involve a backpack
Trying out new challenges
Earning the Cycling Merit Badge
Prepping for Cycling High Adventure
Racking up mile for the National Outdoors Achievement Awards
The good thing is, that an outing can help scouts achieve all of the goals. Early in the year we will plan out simple outings. These are shakeout outings where we test out our gear. This helps us identify bikes that Scouts have outgrown and gear that needs to be repaired or replaced. From there, we progress to bigger and more exciting adventures! Many of these challenges will count towards advancements while getting Scouts and adults alike ready for High Adventure!
When planning out a bike outing, consider the following:
Primary type of Surface
Road - skinny tires and road geometry preferred
Gravel - Wide tired Road, Gravel Bikes and Mountain Bikes will work
Mountain - Mountain and Cross Country Bikes are preferred
Is Shuttling required
Shuttling requires a support team
Distance from home
Some of the best trails are a good distance from home
Skill level of group
Starting off with impossible downhills or marathon distances isn't a good way of keeping the group motivated
As your group levels up, plan out bigger challenges
What else is going on that weekend?
Some of our best Scouts and Adult Leaders are in the OA or have other Scouting commitments
Make sure you have enough support for your outing before booking it
Located just north of Seattle, we have local access to many miles of protected bike routes.
With minimal research, you can review a course and set up a local training ride.
Some protected routes have minimal road crossings, some cut through town with many crossings, and some routes may share the road with cars.
Rides can be setup for:
Distance
20 miles
30 miles
Half Century
Time:
1 hour
2 hour
Destination
Park
Cafe
Ice cream
Special Training
Interval
Hills
Traffic
Gravel
Technical - Mountain Bike Trails
Need to set up a quick training ride?
Routes set up with Garmin Connect
All of these routes start and end at Third Place Commons
Easy access to meet up point
Reasonably protected bike trails with few road crossings
Shared start point allows you to change route as needed or by vote
Burke Gillman East to Sammamish River Trail
Basic There and Back Options
Head East
Burke Sammamish 20 Miler
Turn around at Sixty Acres Park
If you want a quick town outing, you can stop at the Woodinville Town Center
Turn around here will get you close to 15 miles
A little past 1 mile further, you and go west over the bridge, and ride to the Redmond Sunday Market
This adds about 4 miles (there and back) to trip
Open Sundays (most) from May through August
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/327721919
Burke Sammamish 30 Miler
Turn around at east side of Marymoor Park
You can visit the Redmond Town Square and local area
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/327721764
Burke Sammamish 50 Miler
Turn around just south of I-90
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/327717649
520 Loop 33 Miler
Fun Loop Option
Start Third Place Commons (by City Hall)
Head East
Connect with 520 bridge via Cross Kirkland Easttrail
Cross 520 east to west
Connect with Burke at the UW and head to start point
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/329020993
520, Lake Union Loop 41 Miler
520 Loop plus loop around Lake Union
Combines 520 and Lake Union loop for longer figure of 8
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/350048589
520, Lake Union, Golden Garden Loop 51 Miler
520 Loop plus loop around Lake Union and then extension to Golden Gardens
50 Mile option
NOTE: "Missing Link" on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard
1.4-mile section with NO dedicated bike lane or trail
There is a section in Ballard where you need to share the road with cars or ride the sidewalk
If sharing road, there is about a 1-2 foot section to ride on at the edge of the road
NOT recommended for Scouts - especially tired ones
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/350049207
520 Hill Route 35 Miler
Hill Option
Start Third Place Commons (by City Hall)
Head East
Connect to 520 Trail
Turn back at trails end on 24th
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/329023259
Tolt Pipeline Gravel and Hills 30 Miler
Gravel and Hill Option
Head East
Connect to Tolt Pipeline
Turn around where trail turns into road
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/330891278
Tolt Pipeline Loop Gravel and Hills 34 Miler
Gravel and Hill Loop Option
34 miles
Includes Loop to Puget Sound Energy Trail
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/331136199
Start Third Place Commons (by City Hall)
Head West
Burke West 20 Miler - The Ave
UW Option
UW Map - can view bike repair and water bottle refill stations
Turn around at 15th Ave
Option to ride through UW Campus
Lots of restaurants the next street past 15th Ave
If you stop - YOU MUST LOCK YOUR BIKE UP WITH U-LOCK
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/327725469
Lake Union 27 Miler
Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop Option
Relatively flat
Some street riding to get on and off bridges and around west side of lake
Nice loop around Lake Union
There is a small section of road riding on the east side of Lake, but this is relatively traffic free
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/330897073
Burke West 30 Miler -Ballard Locks
Ballard Locks Option
Small amount of road riding in Ballard - See NOTE
Turn around at Ballard Locks
If you keep going to the end of Golden Gardens, it's 35 miles (assuming you stay on Burke)
NOTE: "Missing Link" on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard
1.4-mile section with NO dedicated bike lane or trail
There is a section in Ballard where you need to share the road with cars or ride the sidewalk
If sharing road, there is about a 1-2 foot section to ride on at the edge of the road
NOT recommended for Scouts - especially tired ones
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/327725668
Discovery Park 35 Miler
Beach Option
Small hills Discovery Park
Small amount of road riding in Ballard - see NOTE
Cross Ballard Locks
Turn Around at West Point Lighthouse at Discovery Park
NOTE: "Missing Link" on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard
1.4-mile section with NO dedicated bike lane or trail
There is a section in Ballard where you need to share the road with cars or ride the sidewalk
If sharing road, there is about a 1-2 foot section to ride on at the edge of the road
NOT recommended for Scouts - especially tired ones
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/330894317
If the Burke Gillman and Sammamish trails are closed, or if you need something different
Similar distance to start point as Burke Gillman
Many road crossings compared to the Burke and Sammamish
Good Advice - take all road crossings seriously - cars aren't expecting bikes to shoot out across the road
Centennial Trail - Entire Trail
You can ride as far as 60 miles there and back
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/350932064
Snohomish to 9 - 27 Miler
Start at Tillicum Kiwanis Playground at Averill Field in Snohomish
Pass under Stevens Highway 2 and Granit Falls Highway
Turn around under Highway 9
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/350929363
Snohomish to Bryant Lake - 50 Miler
Turn around at Bryant Lake for 50 miles
Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/350937644
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. But for an ice-cream finish, it's totally worth it!
Park at either North Bend or Rattlesnake Lake, consolidated people and bikes and take minimum vehicles needed to Hyak. From Hyak, ride 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!
Nation’s longest tunnel open to nonmotorized traffic
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 any built in lighting - obviously everyone will need a headlight and/or headlamp
Basic economy headlamps aren’t great but will work - scouts will need to travel slow enough to see the handful of mud puddles in the tunnel
Minimum Tire Size:
26” tires minimum
Scouts on kid bikes with small tires can’t coast downhill and will need to peddle most of the way – this is exhausting
32mm minimum tire width
Many riders use 32mm tires and do fine
Recommend 35mm+ and gravel type tread
Street bikes with skinny tires will have problems with both traction and flats
Bike Type:
Gravel or Mountain Bike recommended
Road bikes with 32mm+ tires can travel on this trail, but this is not the preferred bike for this outing
If you don't have a mountain bike, let us know, we might have an extra one
Front or rear suspension is unnecessary
This trail is NOT for scouts new to bicycling or those with a history of giving up
Quitting in the middle of a 20 mile ride without road access is rough on everyone
You either need to ride or walk out
The rangers open up the tunnel in MAY - 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
Olallie State Park: (425) 455-7010
Cedar Falls to Snoqualmie Tunnel section of trail
Lake Easton State Park: (509) 656-2586
Snoqualmie Tunnel to Vantage section of trail
State Parks information: (360) 902-8844
Renting an electric bike (outside of Scouting) is an option if you have special needs
E-Bikes are banned by the BSA
Image Source: AllTrails
Map: maps.app.goo.gl/vHoUbztjiZUCRTfD9
Going from Third Place Commons to Luke McRedmond Park and back is 25 miles. It's a nice and relatively protect trail. You can do this route twice to complete a 50-mile ride.
Going from Third Place Commons to the Totem Pole at Marymoor Park and back is about 27 miles. This makes for a fun turn around point, but isn't exactly 25 miles for those looking to do the minimum.
Image Source: AllTrails
Map: maps.app.goo.gl/hk13gxocufvAdHGK9
Start at the Parking Lot at Third Place Commons and head east on the Burke Gillman. Continue on the Sammamish River Trail to Marymoor Park. Cross Marymoor Park and get on East Lake Sammamish Trail to I-90. You can go just past I-90 where the trail ends and have Bohea Tea (or sushi - but that's weird) if you like before turning around.
This is a relatively protected and more or less flat route. You will need to cross several roads along the way, but we are on a separate bike trail and don't need to share the road with cars. It's also near home (at least the start and end points are), making it easily accessible to our troop.
You can turn this into a 25-miler if you drop off the crew under I-90 and pick them up later in Lake Forest Park.
Image Source: AllTrails
Map: maps.app.goo.gl/8cjXBv7asGvHLjQU9
This epic ride takes you around the north half of Lake Washington and crosses over at 520. It's 33+ miles with about 866ft of elevation gain (just a few hills). The majority of this route is on dedicated bike trails with just two connections on sidewalks.
The East Trail surface is fine gravel. Road bikes should do fine on this trail.
You will encounter a hill at the beginning of the East Trail and a few on the 520 trail. They are by no means epic, but you will feel them.
Route:
Leg One -Third Place Books East on the Burke Gilman to Sammamish River Trail
Leg Two -Sammamish River Trail to 202 (Northeast 145th)
Leg Three -Cross bridge by 202 onto Woodinville Valley Trail
Leg Four -Travel 1700 ft west and cross 145th going south onto East Trail
Leg Five -At Northeast 124th, The East Trail doubles back (zig zags) on the Willows Road Trail Connector and back onto East Trail
Leg Six -At some point the East Trial becomes the Cross Kirkland Corridor (different on different maps)
Leg Seven -At 108 by the Kirkland Park and Ride, you need to get off trail and take the sidewalk south to Northup Way
Leg Eight -Head East on Northrup Way on sidewalk about a block to Kitchen Market to SR 520 Trail/East Trailhead
Leg Nine -SR 520 Trail/East Trailhead west over 520 bridge to East Montlake Park
Leg Ten -East Montlake Park to Montlake Bridge
Leg Eleven -Cross the Montlake Bridge to Husky Stadium
Leg Twelve -Cross Montlake Blvd and get on the Burk Gilman
Leg Thirteen -Take Burk Gilman to your Start Point
Sites:
Ride along Lake Washington and Sammamish River
Nice Gravel trail surrounded by trees
Totem Lake Wetland and Bridge
Ride under 405 twice
Ride through Google Campus
Ride across 520 bridge on dedicated bike path
UW campus
Giraffe at 47.7243, -122.2806 (13048 Riviera Pl NE)
Interested in crossing on I-90 or looping the entire lake? We can, but will need to ride on roads and share it with cars. We can talk about these options, but bike trails are so much safer and enjoyable than riding on the road. The loop around Lake Washington is 50 miles.
Connect Map Files:
520 Loop 33 Miler
520, Lake Union Loop 41 Miler
Combines 520 and Lake Union loop for longer figure of 8
520, Lake Union, Golden Garden Loop 51 Miler
520 Loop plus loop around Lake Union and then extension to Golden Gardens
50 Mile option
Note: Missing Link
1.4 mile section in Ballard requires road or sidewalk riding
NOT an ideal road for Scouts
Twenty mile loop that connects to the Sammamish River Trail.
Hills and gravel makes for a fun training ride for those with mountain and gravel bikes.
evo.com/travel-guides/bike/washington/bellingham/orcas-island
mtbproject.com/trail/7019452/moran-lakes-tour - Moran Lakes TourDifficult
mountbakerexperience.com/orcas-island-is-an-off-season-paradise-for-mountain-bikers
open season — September 15 to May 15
Trails:
Cascade Creek
Cold Spring
Connector Trail
Mount Pickett
Mount Pickett DH
Mount Pickett Road Connector
Mountain Lake
Mountain Lake Multiuse Trail
Mt. Constitution Summit View Trail
Mt. Constitution Trail
Mystery Trail
Olga Boundary Trail
Power Line Trail
South Summit Connector
Southeast Boundary Trail
Southside Constitution Crosscut
Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes East Loop
Interurban Trail (Bellingham)
Counties: Whatcom
Length: 6.7 miles
Trail end points: Donovan Ave. and 10th St. (Fairhaven) and Larrabee State Park at Fragrance Lake Rd. and Chuckanut Dr. (Bellingham)
Fairly level course across the Chuckanut Mountains
traillink.com/trail-maps/interurban-trail-(bellingham) - Map
whatcomcounty.us/3620/Interurban-Trail - Interurban Trail
Camping Bayview State Park? - Listed in UofScouting Talk
25+ miles of Cross Country riding.
Washington State Parks Discovery Pass is require
Interpretive Opportunities
Visitors may explore concrete bunkers built for the original military fort in 1942.
Trails:
Alder Grove
Ant Hill
Baker View
Battery Connector
Bluff Trail
Boundary Trail
Brave Heart
Campground Trail
Cedar
Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove Loop
Cedar Hollow
Chutes
Confusion
DP Cutoff
Emilie's Ridge
Erratic
Escape
Fern Grove
Fisher Loop
Fisher Ridge
Flatback
Forest Run
Grancy's Run
Gretchen's Borderline
H.O.T. Army
H.O.T. Coast Guard
H.O.T. Navy
H.O.T. USAF
H.O.T. USMC
Hideaway
High Traverse
Hokey-Ka-Dodo
Hook
Hugh's Delight
Hugh's Delight
Humpty Dump
JP Cutoff
Juggernaut
Kettle Clinger
Kettles - Access
Kettles Trail
Kettles Trail
Ladders
Limbo
Long Gone
Lower Ridge
Madrona Hill
Main Line
Moondust
Moss Hill
Mussels
Nirvana
Old Fort Entrance
Pigeon Ridge
Pigeon Ridge
Princess Run
Raider Creek
Roundabout
Roy Evans
Rusty Well
Shepherd's Crook
Shepherd's Crook Connector
TC Cutoff
The Tunnel
Water Line
Water Tower
Whippersnapper
WIBC Cutoff
Windsucker Hill Trail
Woodpecker Haven
Cascade Trail runs 22.5 miles in length and connects Sedro Woolley and Concrete.
skagitcounty.net/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/parks/cascadetrail.htm
skagitcounty.net/GIS/Documents/Parks/cas-trail.pdf Trail Map
From north of Arlington to south of Lake Stevens
Centennial Trail forks with Whitehorse Trail
snohomishcountywa.gov/facilities/facility/details/centennialtrail-33
The complete Centennial Trail is 30 miles long, so any combo of rides can be done here for Cycling Merit Badge
We discuss this trail in great detail on our BikePacking - Palouse to Cascades Trail Page
11.1-mile out-and-back trail near Snoqualmie Pass
limited to 20 people per day and reservations are required
alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/goldmyer-hot-springs-trail
24.7 miles from Shoreline (Washelli Cemetery to Everett Station)
Many different combinations of 10 or 15 can be done with this as well. ridewithgps.com/routes/35768608
Alderwood Middle School to Everett Mall and Back
Alderwood Middle School to Mill Creek via North Creek Trail and Back via Interurban Trail 11 mi: ridewithgps.com/routes/35768789
Via North Creek Trail and Burke-Gilman Trails:
10 miles: ridewithgps.com/routes/35541394
15 miles: ridewithgps.com/routes/2403707 (i believe this is all roads)
15.7 miles of trail in Renton: could do 10, 15 or 25 mile with RT
6.3 mile trail
12.6 RT: ridewithgps.com/routes/35769049
from the Preston P&R (Exit 22 off I-90) to the Snoqualmie Falls overlook and back.
13.8 miles RT: ridewithgps.com/routes/1931668
(19 mi): ridewithgps.com/routes/35091791
Tolt River-John MacDonald Park
Girl Scout Camp River Ranch
50 Miler Hyak to Ellensburg: ridewithgps.com/trips/3362835
25 Miler Hyak to North Bend: ridewithgps.com/routes/35762336
Lake Easton State Park
Iron Horse State Park
Ellensburg KOA
We discuss this trail in great detail on our BikePacking - Palouse to Cascades Trail Page
25 miler: ridewithgps.com/routes/35762476
25 miler Round trip: ridewithgps.com/routes/35762630
25 miler Round trip: ridewithgps.com/routes/31918499
Hans Jensen Group Camp at Lake Sammamish State Park
(Do-able, but harder than it appears (i.e. Not flat):
25 Miler: Sequim to Port Angeles (one way): ridewithgps.com/routes/35762774
50 Miler: Sequim to Port Angeles and back.
Sequim Bay State Park
Dungeness Spit State Park
Fort Townsend State Park
Fort Flagler State Park
Fort Worden State Park
50 miler: ridewithgps.com/trips/48841557
More ideas at Cascade Bicycle Club: cascade.org/resources/where-ride/trails-bicyclists
More ideas at Washington Bikes: wabikes.org/index.php/bike-trails-for-beginners
Washington Bikes: wabikes.org
Cascade bicycle club: cascade.org
B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County: bikesclub.org
WA Bike Law Pocket Reference Guide: wabikes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/New-Bike-Law-Card-With-Ebikes.pdf