Goal of Troop Bike Outings

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

Local Rides

Anytime Training Routes for Bike Computer (FIT Files)

• Need to set up a quick training ride?

  • Routes set up with Garmin Connect 

• Burke Gillman East / Sammamish River Options

  • 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 

• Burke Gillman West Options

  • Start Third Place Commons (by City Hall) 

  • Head West

    • Seattle Restroom Map 

  • 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 

• Centennial Trail (Snohomish)

  • 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

  • Tillicum Kiwanis Playground at Averill Field in Snohomish

    • maps.app.goo.gl/YGu9jGfmaHQbeaBr5 

    • 47.9140, -122.0874

    • Located in Snohomish

      • Parking lot can fill up pretty early

      • Most of parking is reserved for Boys and Girls Club

      • Street parking nearby

      • Section of trail will have a lot of walkers

    • 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 

  • Pilchuck Trailhead

    • maps.app.goo.gl/CfiQDqZapb7QW3pD7 

    • 47.9416, -122.0761

    • North of Snohomish and just south of Highway 2

    • Less busy than trail closer to Snohomish 

    • 50-Miler

      • Connect Map File: connect.garmin.com/modern/course/353579663 

Other Bike Trails

Ocean Shores

• static1.squarespace.com/static/53ee83dee4b027cf34f1b520/t/559bef51e4b02802c8b4397d/1436282705576/Bike+Map-FINALp2-low-q.pdf

• static1.squarespace.com/static/53ee83dee4b027cf34f1b520/t/559bef51e4b02802c8b4397d/1436282705576/Bike+Map-FINALp2-high-q.pdf

Lopez Island

• villagecycles.net/cycling-on-lopez

• See our BikePacking - San Juan Islands Page 

Centennial Trail

• 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

Whatcom county

• whatcomcounty.us/991/Bike

Palouse to cascade Trail Snoqualmie Pass

• parks.wa.gov/521/Palouse-to-Cascades

• We discuss this trail in great detail on our BikePacking - Palouse to Cascades Trail Page 

Goldmyer Hot Springs

• 11.1-mile out-and-back trail near Snoqualmie Pass

• limited to 20 people per day and reservations are required

• goldmyer.org

• alltrails.com/explore/recording/goldmyer-hot-springs-mtb--2

• alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/goldmyer-hot-springs-trail

Ideas for Cycling and Cycling Merit Badge

Interurban 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

  • 15 mi: ridewithgps.com/routes/35762819

• Alderwood Middle School to Mill Creek via North Creek Trail and Back via Interurban Trail 11 mi: ridewithgps.com/routes/35768789

Centennial Park to Log Boom Park in Kenmore (1 way)

Via North Creek Trail and Burke-Gilman Trails:

• 10 miles: ridewithgps.com/routes/35541394

Mercer Island Loop

• 15 miles: ridewithgps.com/routes/2403707 (i believe this is all roads)

Cedar River Trail in Renton

• 15.7 miles of trail in Renton: could do 10, 15 or 25 mile with RT

• ridewithgps.com/routes/35769049

Soos Creek Trail in Renton

• 6.3 mile trail

• 12.6 RT: ridewithgps.com/routes/35769049 

Preston-Snoqualmie Trail

• 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

Snoqualmie Valley Trail - Carnation Fall City Loop - gravel

• (19 mi): ridewithgps.com/routes/35091791

• Tolt River-John MacDonald Park

• Girl Scout Camp River Ranch

Iron Horse Trail - Palouse to Cascades Trail - Gravel

• 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 

Green River - Interurban - Puget Power Trails in Kent

• 25 miler: ridewithgps.com/routes/35762476

Redmond to Lake Sammamish State Park

• 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

Olympic Discovery Trail 

• (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

• Layton Hill Horse Camp

• Fort Townsend State Park

• Fort Flagler State Park

• Fort Worden State Park

Lake Washington Loop

• 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 

Local Cycling Resources:

• 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