Five Faves
1. GALBRAITH MOUNTAIN – WHATCOM
The granddaddy of all mountain biking destinations, Galbraith has many challenging but rewarding trails. Maintained by volunteers (many of whom you can meet along the trails), Galbraith isn’t just a great place to mountain bike, it’s an excellent model of balance between the interests of developers and cyclists.
2. LAKE PADDEN – WHATCOM
Padden is a popular destination for locals, and it’s not hard to see why — the beautiful park welcomes all kinds of activities from tennis to trail running. Challenging as you want it to be, Padden is a versatile mountain biking destination. Beginning, intermediate and challenging
trails are all available for your riding level.
3. SEHOME ARBORETUM – WHATCOM
The snaking switchbacks and steep climbs make Sehome a great place to cut your teeth on mountain biking, or go all-out on a challenging
ride. The views from the tower are beautiful, and the setting is forested and refreshing for being in the middle of town.
4. BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN – SKAGIT
Scenic views, winding trails and lots of variety characterize a good ride on Blanchard. Good for the intermediate rider, the trails aren’t very difficult, but they are steep coming down.
5. HEART LAKE – SKAGIT
Beautiful trails that wind through old forest overlooking a placid lake, Heart Lake is a great place to try your hand at mountain biking. There are some trails designated hiker-only and some areas of private property surrounding the trails, so pay attention to signs.
