Text and photos by Andrew Sapuntzakis and Kevin Smith
General
To set expectations, this is not a fast route, particularly the first 200K. Pace yourself and don’t get discouraged when looking at your time in the first half of this ride. Randonneuring is supposed to be challenging, so keep your head in the game and focus on persistent forward progress. You will accumulate stop time, but don’t let that bother you. Your ride pace will improve in the second half. You’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you finish.
You might come across a train stopped across the road in the Port of Tacoma. We did during the pre-ride. Look for a safe alternate around the train, or wait for the train to move. Don’t go under or between the cars, your life is not worth riding credit.
Details
Ride south to Woodinville Rd, cross, jog left (west) 2x, cross the wooden arch bridge, then left down to the trail, and turn right to head east.
Trail should be pretty empty this early on Saturday morning, but please be mindful of other users.
Metropolitan Market on the right at 18.5K.
Continue along the BGT past the views of Seattle and Gas Works Park. Route has you take Northlake Pl to 34th, but no big deal if you miss that turn. From 34th, turn left and use the far sidewalk to cross the Fremont bridge (and be counted).
Across the bridge, 2 quick rights get you to the ramp down to the South Ship Canal Trail. Follow that to Interbay, along Emerson, and a short climb up to Gilman. Turn right, and the climbing continues. Gradually at first, then it flattens as Gilman turns into Government, then into Discovery Park Blvd which pitches up and turns left at the top. Roll past some historic buildings, then down to the water – left at the Y! Answer the control question and take in the views – you can probably see the Alki Pt control across Elliott Bay – before heading back (up) the way you came.
After the climb, turn right onto Nebraska just before the stables. Follow the route out of the park. A jog left to Magnolia Blvd and more great views. Turn left onto Thorndyke rather than descending the Magnolia Bridge. At the bottom, take 20th thru the rail yard, then the Elliott Bay Trail. It gets very tight in places, so communicate with oncoming trail users. After crossing under the Magnolia Bridge, you’ll probably encounter cruise-ship buses and cabs. Continue on the trail, thru the sculpture park, until it puts you on Alaskan Way with more cruise-ship traffic! Near the aquarium, you’ll need to use the sidewalk due to the construction. (One day it’ll be done …)
Get back to the Portside Trail by King St. That will take you to E Marginal, where the early hour and construction should make for minimal traffic. Get onto the sidewalk as you approach Spokane St. Once across the Spokane St (lower) bridge, take the Alki fork to the right and down, across the (recently simplified) intersection, and left onto the Alki Trail.
Traffic should be minimal, so you can pick road or trail all the way out to Alki Pt, where you’ll find the 2nd control. Continue on to Beach Dr, up to Fauntleroy, and then over to 46th to avoid the ferry terminal.
From 69K to 116K there will be challenging climbs and steep descents. Bring your easy gears, walk if you prefer, and don’t overcook the tight turns on the descents.
When you get to 3 Tree Pt, look for the answer to the info control across from the 2 palm trees.
There are several services along this part. The last one before Tacoma is after Browns Pt – a market at the far end of the strip mall on your left, just before you rejoin the main road.
Starting with Marine View you will encounter multiple sets of railroad tracks on the way into Tacoma, most at angles. Communicate with fellow riders and motorists. We’ve ridden thru multiple times, and light traffic can allow some maneuvering space. Getting in & out of Tacoma is restricted due to the closing of the Fishing Wars bridge on Pacific Hwy. You may need to wait, you may need to backtrack. Do NOT try to go under/between rail cars.
The route thru Tacoma is pretty efficient. You’ll have services along the way, especially in the Stadium District and Ruston. The routing thru Point Defiance Park is pretty simple, except for the 3-way fork near the Visitors Ctr – take the left/middle one marked ZOO, not the descending path to the right. See photo:
There are bathrooms across from the Info Control.
Once out of the park, you’ll be on city streets all the way to the Narrows bridge. Trail is on the far side of the intersection. Once you’re across, the exit to Stone Dr is a gap in the chain-link fence on the left – closer than you might expect. Touch Raft Island for one info control, then the far end of Fox Island for the other. Services at the Chevron below the airport and in Arletta, as well as bathrooms at the Fox Island control.
Work your way back to the Narrows, back over the bridge, into War Memorial Park, then it’s all streets back thru Tacoma. Same caveats getting out thru the port.
Once you’ve escaped the Port of Tacoma it’s pretty flat thru Fife and Puyallup, and onto the Foothills trail (immediately after RR crossing). Services in Orting, and maybe your last views of Rainier? Continue on the trail until S Prairie, then switch to the road (Pioneer Way) since the trail is barricaded at the s-curve. Turn left after the metal bridge, and it’s a straight shot into Buckley. No need to bother with the trail – the segment in town is also under construction. After Buckley it’s a short ride into Enumclaw which has a QFC (1am close, 1 block E of the route) – next services are ~25K (staffed control in Kangley). From Kangley is downhill to Ravensdale, then over a hill to get to the Cedar River trailhead!
Take that to Renton – where there’s a construction detour at the end. A few city streets, and you’re on the Lake WA loop and Eastrail – pavement starts before Virginia Mason, ends near Coal Creek / Lake WA Blvd. Get on the I-90/MTSG trail for the last bit of climbing up thru the I-90/405 interchange, Honda Hill, etc. No need to get on the street by AAA, there is a protected bike lane almost all the way to the top despite the construction. Final climb at 154th! Descend to Issaquah, then go find the troll for the last info control. You may need to look behind you!
Slice thru town on Rainier Trail, then Rainier Ave, then onto the ELST which should be pretty empty. Up to Marymoor, over to the SRT, and back to Bothell.