The pedestrian bridge at NE 80th St in Kirkland has been closed indefinitely because of recently discovered damage. Four permanents are affected. Rerouting is fairly easy using NE 85th St or NE 70th Pl/NE68th St.
Affected permanents:
Thanks to Mark Thomas for the tip.
Filed under Permanent Change, Permanents
Thanks to fantastic work by government agencies and independent organizations a bypass trail around the large slide that closed the trail between Rattlesnake Lake and Olallie State Park officially opens on June 5. Additionally the damaged sections at Carter Creek and west of Lake Easton have been repaired. All permanents using the trail will be rideable starting June 5. Several permanents that start at Olallie State Park and Hyak are already rideable. (All pending reactivation by RUSA).
The bypass trail is narrow. Washington State Parks asks that you walk your bike on the bypass.
There are reports of loose gravel in the Whittier Tunnel, aka tunnel 49, west of Lake Easton.
Current information from Washington State Parks.
Permanents on the trail include:
3653 Iron Horse Trail
4180 Wet Side-Dry Side
4882 Snoqualmie Valley, Middle Fork, Snoqualmie Tunnel
5081 Iron Horse & Middle Fork
5115 Three Lakes and a Tunnel
5175 The Real Northern Exposure
5789 The Shortened Real Northern Exposure
5790 Homestead Valley-Easton on the Iron Horse Trail
Thanks to Dave Harper for alerting me to this news.
Filed under Permanent Change, Permanents
On June 1 King County will close the ELST through the end of the year for the George Davis Creek culvert replacement project. The location is midway between NE Inglewood Hill Rd and Louis Thompson Rd NE.
The trail will be completely severed during construction. Riders will have to detour to the adjacent East Lake Sammammish Parkway, if it too is not closed. A large number of permanent routes are affected.
According to King County, there will not be a bicycle detour. Typically this means no accommodation will be made for bikes on the road, such as a coned-off lane or wayfinding detour signs.
The culvert under East Lake Sammammish Parkway will also be replaced. The status of the Parkway during construction is unclear. Official messaging has been inconsistent. The latest verbal information an SIR member obtained from the City of Sammammish is that the road will remain open. Likely there will be delays at the construction zone.
Presuming the Parkway remains open, riders can detour on the Parkway. We do not know exactly where the north and south ends of the closure will be, so right now cannot recommend where to exit to the Parkway and later return to the trail. Keep in mind property owners adjacent to the trail are jealous of their private roads and driveways.
In the event the Parkway is entirely closed, riders will have to climb and descend Louis Thompson and Inglewood Hill Rds along with detoured car traffic. In this case, routes not using the ELST will be more attractive.
Stay tuned.
Links:
https://www.sammamish.us/news/2026-construction-projects and search for “trail”.
Filed under Permanent Change, Permanents, Uncategorized
Text by Scott Stroming as told to shiggy, photos by Scott Stroming.
112K, 4000′ of climbing.
A beautiful spring ride that exceeded my expectations, south to Douglas Creek all the way north to the ancient glacial moraine, magnificent views west and north, lots of single lane double track—and I thought I already knew the Waterville Plateau!
Its a great course running through the upper part of the Douglas Creek canyon into the sage steppe and wheat fields to the Withrow Marine at the north end and back. Ever changing surfaces and vistas. Plus the wildflowers are popping, the canola in bloom (yellow fields) and the wheat is knee high.
There are three types of gravel and I want people to know that I feel like this isn’t a fast course. I think the course needs to be ridden with wide tires and attention:
Be cautious when going into dips and the steeper descents which can have rocks and ruts with sand at the bottom so you really can’t let it rip.
I wish I had tires with a bit more tread and width for traction.
The forecast is good of Saturday with mild temperatures, light winds and the possibility of scattered thundershowers.
Comments Off on 2026 Waterville Gravel Populaire Pre-Ride Report
Filed under Uncategorized
Update 5/2/26: The closure east of Hyak is still in place.
Update 5/1/26: The closure east of Hyak has been lifted.
For us on the west side of the Cascades, riding season on the Palouse to Casades Trail traditionally starts with the Snoqualmie Tunnel opening on May 1. But randonneuring season the trail will be delayed this year. The P2C trail suffered impassable damage in several places during the ’25-’26 winter. Initially the outlook was dismal; significant repairs were not expected to be possible this year. Fortunately major work is underway. The full trail should be rideable later in summer.
A widely-reported landslide in December 2025 severed the trail between Rattlesnake Lake and the Mt Washington trailhead in Olallie State Park. Initially repair was not anticipated this year. But thanks to Washington State Parks, the Washington State Parks Foundation, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, and King County a temporary bypass is being constructed. The bypass is anticipated to open after June 15.
Additional damage farther up the trail caused a second closure beginning near Carter Creek Campground and extending to the tunnel. Repairs to this section are paused because crews and equipment were diverted for higher-priority repair of severe damage near Lake Easton. A reopening date for the Carter Creek closure is unknown presently.
Until these repairs are finished, riding any permanents that use the trail between Rattlesnake Lake and the tunnel is either impossible or requires unattractive detours on I-90.
Prior to learning about the second closure and the damage east of the tunnel, two routes starting at Olallie State Park were created, but are moot until all repairs are finished:
Information about the current condition of this part of the trail is available at the WA State Parks P2C West page.
Update 5/3/26: The P2C Central page has been updated to state the trail is still closed from Monahan Rd to Stampede Pass Rd. This is a shorter section than indicated on the map below, but still means you cannot ride from Hyak to Lake Easton.
Update 5/1/26: The closure between Hyak and Lake Easton has been lifted. The state of the trail surface is unknown. Loose gravel has been reported in the Whittier Tunnel.
The section below is now out of date still relevant.
A landslide on March 23, 2026, east of Hyak damaged the trail, the railroad, and power lines west of Lake Easton. The trail is closed at the west from the Whittier Tunnel (aka Tunnel 49), to the east at Monahan Rd. The only detour is 7 miles on I-90, including a construction zone with skinny shoulders. Repairs in this area are anticipated to be complete around the beginning of June. Recent reports are that the construction zone is rideable, but you should check with the P2C Central office whether the trail is open during work hours.
You can find current info this part of the trail on the WA State Parks P2C Central page.
Comments Off on Palouse to Cascades Trail: Not as bad as it could have been
Filed under Permanent Change, Permanents
High river flow during the storms in December 2025 scoured and destabilized the embankment that carries the Cedar River Trail about three miles from the trail’s eastern end at Landsburg. The embankment and trail surface have eroded significantly in the last month. The trail will likely collapse soon. Crossing the closed section of the trail is far too dangerous, despite local residents continuing to walk and bike across it.
Most people were probably unaware the trail was so close to the river here.
King County has furnished no information about repairs. Given that the embankment is not a levee protecting a flood zone, repairing the trail probably has low priority. Fortunately the damaged section can be bypassed on residential streets:
Four permanents have been rerouted. The routes are slightly shorter and lost some gravel credit, but gained a 15% surprise.
0401 Leschi-Auburn-Leschi
0848 Mercer Island-Selleck
1076 Southern Exposure
5709 Cedar River Wilderness Run
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Filed under Permanent Change, Permanents, Uncategorized
The last mile or so of the Snoqualmie Valley Trail is closed to bicycles and pedestrians very close to Rattlesnake Lake. The trail is being used for vehicle access to residences on Edgewick Rd while Edgewick is being repaired. Edgewick is not a detour option. The SVT should reopen in early April according to King County.
Detour options are not good. The route beginning with 136th Ave SE at I-90 is strongly discouraged due to extreme grades, poor sightlines, and fast drivers. A safer option is to follow permanent 4078 Snakebit backwards from North Bend. This is a substantially more difficult route than the SVT’s nice railroad grade. The best option is probably to choose other routes while the SVT is closed.
Note that permanents continuing up the Palouse to Cascades Trail (Iron Horse) past Rattlesnake Lake are deactivated due to the serious washout that occurred in December. The rideability of most of those routes is moot anyway while the Snoqualmie Tunnel is closed for winter.
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Text and photos by Owen Richards
This ride celebrates Seattle’s extraordinary natural setting and urban culture, so there are plenty of
distractions and urban trails combined with a fair bit of climbing: no time for much dawdling, but please don’t rush either; enjoy our amazing city, and be especially careful on the pathways we’re sharing with pedestrians.
From Magnuson Park Beach, we head east to the Burke-Gilman, then south to UW and Montlake Bridge. At 7.4km, slow down for the narrow easy-to-miss turn off the Burke-Gilman up to Rainier Vista. At 7.9km, the Montlake Bridge has narrow clearances – slow down for oncoming pedestrians and cyclists. After winding over the new 520 pedestrian/bike overpass to Lake Washington Blvd, you take a nice jaunt through the Olmsted-designed Washington Park Arboretum along tree-lined Arboretum Drive East (closed to traffic) and the Arboretum Loop Trail.
As you’re leaving Arboretum Trail, take care at km 11.3 rejoining Lake Washington Blvd. If the
intersection is busy, dismount and use the crosswalks, then head south on Lake Washington Boulevard.
(Did you know, from Olmsted Parks.Org: “The longest and most significant boulevard in Seattle’s Olmsted park system, Lake Washington Boulevard links nine of the Olmsted parks, extending six miles from Montlake Boulevard at the north end, through Washington Park Arboretum and along the lake to Seward Park at the south end…. first proposed in the Olmsted Brothers’ 1903 report, their recommendation included routing the boulevard beyond the city limits at that time so that it might extend all the way to Seward Park (then known as Bailey Peninsula)”. President Taft described the Lake Washington string of parks soon after completion in 1909 as follows: “One of the most magnificent combinations of modern city and medieval forest, of formal gardening and Nature’s handiwork with the most beautiful views of lake, sea and snow-capped mountain peak, that has ever delighted the eye of man in this or any other country.”)
At km 21.8, we enter Seward Park and Shore Loop Road, closed to traffic – and one of the key stretches we need to ride slowly and give pedestrians and other cyclists ample room – take your time and enjoy the filtered views of Mt Baker (visible on a clear day from Control 2 at Seward Park North Beach km 23.5), and Mt Rainier from Seward Park’s south beach.
Leaving Seward Park, we climb Seward Park Ave and head west through Othello, then navigate the north end of Boeing Field and South Park. At km 31.4, coming down South Albro Place, take care shifting to the left lane to move over to the new bike lane after Ruby Chow Park. This newly completed bike lane from km 31.9 to 33.5 along the south side of Albro Place and east side of East Marginal Way is a great recent addition to our bike infrastructure, avoiding the need to ride along thse busy roads. At km 33.5, use the crosswalk to cross East Marginal to the 16 th Ave S Bridge over the Duwamish, then weave your way through South Park’s quiet back streets to the Duwamish Trail, passing Control 3 Gears at km 35.4. At km 39.2, you’ll ride through a nice grove of madrones with filtered views of Harbor Island and downtown Seattle. At km 41.0, take care crossing West Marginal Way to a recently finished bike path which avoids the climb up and under the W Seattle Bridge. If traffic is busy here, use the pedestrian button at the crosswalk to stop traffic. The curb cut to the bike path is narrow so take it easy here. At km 42.3, we turn north to continue on the Alki Trail, then shifting to Harbor Avenue SW. There are plenty of public restrooms and eateries along Alki Beach, but don’t linger as there are plenty more distractions and climbs ahead! After Alki Point Lighthouse, Control 4 at 48.6, continue south to Lincoln Park. At km 53.7, you enter a relatively narrow gravel path along the beach which can sometimes be crowded with pedestrians and kids riding bikes: another key stretch to be ridden very slowly when passing pedestrians. Take time to compliment that cute dog or little kid riding her bike.
After a visit with Bruun Idun – the Way of the Bird King, we return north, enjoying views west to the Olympics.
Leaving Lincoln Park, you climb up via Erskine Avenue to downtown West Seattle, passing Bakery Nouveau on California Ave at km 58, then continuing east and north along SW Alaska St and SW Avalon Way. Take care along SW Avalon Way’s protected bike lane which is relatively narrow. At km 60.3, be cautious crossing SW Spokane St to rejoin the Alki Trail, and continue around Harbor Island and north to Seattle on the newly completed Portside Trail to downtown. At km 66.1, shift to the Waterfront Bike Trail through the downtown waterfront: take your time and obey the stop signals at the many pedestrian crossings.
A short climb around the new Aquarium takes you to the finally complete Alaskan Way Cycletrack leading to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Be careful entering the park at km 86.6, passing the Bourgeois Fountain to Elliott Bay Trail. In Myrtle Edwards Park, at km 70.2, a portion of the separated pedestrian path is closed, so we again share the road with walkers. Continuing north along the railyards, you then turn south for a gentle climb up Thorndyke Avenue and Magnolia Boulevard West, past Magnolia Viewpoint, with views to downtown and Mt Rainier.
At km 78.6, you enter Discovery Park (formerly Fort Lawton Army Base), crossing open fields, with views to the Olympics to your left and officer quarters / FAA Radar Site to your fight. You then head east for a nice downhill forested stretch on Discovery Park Boulevard to Gilman Avenue West: at km 81.4, slow down to shift over to the Cycletrack at 29 th Ave West. At the traffic light – km 82.3, be careful at the turning left onto the West Emerson Place Cycletrack. After a brief downhill, akm 82.5, slow down to shift over via a tight curbcut onto the ‘Ship Canal Trail’: the next stretch of sidewalk has some root heave issues, and there are some tight turns at km 83.2. After passing under the bridge at km 85.6, miss the immediate turn slight right up the trail to the path adjoining Westlake Ave, then turn north over Freemont Bridge and up another short climb to visit the Freemont Troll (synopsis from Wikipedia: “built in 1990 by artist/architect Steve Badanes, inspired by Norwegian folklore, the 18 feet tall Troll constructed with 13,000 lbs of concrete, is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle, as if it had just swiped it from the Aurora Bridge above. Originally, the car held a time capsule, including a plaster bust of Elvis Presley, which was stolen when the sculpture was vandalized.”)
A short steep few blocks down Troll Avenue takes you to the Burke Gilman Trail, where you head west to Ballard. At km 91.0, take care navigating the intersection at 24 th Ave NW and Market Street: the intersection is likely to be crowded. Dismount and cross the crosswalk at the light to the bike path. Two blocks west of here, you pass the National Nordic Museum and a visit with Frankie Feetsplinter
Proceeding north on the last stretch of the Burke Gilman, be careful navigating the end of the trail and entry to Golden Gardens at km 94.6 – lots of cars and pedestrians headed to the beach. The Golden Gardens Bathhouse and Kite Café at km 95.1 offers a good spot to catch your breath and gear up for the big climb of the ride.
Returning south briefly to the park entry gate, you turn left for a winding climb up Seaview Place Northwest – be careful as there is very little shoulder and a fair bit of traffic, but drivers are typically respectful. Moving east and north through relatively quiet residential streets, you arrive at the Interurban Trail at km 103.4, then north to Echo Lake, and east to Perkins Lane at km 112.9. After a brief climb to the crest, you’re on a delightful winding descent through the woods to Lake Forest Park. After crossing Lake City Way to the Burke Gilman, you head south – keep an eye out for the turn left at km 124.1 to Inverness Drive NE, then be careful on the short run on Sand Point Way with no shoulders. At km 124.8, you turn left for an easy-to-miss turn off Sand Point Way over gravel to a break in the hedge: watch out for the quick left on the gravel path, and take it slow as the path twists down to Magnuson Café and Brewery, where much deserved refreshments await.
Comments Off on 2026 Winter Rouleur 125K-149K Pre-Ride Report
Filed under Pre Rides, Rouleur Rides, SIR Rides
Text by Sharan Daniel, photos by Sharan Daniel, Jason Hansen, Mitch Ishihara, Keith Moore, and John Nguyen
This brevet updates RUSA route #756, which some riders remember fondly from 2013. The first day, 383 km, takes you to the coast and back to Centralia. The second day, 220 km, takes you into mountains with stunning descents and lakes. While you pass through some remote areas, there are services about every 50 km, with an exception or two, as noted below.
The ride starts at Denny’s in Auburn, where you can fuel up before heading out. Warm up on the Interurban Trail down to Pacific, then follow the Puyallup River to the outskirts of Tacoma. There are some twists and turns between km 19 and 21, as you cross the river twice, and another odd loop between km 32 and 34 as you make your way to the Lincoln Bridge, the best biking alternative to the Fishing Wars Memorial bridge that is now closed. Enjoy one more river crossing into Tacoma and and take in the quiet Saturday morning urban waterfront scene. Finish your first 50 km by crossing the grand Tacoma Narrows Bridge into Gig Harbor. You’ll pass a park restroom with water at 53.3 km.
Quiet roads take you over to WA-3, which leads to Belfair and south along the Hood Canal. You’ll find a few options for food, water, and restrooms along this stretch, starting with the control at Belfair, Sandi’s Deli Mart (91 km), and ending with the Union Country Store (117.5 km), a pre-riders’ favorite for its tasty offerings. Follow WA-106 until you reach Purdy Cutoff Rd at 123 km. The road is forested and pretty, but traffic is fast; ride single file here. At km 127.4, take your time as you make a left onto US-101: more fast traffic here, and lots of it. Relief comes 5 km down the road, as you turn west. If you need a break or water, there is the small Dayton Store at 141.6 km. Another 15 km away is the Matlock General Store, with kind staff and a clean restroom; it’s also the control marking your turn south.
Brady Food Mart is at the turn west into Montesano at 186 km; it has a portable toilet. A little less than 10 km into town are a Chevron station (24 hrs) and the Fishin Hole restaurant (closes at 8:30 p.m.).
Heading into Cosmopolis you’ll begin to smell the ocean air. At 211 km, you’ll find another Chevron (closes at 8 p.m. on Saturdays). Soon you’re riding along the water and then heading into Westport, at 241.5 km, where there’s a Shell with Subway inside (open till 11 p.m.), though pre-riders found the restroom sub-par. Another 20 km gets you to the Tokeland 76 (open till 10 p.m.) with well-stocked convenience store and clean restrooms. Continue to bask in the ocean air, and if not the sights (as it may be dark), the sounds of the waves, as you make your way toward Raymond and the turn inland. The Quick Stop 101, open 24 hrs, with a portable toilet, is likely your last option for supplies for the day. In Pe Ell, at 340 km, there’s a Texaco, open until 11 p.m. Just before that, at 339.4 km, about a block off-route is a Willapa Hills trailhead with restrooms and water (there’s a cue for it). From there it’s another 43 quiet kilometers to the overnight control in Centralia.
The second day (or the segment after the overnight control, if you’re riding through) takes you into the mountains via Centralia-Alpha Rd with a series of climbs through the countryside. Morton, your first opportunity for services, is 64 km away, but has several good options; pre-riders feasted on a breakfast sub and Jo-Jo potatoes at the 24-hr Chevron, and pizza at the Bucksnort Pub. From Morton to Elbe there’s more climbing, then an awesome descent (one of many on this day/segment). Also perhaps the most stressful riding of this brevet, on WA-7, with a narrow shoulder, fast traffic, lots of wide vehicles towing campers and boats. You may need a break at the Elbe Supply and Safety Stop even though it’s just 27 km from Morton. At Elbe the shoulder improves and you can enjoy stunning views and descents as you skirt Alder Lake.
Eatonville at 495 km offers more supply options before you turn onto Orville Rd at 497 km. This section is lovely, passing through forest with glimpses of Ohop Lake. It also has a narrow to nonexistent shoulder and can be busy with surprisingly impatient drivers on a Sunday. Same for Orville Rd E, which you turn onto at Kapowsin, at km 511.7 (where there’s also a convenience store with a portable toilet). At 526.6 km you turn onto WA-162, another highway with fast traffic and a narrow shoulder, but you turn off onto the Foothills trail in just a couple of kilometers; you can see the trail to your left for about .75 km before you make the turn. The trail ride is cut short by a bridge closure; you’ll get back on the highway at 537.2, where there is also a convenience store. There is a little better shoulder here for your climb to a plateau. In Buckley, at km 544.8 look for the trail again to your right, just before the intersection with WA-410. You’ll ride the beautiful Foothills Trail bridge over the White River, then take a left on Mud Mountain Rd and cross WA-410. There should be no traffic, because this stretch of highway is closed due to a—you guessed it—bridge closure. In Enumclaw, you’ll pass a 7-11 (24 hrs) at 551.5 km—perhaps your last services, unless you reach Black Diamond before 8 p.m. Then jostle through town on bumpy streets that lead right into farmlands.
The route passes through more rural scenery, then on to Franklin, a tiny town where you’ll ride over the Green River gorge, spectacular if you still have daylight. Climb out of the gorge and head into Black Diamond and your last opportunity for a bite, at the Black Diamond Bakery (open till 8 p.m.), about a block off-route at 575.8 km. From here on, it’s smooth riding, nice roads with good shoulders. There’s a control at 586.8 km, where you make a turn that’s hard to see in the dark. You’ll see a RR crossing sign; the turn is just before that sign. (Do not cross the tracks.) Heading into Auburn on SE Auburn-Black Diamond Rd, at km 598.9, you’ll encounter a notorious set of railroad tracks at a bad angle. Take care here; stopping is not out of the question, as you have to cross into the left lane if you want a perpendicular approach. After 4 km through town, you are finished.
Comments Off on 2025 Summer 600K Pre-Ride Report
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Text by Phil Neff
Event details and registration may be found here.
The Spring 600K offers a varied, rolling, but low-total elevation tour through the inland Puget Sound and into the foothills of the Cascades via the Middle Fork Snoqualmie. A backdoor into Bellingham provides a pleasant detour along Lake Samish, avoiding the closure of Chuckanut Drive. This route is optimized for EPP, please ensure that your ride is tracked or document your passage through controls with photos.
The route starts with mostly quiet rural roads through Snohomish and Marysville. Take care with the merge onto Highway 204 out of Everett’s Ebey Slough, followed by an immediate left turn onto Sunnyside Blvd. Climb over Lake Ki towards Camano Island, with some potentially busy sections of road through Stanwood. Wind and weather conditions will dictate your pace north along Padilla Bay into quaint Edison, where Terramar Brewstillery offers pizza and house-brewed beer and soft drinks.
The closure of Chuckanut Drive necessitates a detour up Bow Hill and along Lake Samish. Preriders found these roads to be low traffic and pleasant; despite hugging I-5, you’ll feel like you’re riding through a tunnel of rocky cliffs and trees up Lake Samish Drive (the pre-ride route profile included some phantom steep grades here that were not reflected on the road). Descend past the Galbraith MTB complex and down the Stair Step Streets (watch for cross traffic and stops) into Fairhaven and Bellingham. Preriders stocked up on snacks and sun at the Haagen grocery here before turning back south for the climb back out of Bellingham.
Rolling country roads lead south through Sedro-Wooley; the route winds through the Burlington suburbs and over the Conway hill on SR534 before briefly joining Highway 9 at Lake McMurray; from here, it’s the standard Centennial Trail, Broadway, Woodinville, Sammamish River Trail sequence back home to Redmond.
Day two starts with the punchy Union Hill climb, maxing out at 10% grade, before a descent into Carnation to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. From here, it’s gradual railroad-grade climb on light gravel to Tokul Road, and then through the towns of Snoqualmie and North Bend. Stock up on food and water here before the approximately 25K long (one-way), 300m climb up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie trailhead. Gorgeous river and mountain views abound on this stretch.
More punchy climbs punctuate the route back via the Issaquah Highlands, followed by the busy Issaquah-Hobart Road to Cedar Grove Road and the traffic-free relief of the Cedar River Trail. Wind through Renton and follow the familiar Lake Washington route through Factoria back into Issaquah, doubling back to pass the troll on the Rainier Trail.
The route finishes with a roll up the Sammamish River Trail to the Redmond Inn. Chapeau!
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