Up and Down Chuckanut Ridge (level 3, 3.75 hours)        

Again we start at Whatcom Falls Park.  From there take any direct road route for the 25 minute ride to Arroyo Park.

This is a mostly in-the-woods route.  There are a few viewpoints from Chuckanut Ridge near the end, but for the most part your protected by the trees canopy.

Halfway through Arroyo Park take the left turn that says Lost Lake.  It takes about 15 minutes to climb out of the Park and finally hit California Street. A couple hundred yards down the old road you'll see a sign that says Lost Lake, 4.1 miles and points to the right.  Head right.

Now a 30 minute semi overgrown logging road climb begins.   It's fairly steep at times but no granny gears are required.  Keep on the main road and do not take any of the side trails.  Eventually the road turns into trail as you enter Larabee State Park. 

     

Once in Larabee State Park the trail is like in shots on the right above.  You're now climbing for 30 minutes right below the Chuckanut Ridge Trail you'll be riding down on the way back.  Once in a while you'll hear others above.

At the fork in the trail that points you to Lost Lake go right.  We're going to climb up above the Lost Lake on it's west side.  You'll be able to catch glimpses of Lost Lake down on your left for a bit. 

Once you climb past the lake you'll come across another fork in the trail.  Keep right again and head down to Fragrance Lake.  This is a fun but quick 10 minute descent. It is climbed regularly by day hikers heading to Lost Lake so please ride responsibly.

Once you go around the gate you're on Fragrance Lake Road.   Take a Right and head strait up, do not go down to the Lake.  Take the trail and go up to Cleator Road. This is a 15 minute little suffer-fest at this point. Take a right on Cleator and continue to climb.  The top of the Chuckanut Ridge Trail is on the final turn of Cleator Road, just below the Parking Lot.

  

Now you're in for some highly technical single track for an hour or so, there are quite a few hike-a-bikes and some knarly things I won't attempt.   The Chuckanut Ridge sports all natural stunts and rock drops with some cliffs thrown in.  You also get some really nice views of the local hills and Mt. Baker and the Twin Sisters weather permitting.

     

The day shown above was a typical day in Bellingham, due to the rain the view sports I-5 and Sehome Hill in the left shot, and the other two are looking straight over to the Arsenio on Galbraith.

We usually keep on the Chuckanut Ridge Trail until it ends at the top of Chuckanut Crest Drive.  There are a couple of connectors between the Ridge Trail and California Street also and sometimes we hit those.

Once you hit the pavement take the dirt road to your immediate right.  This is a connector trail that will take you to California Street.  Now you can take a left and fly down part of the climb you did earlier on California Street.  Once at Arroyo Park take your favorite road route back to  Whatcom Falls Park.  My favorite route from Arroyo Park usually involves a stop by Banditos Burritos.

Sometimes a variation on this loop is to not go up to California Street at Arroyo Park but to continue strait and go on the Interurban Trail then go up the Burn-out route to the top of Chuckanut Mountain, then down to the top of the Lost Lake Trail, then to Fragrance Lake, Cleator etc.  Look soon for the Over-Land / Uber-Land routes. 

This is a strictly non-motorized route and is mainly in State Park Land.  You will come across hikers and equestrians on most rides so please as always ride responsibly.