In the old days of mountain biking in Bellingham, the late
1980s and 1990s, it was all about going big. It was about going far, big and
fast. The Quest for the Epic Ride was paramount. Here are the first four Epic Rides
of Bellingham for you to conquer.
Meet the Real
Lookout Mountain (level 3, 3 hours) 
Whatcom Falls Park, Sudden Valley, Lookout Mountain,
Shootout Pass, Rifle Range Trail, Galbraith Sampler including Wonderland, Keystone, Oly,
Candy and Ridge Trails, Whatcom Falls Park
Up and Down
Chuckanut Ridge (level 2.5, 3.75 hours) 
Whatcom Falls Park, Arroyo Park, California Street, Lost
Lake, Fragrance Lake, Cleator Road, Chuckanut Ridge Trail, Arroyo Park, Whatcom Falls Park
Blanchard and Back the Hard
Way (level 4, 4.5 hours) 
Whatcom Falls Park, Arroyo Park, Inter-urban Trail,
Chuckanut Drive, Pacific Northwest Trail, Max's Shortcut, Oyster Dome, Lilly and Lizard
Lakes, British Army Trail, Lake Samish, Pine and Cedar Lakes, Galbraith Pipeline, Ridge
Trail, Whatcom Falls Park
The Big Heart Road
Loop (level 1.5, 2.75 hours)
Whatcom Falls Park, Sudden Valley, Cain Lake,
Alger, Colony Road, Chuckanut Drive, Fairhaven, Bellingham, Whatcom Falls Park
Caution, do not attempt any of these rides described based
solely on the information contained on this website. It is best to attempt these
rides with someone who has knowledge of the area, trails and your fitness level.
Level 1 is Big, level 2 is Huge, level 3 is Massive and
level 4 is Epic.
The ride times are estimated for 'fit and semi-fast' riders
pushing themselves. These are my favorite routes. I tend to rip it up and down
Chuckanut Ridge quite a bit. All of the rides start and finish at Whatcom Falls Park.
You can cut the ride time down by basing elsewhere on some
rides. For example on the Up and Down Chuckanut Ridge route you can shave an hour off
the time by basing Arroyo Park. Most rides involve .5 to 2.5 hours of Road Work.
Amazing but True, people have been lost in the Chuckanuts
over night just a few miles from I-5.
Send me your own
epics and shots and descriptions of your own adventures having an epic ride around
Bellingham.
Please ride responsibly
and safely at all times. Visit the WHIMPs site to learn more about mountain biking
in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
In the old days with Jim Sullivan, Robert Woerne, Karen Pheifer, Galen
Rockenbach, Jeff Cummings, the Fleenor Brothers, Mark and Missy Bellis, Ron Clizbe, Don
Larsen, Mike Jackson, Pat White, Beau Whitehead, Willy Spaulding, Dave Moore, Mike
McClain, Paul Ellison, Mark Peterson, John Spaudy, Greg Greenan, Ben Shearer, Robert
Winterman, Tim Gault, Darren Clark, Tom Clark, Gerry Kingslien, Lance Lindley, Kathy
Gunther, the DeWitt brothers, Art Bussing, Darren Smith, Steve Davenport, Jim Tagart and
many others around, and riding together, it was all about going far, big and fast and
still spreading the good word about proper mountain bike etiquette.
All of the above mentioned people know how
to ride a bike fast, they have all raced many times. Besides racing, they all follow
the rules of the trail on training, hammer-fest and social rides.
Quick Rules of the Trail
- 1.) Leave no trace
- 2.) Ride under control
- 3.) Don't frighten wildlife
- 4.) Yield to hikers
- 5.) Yield to horses
- 6.) Help others
- 7.) Have a lot of fun
If you feel the need for speed, the need to
wick it up to the maximum or to go out of control almost on your bike, you need to race.
Racing is where you can go as fast as you want and not have to worry about other
trail users. Racing is about the most fun you can have if you're that type of
person. There's just something about flying on a race course, your job is to go as
fast as you can, and not crash.
Just like the old days, the late
1980s and 1990s, many of us today in 2002 are continuing the Quest for the Epic Rides
around Bellingham.