Mountain Bike Trails Near Seattle, Washington

The mountains and foothills surrounding Seattle beckon mountain bikers with an attractive array of biking options. But these locales tend to be far enough away from the city that most Seattle-based bikers can't take advantage of them on weekends or weekday evenings after work. They shouldn't despair, though; there are several worthwhile trails close to Seattle that provide challenging terrain without the need for a long drive to the mountains.

I-5 Colonnade

• This mountain bike skills park is the only mountain biking spot within Seattle's city limits. The network of trails sits under the I-5 freeway between the Capitol Hill and Eastlake neighborhoods. The park is shaded from rain, so it's the perfect place to stretch your legs during the rainy season. Bikers can access features like a pump track, suspension bridge, rock roll-overs and extensive trails. Parking is available off Lakeview Boulevard.

St. Edward State Park

• A short drive from Seattle, St. Edward State Park is a 316-acre swath of land situated on Lake Washington's eastern shore. The park is a favorite of Seattle mountain bikers, who flock to its network of trails to sharpen their skills. St. Edward has an impressive array of technical features, ranging from steep ascents and descents to big jumps and banked turns. While visitors with motor vehicles need to purchase a Discover Pass to park here, they can ride their bicycles in for free.

Big Finn Hill Park

• Big Finn Hill Park is connected to St. Edward State Park via mountain biking trails. This 220-acre park is less technical, consisting mostly of rolling singletrack. The park is appealing to beginners, who might not be ready to tackle the drops and sharp turns found at St. Edward State Park. Together, Big Finn Hill and St. Edward State Park encompass 16 miles of mountain biking trails.

Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park

• The Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park is situated about half an hour from Seattle. The 120-acre park has a range of trails that appeal to beginners and seasoned riders alike. There are tamer, smoother cross-country tracks with fewer technical features along with freeride trails with fast down hills, big air jumps and sharp turns. The park is so popular that parking can be problematic; most people leave their cars at nearby Duthie Hill Lodge and cycle into the park.

Tiger Mountain

• Farther outside of Seattle, Tiger Mountain sits in the Cascade foothills about 40 minutes away from the city. Four trails consisting of 12 miles of riding are open for mountain biking here: East Tiger, Iverson (also known as Fat Hand), Preston Railroad and Northwest Timber. The trails range from the more technical Iverson to the smoother East Tiger. Tiger Mountain, unlike other spots closer to the city, is only open from May to September.

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Parks With Outdoor Grills in Seattle

Seattle, Washington has many wonderful restaurants serving up Northwest-style cuisine -- but when you're ready to cook up your own filet of Pacific salmon or make your own patties of grass-fed organic beef, grilling out is always an option. Many of the city's parks have grills that are open to the public.

Picnic Sites

• Small, open-pit grills are fairly common in most Seattle parks -- but the parks department doesn't list every single grill site on its website. If you want to be sure you'll get the grill spot you want, look to the 26 park sites that have reservable picnic shelters or groupings of tables. The parks include Golden Gardens, Alki Beach, Beer Sheva, Gasworks, Carkeek, Lincoln, Magnolia, Seward, Woodland, Westcrest, Matthews Beach, Madrona and Magnusen Parks. Check out Seattle Parks and Recreations' "Picnic Sites" page for information on the number of reservable tables available and the additional amenities at the parks.

Fire Pits

• If you're looking for a sure thing and you don't want to make a reservation, the other option is to use one of the city's open fire pits, which are open to the public and don't require reservations. Alki Beach and Golden Gardens parks -- both right on the waterfront -- have fire pits available. The parks also have numerous grills or "stoves" along the beach, though all are first-come, first-served and the parks tend to be very busy in warm, sunny weather.

Bring Your Own Grill

• The other option is to bring your own grill to the park. Seattle's city code states that fires are only allowed in a "designated stove or fire ring, or in a beach area at Carkeek Park approved by the Superintendent for beach fires." Many Seattle residents interpret that code as meaning they can bring their own grills into the parks.

See for Yourself

• If you're hosting a party for a lot of people, you're probably not going to want to leave anything to chance. For that situation, making a reservation is always the best bet. If you're planning a more informal gathering, your other option is to simply check the Seattle Parks and Recreation website for the nearest park, and then scope out the digs before you bring your party there. If a grill is available and it's not near a reservable space, that means it's a first-come, first-served grill -- and you should set up your picnic before anyone else does. Bottom line: many of the smaller parks may have grills you can use, but check out the site ahead of time to make sure the grills are in good working order. If you set up your picnic near or under a picnic shelter, don't be surprised if someone comes around to let you know they've reserved that space.

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