fbpx

Take an autumn bike ride through Seattle

Let’s roll, Seattle. Sure, we live in a hilly city, and our gloomy weather isn’t always great for cycling. But now is the perfect time for an autumn bike ride through Seattle.

Don’t have a bike? Several local shops offer daily rentals, or you can always track down the nearest Jump or Lime bike. (Just beware that those per-minute rates add up quickly!)

Here are three beginner-friendly Seattle bike routes to try out before the weather takes a turn toward fall: 

🚴 Best of the Burke: The 20-mile, mostly flat Burke-Gilman Trail connects some of Seattle’s best parks and hippest neighborhoods. You can bite off a small chunk from the Ballard Locks to Golden Gardens (2.1 miles), or go from Gas Works up to Magnuson Park (5.4 miles), or keep cruising north toward Kenmore and Bothell. The UW Link station is a convenient starting place if you live near light rail.

🚴 Lake Washington Boulevard: A 3.2-mile section of this scenic lakeside road is closed to cars on select Sundays from May through September, creating an easy, family friendly route between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park. As a bonus, you can tack on the 2.6 mile Seward Park Loop, and if you want to reward your efforts, Columbia City Bakery is a short detour through Genesee Park.

🚴 SR 520 Trail: The 520 bridge’s 2.7-mile bike and pedestrian path is a worthy bike destination on its own or a convenient way to get to the Eastside. More experienced cyclists can use the Burke-Gilman to create a loop around the north end of Lake Washington or connect up with the Sammamish River Trail to head to the wineries and breweries in Woodinville. (Don’t forget to drink responsibly and arrange another way home if you plan to really cut loose.)

By Caitlin Moran
Caitlin writes newsletters and stories for The Evergrey. She's worked as a journalist in and around Seattle since 2010 and is a proud resident of Capitol Hill's Summit Slope neighborhood.