Bicycling Guide to Snohomish County
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, where road biking and mountain biking can coexist in a blissful environment of urban landscapes, mountains, and seaside routes. I guess you could call us a "hub" for outdoor adventures (no pun intended). Whatever your two-wheel preference may be, we've got you covered.
Major bike trails
Centennial Trail
Savor this 30-mile trail that runs from Snohomish to Arlington, connecting several towns in between. This well-maintained and paved path meanders through river valleys, farmlands, and forest without much elevation gain.
Read all about the Centennial Trail here.
Whitehorse Trail
Zip along this paved path that runs from Arlington to Darrington along the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River Valley. Along the way are river crossings and incredible views of the foothills of the Cascades.
Visit Darrington for the best outdoors experiences.
Interurban Trail
Stretching from the city of Everett to Seattle, the Interurban offers a cityscape approach to bike touring. The path is 20.5 miles. You'll want to fire up your GPS or download a map before setting out, as the route is segmented and crosses streets in ways that aren't always clearly marked.
Minor bike trails:
Milltown Trail
Bike the peninsular perimeter of Everett, WA on this bike path less traveled. The Milltown Trail is a paved interpretive path that leads travelers past the locations of former mills.
Everett is full of experiences. Learn more.
Lake Tye + Fryelands Blvd
A paved path runs around a sparkling manmade body of water at Lake Tye Park in Monroe. Lake Tye is but a segment of the much longer Fryelands Boulevard -- a paved path that runs more or less from the northern perimeter of Monroe to the southern border.
Non-trail routes you may like:
The old Snohomish-Monroe Highway
Don't let the name fool you. When this road was built it was a highway by the standards of the early twentieth century. Today the Snohomish-Monroe Highway is a relatively quiet backroad that borders farmland. This route connects downtown Snohomish to downtown Monroe, making for a chill mini bike tour.
Check out Downtown Snohomish here.
Tualco Valley
Outside of Monroe is a farmland valley set amidst the rolling hills of the Cascade Mountain Range. Leave your vehicle at the Kelsey Street Park and pedal across the bridge. Tualco Valley is mostly an agrarian zone, so navigating backroads past farms and barns is the idyll along this route.
Learn more about the Tualco Valley here.
The Mountain Loop Highway
For the adventurous! The full Mountain Loop Highway is a 52-mile route out into the mountains and back. Of course, you don't have to travel all 52 miles. And maybe you don't want to -- a sizeable chunk is closed seasonally because of snow and is also unpaved. If you venture out, be sure to have tires that can hold up to rough dirt roads and make sure you have a way to get back to the beginning of your journey (it may mean taking a car).
Mountain biking:
Japanese Gulch, Mukilteo
Imagine a network of winding trails that wind and intersect along a series of seaside gulches. This track in Mukilteo is a great skills course for building knowhow on your bike, no matter your experience level.
Visit the seaside haven of Mukilteo, WA.
Darrington Skills Course
Miles of downhill routes will take you through the heart of PNW forest and down the slopes of North Mountain. This course offers trails for all skill levels.
There's a lot of adventure to be had in Darrington.
Lord Hill Park, Snohomish
52 acres of trails. Ferns. Beaver ponds. Deer. Some gravel, some mud, and plenty of hills. This is a dreamscape for folks who love to spend the day exploring the forested hills of the PNW.
Spend a full weekend in the charming town of Snohomish.
