Discover the Duwamish

Before the arrival of Euro-American settlers (1853), the indigenous Duwamish people used the River as "the way in" to the interior of the Puget Sound Country.  The Duwamish plied the river in canoes;  settlers followed with barges and shallow-draft boats.  Today, the river's valley cradles many different modes of transportation -- conventional rail, highways (I-5 and S.R. 99), a county airport, light rail, the river, and the Duwamish and Green River Trails. 

The ride will begin at Jack Block Park, just off of Harbor Avenue in West Seattle.  The route follows the Alki Trail and then the Duwamish/Green River Trail to Fort Dent, then we will return to the start.  We may detour for coffee at a Starbucks in Tukwila.  Much of the trail is on a bike path, but there are a few points at which we will be riding on roads with vehicle traffic.  This ride offers an opportunity for those wishing to sharpen their group riding skills at a manageable pace on a basically flat route in off-road (bike path) and on-road settings.

We will leave Jack Block Park at 10:00 a.m.  Parking, restrooms and water are available at the park.  The park can also be reached via the King County Water Taxi, or via the Rapid Ride "C" bus.  Plan to arrive 20 minutes early so we can have time to do introductions and the safety briefing and start on time.  You should be prepared to address mechanical issues that you may encounter and carry a cell phone in case of emergency.

This is a social ride:  we will stay together.  The pace is "leisurely," which means that riders should be comfortable with riding 10-12 mph on a flat road with no headwind.

You are encouraged to pre-register by clicking the red "Register Now" button above. There is no need to unregister if you decide not to ride.

Steady rain cancels.  If a cancellation is necessary, ride leader will post a notice in the comments section (below) two hours before the start.

We hope you can join us!