10 Fall Trail Rides for Fabulous WA Foliage
- The air is crisp and the forests are turning colorful, which means it’s time to plan your fall rides.
- Go explore one of Washington’s many bike trails to experience autumn at its most audacious.
Paul Tolmé
September and October are two of the most beautiful months to ride bikes in Washington state, thanks to crisp fall temperatures and abundant trails.
With the first day of autumn just around the corner on Sept. 22, here are a few trails we recommend for enjoying colorful fall foliage–minus the cars.
East Lake Sammamish Trail
Spanning the eastern shoreline of Lake Sammamish from Redmond to Issaquah, this 11-mile trail is one of the Eastside's most beautiful paved bike paths. Stop for lunch at one of the picnic tables or extend your ride by continuing on to the Issaquah-Preston-Snoqualmie Trail.
King County completed the East Lake Sammamish Trail in 2023 following decades of advocacy by Cascade and a long legal fight to reclaim this public right-of-way from homeowner encroachment. Read more in our story, “Come Ride the Eastside’s Most Beautiful Trail.”
Locks to Lakes Corridor
Feeling ambitious? Pedal all the way from Seattle to the East Lake Sammamish Trail and beyond on the 44-mile Locks to Lakes Corridor that links the Burke-Gilman Trail to the Sammamish River, Marymoor Connector, East Lake Sammamish, and Issaquah-Preston trails.
Snohomish Centennial Trail
A key segment of Cascade’s Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party, the Snohomish Centennial Trail is a 30-mile paved rail trail that extends between postcard-pretty City of Snohomish and the Skagit County line north of Arlington.
Be sure to visit the Nakashima Heritage Barn at the trail’s northern terminus. Built in 1908, this historic red barn and surrounding farmlands were stolen from the Nakashima family in 1942 when the U.S. government rounded up Americans of Japanese descent and sent them to internment camps.
Whitehorse Regional Trail
Spanning 27 miles between Arlington and Darrington, the Whitehorse Regional gravel trail follows the path of the former BNSF railroad and meanders from farmlands to forests through the North Stillaguamish River Valley. Map.
There are two closures on the Whitehorse: the first near its connection to the Snohomish Centennial Trail, and the second near Darrington, where the French Creek Bridge is under repair. “The remainder of the trail is open to the public and much of the trail has recently been resurfaced with compacted gravel,” says Snohomish County Parks.
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail
Washington state’s longest trail, the Palouse to Cascades offers opportunities to ride amidst a variety of autumnal landscapes–from the deciduous forests of the Cascades foothills to the arid high desert sagelands of eastern WA.
Last fall, my wife and I escaped overcast Seattle for the sunnier and drier eastern side of the Cascades and booked a room in Ellensburg for two days of riding: westward 25 miles to Cle Elum on day one and eastward to the Renslow Trestle and back on the second.
The trailside willows provided a burst of bright yellow against the creekside reflections of vivid blue skies.
Klickitat State Park Trail
One of five long-distance trails operated by Washington State Parks, the Klickitat Trail follows a former rail corridor in south-central Washington along the Oregon border. Bring a gravel or mountain bike to ride the 16-mile segment between Lyle and the small town of Klickitat, and then pick up the trail at Wahkius and ride through Swale Canyon.
Note that Swale Canyon is closed until Oct. 8 due to fire danger. Learn more from the Klickitat Trail Conservancy.
Willapa Hills State Park Trail
Pedal from farmlands to the coast on this relatively flat long-distance rail that connects the farmlands near Chehalis to the oyster farms of Willapa Bay in southwestern WA. Not yet completed but rideable for most of its 56 miles (aside from a few old railroad bridges you may want to walk over) this east-west trail parallels State Route 6 and follows the Chehalis River and Rock Creek.
Washington State Parks Planner Eric Olmsted provided us with this update: “We have repaired decking on one of the bridges, surfaced a section with compacted gravel, and the SR6 overpass has been completed.“ There is one detour due to a washout West of Menlo at Hunt Club Road where Olmsted suggests using the adjacent highway bridge to cross the creek.
Read our 2021 story, ”From Farmlands to Oyster Beds,” for ideas on a two-day out and back ride with an overnight in South Bend.
Get info on trail detours from State Parks.
Foothills Trail
Recently re-opened fully in July, this paved rail trail stretches for 24 miles from Puyallup to Buckley, now including the new Spiketon Ditch Bridge. Start at Farm 12 for a delicious brunch and coffee and ride from there. One of the most scenic sections begins in Orting where the trail follows the Carbon River through farmlands and offers unobstructed views of Mount Rainier.
Cross the White River Bridge in Buckley and continue on to Enumclaw on the Enumclaw Trail. Look for eagles in the tall trees along the river. Learn more on the Pierce County website, including the new Spiketon Ditch Bridge and how to ride it.
Snoqualmie Valley Trail
Spanning the Cascade foothills from Duvall to North Bend, this 31-mile gravel trail (with a short road detour through Snoqualmie) brings riders through the lush green farmlands and forests of the Snoqualmie River Valley.
At the trail terminus in North Bend you can connect with the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail that climbs up to Snoqualmie Pass and then stretches all the way to Idaho. Download a map of the entire trail on the North Bend website.
Olympic Discovery Trail: Port Angeles to Sequim Bay
Beginning in the sailing community of Port Townsend and ending in La Push on the Pacific coast, this trail corridor is a key segment of the Great American Rail Trail. While there are many great trail segments, much of the corridor requires people to bike on roadways.
For a stress-free paved trail ride (with a few short gravel segments), my wife and I love the East Central-River and Prairie section between Port Angeles and Sequim Bay State Park. Approximately 26 miles each way, this ride makes a great out-and-back–with abundant food and lodging options in Port Angeles or camping in Sequim Bay State Park.
Kitsap Color Classic
While not a trail ride, Cascade’s annual fall rolling hills ride on Sunday, Oct. 12, offers the chance to bike our state’s beautiful Kitsap Peninsula with food and rest stops and a finish line party. The abundant maples that line the streets of historic Port Gamble offer a colorful explosion of oranges, yellows, and reds.
Sign up for the Kitsap Color Classic before registration closes at midnight on Oct. 9.
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