Pierce County Trails Day: Gig Harbor's Cushman Connections

In honor of Pierce Country's Trails Day, we're going to explore Gig Harbor's Cushman Trail and how it can be used to connect cyclists to places they want to go -  Gig Harbor's Downtown Waterfront, the Tom Taylor YMCA and a good ice cream place on the other side of the bridge in University Place. 

This will be a two loop "progressive" type ride. Both loops start and end at the Kimball Drive Park and Ride, at the corner near the Wilco store and the Cushman Trail Trailhead. Participants may do either loop or stay for the entire ride. (Mileage and elevation listed above are for entire ride)  

Be at the ride start location at 10am, ready to ride, for the first loop. First loop will stay within Gig Harbor, heading north with stops in the parking lot of the YMCA, at the Borgan Boulevard Trailhead and at a park on the water in downtown Gig Harbor. The ride will return to the park and ride at mile 9.5.

Riders who only want to do the second loop may meet us at the park and ride, ready to ride, at  12 noon. The second loop will go over the narrows bridge and loop to the commercial area in front of the University Place Library,  where we will take a break and riders will have time to purchase and enjoy ice cream and other treats.

Riders may also join us at any of our stops (Tom Taylor YMCA, Skansie Brother's Park, or in front of the University Place Library) but please note that if you join us at any point other than the Kimball Drive Park and Ride, return to your start location will be on your own.

The first loop is mostly trail, with some areas on roads. Some of the roads have bike lanes and some are on low traffic streets without bike lanes. A few very short sections are heavier traffic and without bike lanes, but as a group, we will navigate them safely. More of the second loop will not be on a dedicated trail, but again, most of the roads we will be on will either have bike lanes or will be low traffic streets. Due to the elevation gain, length of the ride and time spent not on trails, the second loop will not be appropriate for many young children.

Please refer to the route map for more information. Ride Leader will not be providing cue sheets or maps.  Using the route link,  participants can download the route to their own devices or smart phones or print their own cue sheets. 

We will start with a required safety briefing. All riders must be present for the safety briefing - we will repeat it at any stop where new riders join us. (Riders who already heard it may leave the group during any repeats.) 

Families are welcome! New riders are welcome! E-bike riders are welcome! All riders (including minors traveling in trailers or otherwise not of their own power) must be registered for the ride before we ride. If you are not a Cascade Bicycle Club member, please create a free account so that you can register. Please reach out the ride leader if you have any problems registering - she will be happy to walk you through the process as long as you ask before the day of the ride. 

Gig Harbor is Hilly! There will be hills. This is a social ride and we will be traveling at 10 to 12 miles per hour on flat sections. Everyone will climb and descend hills at their own pace. We will get the group back together if we are spread out after hills and before any turns. 

Restrooms should be available at the start - if the washrooms at the park and ride are not open, there are washrooms in the surrounding businesses on Kimball Drive. We have planned stops with public washrooms and places to refill water bottles at the Borgen Trailhead (mile 5) at Skansie Brothers Park (mile 7.75) and at the University Place Library (mile 18.3). 

Properly fitted helmets are required for all participants and bikes must be in good working condition.  (ABC bike quick check) 

Other things to bring: Water bottles, charged cell phone, identification, cash, credit card, ORCA  card, small snack, sunscreen, kleenex, spare tube and tools to fix a flat or other minor mechanical issues. 

Weather Cancelation Policy:  If weather conditions meet the weather cancelation criterion listed above or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions or other unexpected events, the Ride Leader will cancel the ride. Canceled rides will be noted in the title of the ride and registered participants will be sent an email at the address associated with their Cascade account. If the ride is canceled two or more hours before the start time, the ride leader will not be at the ride start. Please check before leaving for the ride. 

Feel free to reach out to the Ride Leader, before the day of the ride, if you have any questions. We hope you can join us!