Foothills Trail: Puyallup to Enumclaw out and back (Steady)

Please join us for a scenic, not very hilly ride along the Foothills Trail - with a couple of twists! (We'll go off trail in a few places.)

After a 2 year closure and removal due to safety concerns, the Spiketon Ditch Bridge is finally reopening on September 13, and the Foothills Trail can now be ridden all the way from Puyallup to Enumclaw.  Let's get a ride in before the weather gets too unfriendly! 

START:  Let's meet at the East Puyallup trailhead. Be there, ready to ride at 9 AM. We will start with a required safety briefing, and roll out when that's done.  All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

PACE & CLIMBS:  We are expecting riders to be able to sustain a speed of 12 to 14 miles per hour on flat, windless terrain for about five hours.  The pace will be a little slower uphill and may be a lot faster downhill.  We'll be riding a false flat most of the way out with a few off-trail climbs before hitting the slightly higher incline into Buckley, then a dip to cross the White River before entering Enumclaw.  The second half of the ride will tend to be faster because we'll be mostly going gently downhill all the way back to the start.

We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, and we will regroup occasionally as needed and before turns if we get too spread out. The Foothills Trail is very popular with all sorts of users, so we will slow or stop to courteously share the trail and pass safely, as needed.

PHOTOS: We will stop at the Orting Skate park (if Rainier is out), the White River Bridge (pictured above), and the Elks in Enumclaw for group photos. 

FOOD:  We will stop at Wally's on the way back for quick snacks and drinks.  At the end of the ride, Ride Leader will also be heading to Farm12 across the street for a late lunch.  Please join me! 

PARKING:  Parking is available at the start at the East Puyallup Trailhead, but there is also street parking across from Farm 12 at the end of the Foothills Trail on 8th Ave. SE at 33rd St. SE. For those planning to join me at Farm 12, parking on 8th Ave SE means we won't need to move our cars after the ride.

RESTROOMS:  Restrooms are available at the start. Restrooms are also available along the trail in Orting (miles 8 & 41), South Prairie (miles 15 & 33), and Buckley (miles 21 &  28), We will pass these both coming and going and will stop briefly as needed. 

Be Prepared:  Bring a spare tube and tools to fix a flat, just in case. Other things to bring: phone; ID; cash and/or credit card; ORCA card; water and a small snack. Please have full fenders if the roads are wet, or ride at the rear of the group so you are not splashing the riders behind you.

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed in the Weather Status or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions or other unexpected events, the Ride Leader will cancel the ride and all registered riders will be sent a notification email. If the ride is cancelled at least two hours before the start, Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location. Please check before leaving for the ride.

We hope you can join us!