CTS Red #7: Lake Washington Loop (Renton start)

Overview

This week's route takes us all the way around Lake Washington in the clockwise direction. We've done several sections of this loop already, and now it's time to do the whole thing!

The route starts from the Renton Community Center. There are restrooms available.

Please be ready to ride at 9:00, arriving at least 20 minutes early so that you can get yourself prepared. We will start with a required safety briefing and ride announcements, and roll out when that's done. If you miss the briefing you will not be able to ride with the group.

Rest stops, lunch, and après vélo

This ride has our first lunch break of the series, at Albertsons and Starbucks in Lake Forest Park (mile 26). Plan for a 20-minute stop, and you can either bring your own food or buy something (water is also available).

The full list of stops is as follows:

• Mile 5 (optional), Be'er Sheva Park, Seattle
• Mile 12, Madrona Park, Seattle
• Mile 26, lunch at Alberstons/Starbucks, Lake Forest Park
• Mile 36, Houghton Beach Park, Kirkland
• Mile 47 (optional), Gene Coulon Park, Renton

If there's interest after the ride, we may head to Whistle Stop Ale House (a few blocks from the start) for refreshments and/or food.

Route description

We'll ride through Renton past the airport and along Rainier Ave, with our first climb going up Seward Park Ave. We then head north on Lake Washington Blvd. From Seward Park to Mt Baker Beach we ride a car-free segment, celebrating Seattle's first Bicycle Weekend of the summer. After a rest stop at Madrona Park, we continue with a scenic ride through the Arboretum, across the Montlake Bridge, and behind Husky stadium. After the stadium we jump on the Burke-Gilman Trail for a short section before we hop off and tackle a long steady climb up Sand Point Way. We then drop down to the trail and head up towards the north end of the lake, and lunch!

After lunch, we'll get back on the trail, and in a few miles, turn south and climb some familiar hills in the opposite direction as we did them in ride #6: up Waynita Way and down to Juanita Beach, then up Market Street and down to downtown Kirkland. We'll then ride along the Kirkland waterfront and stop at Houghton Beach Park for restrooms and a group photo. From there we'll head into Bellevue, climbing up 112th, then ride through Bellevue downtown. After that, we'll ride along the southeast edge of the lake on the Eastrail (very pleasant!) and Lake Washington Blvd. After a quick final stop at Gene Coulon Park we'll return through Renton to the finish.

This is a challenging ride that will bring you a great sense of accomplishment; take note of how you feel at the end. We repeat this route as our last ride of the series and you will be amazed at how much easier it will be the second time around!