Japanese Gulch
Mountain bike on the slopes, washes, gullies, back trails, and slaloms of the Cascade Mountains. Where to go and where to gear up before you go, we ask our friends at Bayside Bikes in Everett.
WHY BIKE HERE?
The obvious reason is that we’ve got the Cascade Mountains. Where there are mountains there are foothills, hillocks, long runs of scree, trunk-lined forest paths, and de facto slaloms. Why not explore the rugged PNW on thick wheels with the wind in your face?
MOUNTAIN BIKE SHOPS
Bayside Bikes
2707 Colby Ave H
(425) 789-1886
Probably the best place to go for mountain biking in Snohomish County. The owner, Eric Smith, is himself an avid mountain biker who will not only be able to talk shop with you while outfitting you for your next adventure, he’ll also be able to give you the inside tips on where to pull offroad and get on two wheels.
Gregg’s Cycle Lynnwood
5810 196th St SW
(425) 248-4842
Gregg’s Cycle sells mountain bikes and mountain bike accessories. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line polycarbonate fiber... well, you know what specs you’re looking for... you’ll find it.
Bicycle Centers
Specialize more in touring bicycles, but have a variety of mountain bikes for sale, along with mountain bike accessories
Everett (4707 Evergreen Way, 425-252-1441)
Silverlake (13027 Bothell Everett Hwy, 425-337-3509)
Snohomish (707 Pine Ave Unit B101, 360-862-8300)
PLACES TO MOUNTAIN BIKE
Darrington Mountain Bike Trails
4.6 miles of “skills courses” designed for amateurs and intermediate mountain bikers. Glimpse views of imposing and snowy Whitehorse Mountain through the trees as you barrel downhill over pine needle-strewn forest floors.
Japanese Gulch
Labyrinthian and verdant— the best kind of place to get lost on miles of trails. Japanese Gulch feels far away, even though it’s just minutes from urban downtown Everett and charming lighthouse-y Mukilteo.
Stevens Pass
Slaloms in the peaks of the Cascades are for experts and amateurs alike. Rent a bike on site (no hauling it up the mountain!) or take a class in how to navigate the rocky trails. Mountain biking is only available during the summer months at Stevens.
