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Seattle is known for its lush natural landscapes, its coffee and food scene, its grunge music, the Space Needle, and Grey’s Anatomy, but not everyone is aware of its enthusiastic cycling scene. In fact, during the 1890s, Seattle was among the first cities in the United States to construct dedicated bicycling infrastructure, laying out some 25 miles of pedal-friendly paths, and it has developed a thriving bike culture ever since.
Today, Seattle is home to a slew of stunning, frequently well-protected bike routes with no shortage of must-stops along the way. While its hilly terrain once meant it was better suited to the most devoted of cyclists, e-bikes have made its steep inclines manageable for all. And no matter where in the city your wheels roam, you’ll encounter plenty of good reasons to stop, sip, snack, and take in the scenery.
Vicky Clarke, policy director for the Cascade Bicycle Club, and Mike O’Brien, a former Seattle city councilman, at the Westlake Cycle Track.
Mark Peterson, Redux
The most essential bike paths
According to David “DJ” Johnson, owner of Electric & Folding Bikes Northwest (established in 1996, it’s one of the oldest electric bike shops in the country) and co-founder of the Dead Baby Downhill (more on this notorious bike race in a moment), a few Seattle bike routes stand out.
“The best bike routes in the city are the Burke-Gilman Trail and maybe the Waterfront,” says Johnson.
The Burke-Gilman is undoubtedly the most popular bike path in the city, running 20 miles from the Puget Sound beaches of Golden Gardens Park east to the shores of Lake Washington, then north along the water to the wineries of Woodinville. This well-maintained and protected path carries cyclists through a diverse selection of Seattle landscapes—the Ballard Locks, the city views from Fremont, the University of Washington, and more.
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The path through downtown’s 20-acre Waterfront Park passes by many of Seattle’s most iconic sites, such as Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, the Ferris wheel, and stadiums. Newly opened, the park is projected to be in a state of construction until mid-2026.
Johnson also recommends summer weekends at Lake Washington Boulevard, when the road along the lake’s western stretch is closed to vehicles.
The Seattle Cloud Cover, an outdoor glass bridge and sculpture by American artist Teresita Fernández, installed at the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Wolfgang Kaehler, LightRocket/Getty Images
Must-stops along the way
The Burke-Gilman is dotted with great places to brake for food, refreshments, and taking in the view. The path practically runs over the toes of the cyclist-centric cafe Cycle & Coffee. Keep an eye out for a large wooden troll outside the National Nordic Museum in the neighborhood of Ballard, and the even larger Fremont Troll a few blocks north of the trail, just down the street from a 16-foot-tall statue of Lenin.
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Along Waterfront Park there are numerous opportunities for food and a break, none more iconic than Pike Place Market, where the Athenian provides a particularly good, seafood-forward happy hour. If you’re in need of accommodations, book a gorgeously view-appointed water-facing room at the Edgewater Hotel, which not only offers bike rentals and easy bike path access, but a memorable stay infused with a dose of rock and roll history as it was once frequented by the likes of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pearl Jam. Its restaurant Six Seven also provides an appropriately Pacific Northwestern menu accompanied by one of the best waterfront views in the city.
A tale of two interesting bike events
Seattle boasts a famously strong current of counterculture, and two of its most renowned bike events speak to this tradition.
The first is the Fremont Solstice Parade. Held each June, this clothing-optional festivity includes decorative floats, giant puppets, and other artistic endeavors, and is attended by scores of cyclists dressed (or not dressed) in all manner of costume and body paint.
If the Solstice Parade speaks to Seattle’s hippier side, the Dead Baby Downhill leans into its grimier punk rock vibe. Scheduled at an impromptu location the first Saturday of every August, it gathers thousands of cyclists—many riding oddly outfitted bikes—for a traffic snarling, police frustrating ride that culminates in a block party featuring carnival rides built of bike parts and funky circus performances.
“It was started by a few of us former bike messengers in the early to mid-90s,” says Johnson. “The first few years were pretty rough around the edges, but it grew to epic proportions. It even got in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy!”
Routes outside the city
The Burke-Gilman Trail connects to several scenic options, such as the Sammamish River, Tolt Pipeline, and Snoqualmie Valley trails, which carry you along rivers, fields, and forests. To the east, along the coastal Olympic Mountains, you can pedal the multi-segment Olympic Discovery Trail to see some of the most gorgeously remote places in the state. And the ferry system offers access to the San Juan Islands, of which Lopez Island is particularly popular among cyclists thanks to its flat roads and outdoor splendor.
If you’re looking for Washington State’s supreme riding challenge, start training for Highway 20 through the North Cascades, about two hours north of Seattle. Hailed for its outright spectacular views, it’s certainly not for beginners. Running 60 miles each way with a 9,000-foot elevation gain in the middle, it’s the kind of lifetime achievement ride that draws cycling fanatics from around the world.
Tips for cycling in Seattle
Beyond the standard cycling safety advice, Johnson says there are a few points one should note about cycling in Seattle.
Some Seattle streets have pothole problems, so make sure your tires are well inflated. Bike theft can be an issue, so come equipped with a good lock and consider a GPS tracker.
People cycle year-round in Seattle, but it does get dark and rainy through the winter months, so plan accordingly. Blustery autumn days can make for pleasant biking, but the sun sets early so wear brightly colored, reflective clothing. If you’ll be riding in Seattle’s famed drizzle, wear quality rain gear and be careful about slippery pavement.
Seattle is a city that is best seen via bicycle, allowing you to explore its various neighborhoods with ease, stopping to enjoy its many parks, cafes, breweries, and other offerings as you go. And cycling through the wider area around the city provides access to some of the most magnificent natural landscapes on Earth. For bike buffs, it doesn’t get any better.
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Veteran journalist and editor Nick Hilden has contributed to the likes of Vanity Fair, the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Afar, and many others, and produces the Writers Talking Writers interview series at Publishers Weekly. You can follow his work and travels at NickHilden.com or via Instagram.
