Cycling Seniors shares some of the best places to ride. Not just places to cover miles. Places that are extremely enjoyable and invigorating. Below is a Seattle ride that a reader shares with us.
A famous recreational attraction in Seattle, the Burke-Gilman Trail is a real treat for cyclists of all ages and abilities. The trail is maintained by the Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Seattle Department of Transportation. Burke-Gilman shows off some of the best of beautiful Seattle including its lovely parks, lakes, and a seafront area. After venturing into the charming street corners and taking in the healthy sea air, stop over at a neighborhood eatery (there are many). Try some of the local cuisines.
Cycling Friendly Seattle
Among all the activities you can do at Burke-Gilman, the most popular one is cycling. In fact, cycling aficionados come from all over the United States just to experience the amazing trail. Even the city of Seattle has its own organized cycling community that keeps up Burke-Gilman’s contagious lively atmosphere. The trail is useful not only to recreational and serious cyclists. It has become a major thoroughfare for those commuting to work and the University of Washington. Since its opening, Burke-Gilman has also been an integral landmark to real estate and businesses.
Commonly called ‘the Burke’ by the locals, the Burke-Gilman Trail is a full paved pathway that stretches to 43 kilometers or 27 miles. The trail is actually a part of the King County Regional Trail System. It specifically follows the right-of-way of the old Burlington Northern railroad, goes through to the city of Seattle, and stretches all the way to Tracy Owen Station in Kenmore. It has been welcoming outdoor enthusiasts since 1978.
In 2009, Burke-Gilman became connected to another trail which goes through Marymoor Park. If you choose this path, you can cycle for 64 kilometers or 40 miles without any interruption.
Start Your Cycling Tour
There are many ways to start the trail, but a number of cyclists usually choose to start at Puget Sound, which is just at the entrance of the Golden Gardens Park. The Wayne Gold Course is typically the chosen end point for the trail. If you want to do something other than cycling ‘the Burke’, you can check out the Golden Gardens Park and the Sammamish River Trail. They serve as boundaries to the trail.
Other parks you will encounter while cycling this trail include Gasworks Parks, Matthews Beach and Tracy Owen Station. The Burke-Gilman Playground is another spot that is ideal for families tackling the trail. But if you are wishing for some adult fun, why not drop by the Redhook Brewery to taste some of the best local beer varieties.
Cyclist’s Resources
If you are not a seasoned cyclist, do not worry! Burke-Gilman is easily accessible, relatively flat and is not a very demanding trail in terms of physical fitness. The trail is completely separated from car traffic so you don’t have to be worried about being run over. In addition, regular cyclists of the path are known to follow the standard trail etiquette for safety.
If you happen to be visiting Seattle without bringing your own bike, you always have the option to rent one at several locations in the city. There are even businesses that rent out accompanying kiddie trailers. The Dutch Bike Company is one of the rental places located just at the start of the Burke. It also maintains a lovely cafe that welcomes those who want a respite from cycling. Just close to the University of Washington in the University District is another rental place called Recycled Cycles.