Biking Puget Sound: 50 Rides from Olympia to the San Juans

Explore the 50 best recreational bike rides in the Puget Sound area, encompassing Seattle and its seven surrounding counties, including the sought-after vacation destination of the San Juan Islands.

• All rides on paved surfaces, either bike trails, streets with bike lanes, or roads with the safest shoulder lanes
• Outings rated from easy to difficult, between 10 to 50 miles round-trip
• Most rides within an hour's drive of Seattle 
• Handy "At A Glance" chart compares routes by features, including difficulty, length, elevation gain, biking time, and points of interest

Puget Sound offers amazing scenery, and there is no better way to see the awe-inspiring mountains, dramatic shorelines, and tranquil fields than by bicycle. This guide uses all the region's major bike trails, such as the Burke-Gilman and the Centennial Trail, and the expanding network of on-road bike routes.

About a third of the rides are in Seaettle, another third in the suburbs and surrounding cities, and a third in rural areas. All trips can easily be done within a day, however, some trips can be combined to make longer outings. There are also overnight options at popular weekend destinations, including the Skagit Valley and the San Juan Islands.

For each tour, there is a comprehensive description noting points of interest, food and drink stops, road or trail hazards, and more. You will also find clear driving directions and information on where to leave your car, along with turn-by-turn bicycling directions, a chart showing elevation gain and clear maps.

Helpful tips are included on preparing for a ride, what to take along, bicycling safety, commuting by bike, and riding with children.

BILL THORNESS has been biking in Seattle and the Puget Sound region since the mid-1980s. He is a veteran bike commuter and leads rides for the Cascade Bicycle Club and other organizations. He writes for print and online media including The Seattle Times, Seattle Met magazine, Edible Seattle, Crosscut and the PCC Sound Consumer. He also maintains a blog for the book, BikingPugetSound.com, that offers best routes, club connections, events and regional rides.