Over Hill and Dale

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Bellingham, WA, US

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Route Overview

All is Radness Foundation

Inspiring creativity in adventure

46 mi.

3,668 ft.

Fun mixed ride involving paved back roads, technical singletrack both up and down, gravel road riding and even a few miles along the top of a dike next to the sea. A nice mix of mountains, forest and the sea with a few sweet towns along the way.

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Route Details

# Getting to know the southern Chuckanuts
If you are looking to get to know NW Washington, and Bellingham in particular, this is a route for you.  It features a variety of landscapes, riding surfaces, and several excellent eating establishments.  This is an all-day ride with several sections on remote trails so be prepared for all weather conditions, with first aid and repair kits.  Cell reception is continuous and there is ample flowing water but needs to be filtered.

## @slice[Section 1:  North Lake Samish to Alger](d,0,13316.59)
The Ride starts 5 miles south of Bellingham and traverses above Highway 5 and Lake Samish, through several miles of logging roads. A few miles in you will come to @poi[Squires Lake Trailhead](2520226) - excellent singletrack here with a few steep bits and some hikabike to gain the ridge at the south end of the lake.

Continue on the Pacific Northwest Trail along the ridge, and you will find some excellent old logging roads...classic moss covered gravel surfaces.  You can ride this trail up to Alger Alp with some good views of @photo[Padilla bay and Blanchard mountain](2116835) across the valley.  After grinding up to the summit rip down sweet lost roads to Cain Lake Road and Alger.

## @slice[Section 2: Alger to Blanchard Mountain and Samish Overlook](d,13689.26,23996.26)
Nice road ride to a short gravel section up to DNR parking area and trailhead.  Pit toilets here.  Singletrack trailhead begins about 200 yards up the road on the right.  Ride this up to the upper parking area and gravel road...follow gravel road to the left and Lily Lake Trailhead on the right.

Ride this contouring singletrack up to the junction with PNT and Max's Shortcut.  Stay left to follow Larry Reid/PNT trail to Samish Overlook.  There are toilets and @photo[great views here.](2116829)
## @slice[Section 3: Oyster Dome Trail down to Chuckanut Drive and Edison and Bay](d,24039.82,43106.91)
Follow the gravel trail north to a singletrack trail that takes you down to Chuckanut Drive.  *Be careful on this trail as it is heavily travelled on nice days by hikers and is very fast and steep in several locations.*

**Trail pops out on Chuckanut drive so use caution when leaving the trail as this road is quite narrow with no shoulders and can have heavy traffic on weekends and nice days.**  Turn left on Chuckanut drive and follow to Bow Hill Road.  Turn right to head to Edison.

Good bakery, post office, restaurant and store at this junction.  Edison has several good food joints and galleries as well.  Mariposas is my favorite restuarant in the area. Continue through Edison towards Samish Island.

@poi[Turn left at the 90 degree turn to Samish Island into Fish and Wildlife recreation area parking lot.](2520227)  Follow the trail out to the bay and dikes.  Nice place to hang out and watch birds on a sunny day.  You can ride along the dikes to the south to the edge of the wildlife area and take trail back to parking area.  *Be careful in the fall as the area is open to waterfowl hunting.*  **I usually stay on the extreme perimeter of the area.**

## @slice[Section 4: Samish Island to North Lake Samish and ride start](d,39824.85,73584.51)
Follow your route back to Edison and Chuckanut drive, then head north to Colony Road.  Turn right and ride through farmlands and blueberry fields to Colony Mountain Road.  Turn left and climb up to Wood Road just before the dead end sign. Turn right on the dirt road and follow to Barrel Springs Road.  Follow Barrel Springs road up and over to Lake Samish Road, turn left and follow to Summerland road.  Turn left and follow Summerland road up and over to Lake Samish.  Ride around lake and stay left at North Lake Samish Road and ride back up and over highway to your car.

## Section 5: Pay homage to the staggering amount of breweries in Bellingham
1. [Stones Throw](http://www.stonesthrowbrewco.com/#location)
2. [Kulshan](http://www.kulshanbrewery.com/)
3. [Boundary Bay](http://www.bbaybrewery.com/)
4. [Aslan](http://www.aslanbrewing.com/)
5. [Wander](http://wanderbrewing.com/)
6. [Elizabeth Station](http://www.estationbeer.com/welcome)

Over Hill and Dale

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