When Skuuts and Strider Bikes (aka balance bikes) first started becoming popular, I remember how odd it was to see toddlers on bikes. Now it seems as though every small child is zipping around sidewalks and trails at light speed on some kind of small bike — and it’s fabulous.
My own two children have spent countless hours riding their “motorcycle” and “pinky pie,” their respective names for their Strider Bikes. Both have graduated now to a standard two-wheel bike, but we have spent a lot of time riding the paths and trails of Whatcom County. From their days as tiny toddlers to the fast and furious 4- and 6-year-old riders they’ve become, we’ve found some definite favorites.
Squalicum Creek Park (beginning riders)
Squalicum Creek Park is our default riding spot lately. This new park’s central location makes it a favorite for the surrounding neighborhoods of Columbia and Birchwood, but many folks also throw their bikes in the car and drive in. Aside from the convenience of location, this park has almost too many great attributes to list.
The riding and walking path (paved) within Squalicum Creek Park is an absolute treat. It loops around the ball fields and dog parks so you can get a full view of the action at the park while you ride, and it includes very gentle hills and turns for little riders. It is just the right length for tiny legs. As the path returns to the play area, a mini “skate-park” feature can be found. I don’t know if this was intended for skateboards or bikes, but my kids love taking their bikes up and down and around the tiny skate feature. The playground here isn’t half bad, either.
If the park itself weren’t impressive enough, the options of trails branching off the park are pretty sweet, too. For a little more adventure (and some bigger hills), a packed gravel trail runs all the way from the park to Little Squalicum Beach (1.2 miles each way). This section of trail will take riders up to Birchwood Park (optional play break here), then continue on to the newly renovated trail and park area just west of Bellingham Technical College, and finish up by reaching Little Squalicum Beach and throwing rocks in the bay, a favorite for toddlers the world over.
Zuanich Park (beginning riders)
This Bellingham standby is a great place for a picnic or flying a kite, in addition to biking. Zuanich Park’s position on the point, overlooking Squalicum Harbor, makes it a refreshing, breezy spot on a hot day. The Squalicum Promenade that loops around and through the park is an amazing place for emerging riders. The paved path is virtually flat, and the views of the bay are stellar.
After the park is mastered, there are plenty of other nooks and crannies around Zuanich to explore. If you ride around the point and into the harbor, the promenade continues toward a few workout stations and another small play area. There is also a coffee shop and a couple restaurants among the harbor shops and boat houses.
For a bit more adventure, ride the short new trail from Zuanich to a small hidden sandy beach on the other side of the Coast Guard Station. To get there, head around the harbor and toward the Hotel Bellwether. Once you’re on the other side of the Bellwether, the paved trail will turn to packed gravel. You’ll see the sights of the city in the distance. Keep heading toward the city. This new trail is the first piece in the Waterfront Redevelopment Project. Once you’ve found the little sandy beach, that’s the end of the line for now. Here’s a detailed description to find this path (which is also flat and kid-friendly).
Cornwall Park (intermediate riders)
We have always enjoyed Cornwall Park. The mix of open space, dense forest, and a spray park is hard to beat, but I’d never thought of it as a place to ride bikes until my awesome neighbor suggested it. This past year we’ve gone riding in Cornwall Park once a week or more, in all kinds of weather. In my experience, the 5-6-year-old set can’t get enough Cornwall Park riding. There are just enough challenging dirt trails, with some low-key paved trails mixed in. A few sizable hills are part of the trail system, and kids may choose to walk their bikes up or down these hills, but overall it’s the perfect place for kids to test out their mountain biking legs. And, if the kids get tired of riding, you’re always close to a park exit or a play structure.
You may find after this ride, that a recharge is in order. Head on over to a couple of our favorites: the Meridian Street Haggen or the taco truck, A Que Tacos, at Northwest and Connecticut. Or, if it’s a summer ride, pack a picnic and kick back while the kids play in the spray park!
North Lake Whatcom Trail (beginning to intermediate riders)
This is one of the best places in Whatcom County to go for parents who want their kids to feel safe and capable, but also truly get out into nature. I basically credit this trail to saving my sanity when my kids were small. We would throw the strider bike and 12” bike in the car and head for the hills (or the lake, as it were).
The Lake Whatcom Trail (also known as the Hertz Trail), is a fabulous forested and flat trail. There’s even a waterfall to check out. In the first little stint coming down from the parking lot, there’s a small elevation change that could be tricky for the very newest riders, but once down that little hill, it’s easy riding from there on out. And parents can relax into a gorgeous lakeside stroll. Until your kids get faster on their bikes, that is; then it’s a lakeside jog.
The only reason I call this a ‘beginner to intermediate ride’ is due to the length of the trail. It’s more than 6 miles round trip (the trail is not a loop), so tackling the whole thing with little legs can be a bit long. But, there are some amazing places to take pit stops along the way. In the summertime, we like to stop to take a dip in the lake. Around the one mile mark (just before the covered bridge), is a sweet place to stop for a swim. When the weather is not quite warm enough, we like to stop here to throw rocks in the lake and take in the view instead.
Galbraith Mountain (intermediate to advanced)
When your kids are comfortable on their bikes and you’re ready to take riding to the next level, Galbraith Mountain is the clear choice. Galbraith is close to Bellingham, yet offers more than 50 miles of trail with varying degrees of difficulty. Friends have shared with me that these trails are pretty great for very young riders: Bunny Trails, Kaya, Bre’r Rabbit, and Lost Giants. Download or print the Galbraith map to find the location of these trails. Another longtime favorite for kids on Galbraith has been the Karma Trail. There was even a short film made called Karma Kids. Unfortunately, that trail is currently closed for logging. But a plethora of other options exist at Galbraith, especially as kids gain confidence in their riding.
Whether the little riders in your life are just starting out or they’re more accomplished, be sure to check out the local free event: Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at Lake Padden on June 11. They will have a skills course set up and certified instructors on-hand to assist riders of all levels.
