Interurban trail Whatcom County
04-17-10, 08:31 PM
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Interurban trail Whatcom County
My brother and I do an annual ride to Vancouver BC from Alki. Usually we spend the first night in MV at my nephews place but he moved. So this year we are changing up a bit and spending the first night in LaConner. We usually take Chuckanut Drive in to B'ham but this year we are thinking of trying out the Interurban trail from Larrabee SP to Fairhaven Park. Is this trail paved, hard pack, or gravel? Is it as scenic as Chukanut? Thank you for any input you all can offer
David
David
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Matthew 6
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04-18-10, 08:48 AM
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It is mostly gravel with some areas of hard packed dirt. It is only paved for a small bit in Bellingham. Closer to Larrabee it it a little more trail like.
I don't think it is any more scenic than Chuckanut. In fact, I would say far less. In my mind the only purpose of the Interurban is to give families a way to bike to Larrabee on their mountain bikes or hybrids without having to be on the road.
I don't think it is any more scenic than Chuckanut. In fact, I would say far less. In my mind the only purpose of the Interurban is to give families a way to bike to Larrabee on their mountain bikes or hybrids without having to be on the road.
04-18-10, 08:54 AM
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The Interurban trail in B'ham is hard pack gravel and in good condition. It's an old trolley track rails-to-trails thing so it's pretty wide for most of the stretch.
There are a number of road crossings with stop signs that can get a little annoying closer to Fairhaven. A few sections particularly around Arroyo park are quite steep, you may want to cut over to Chuckanut at California street and bypass the park. It's called "Arroyo" for a reason...
It's road bike-able but a cross or mountain bike might be a bit more comfy. There can be a bit of car traffic at the road crossings north of the park so you do have to be carefull there, otherwise there generally aren't a whole lot of people on it. Not much of a view compared to Chuckanut (but then nothing is quite a scenic as Chuckanut) because you're up in the trees but there are some peekaboo views. On the other hand there are no cars. It might be a nice change if you've done Chucaknut before...
There are a number of road crossings with stop signs that can get a little annoying closer to Fairhaven. A few sections particularly around Arroyo park are quite steep, you may want to cut over to Chuckanut at California street and bypass the park. It's called "Arroyo" for a reason...
It's road bike-able but a cross or mountain bike might be a bit more comfy. There can be a bit of car traffic at the road crossings north of the park so you do have to be carefull there, otherwise there generally aren't a whole lot of people on it. Not much of a view compared to Chuckanut (but then nothing is quite a scenic as Chuckanut) because you're up in the trees but there are some peekaboo views. On the other hand there are no cars. It might be a nice change if you've done Chucaknut before...
04-21-10, 06:15 AM
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Thanks for tyhe input, but I think we will just stick to Chukanut Dr. Ist will be faster and easier on our road bikes.
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04-21-10, 09:58 PM
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Check out the photos, map and reviews at TrailLink...
<https://www.traillink.com/viewtrail.aspx?AcctID=6055714>
If you decide to try it after all, you can pick it up off C. Drive down at the bottom of Larrabee. That is the point where the old tracks went onto trestles and along the water for some miles. Not a bad ride - if you do the detour at Arroyo Crossing.
Another nice ride is the South Bay. You can take the Interurban into the South Bay, which takes you to the head of the bay. It has a page and pix and such on TrailLink.
<https://www.traillink.com/viewtrail.aspx?AcctID=6055714>
If you decide to try it after all, you can pick it up off C. Drive down at the bottom of Larrabee. That is the point where the old tracks went onto trestles and along the water for some miles. Not a bad ride - if you do the detour at Arroyo Crossing.
Another nice ride is the South Bay. You can take the Interurban into the South Bay, which takes you to the head of the bay. It has a page and pix and such on TrailLink.
