Ride the Edge: Mountain Biking Larrabee Trail in Chuckanut
Larrabee Trail offers an exhilarating mountain biking experience that captures the essence of the Chuckanut Mountain Range, appealing to riders of all skill levels. As a part of Larrabee State Park, this trail boasts stunning views of Bellingham Bay, and traverses through lush forests, rocky outcrops, and rolling hills. The 4.6-mile route features a mix of technical sections and flowy, fast descents that keep adrenaline levels high. Riders will encounter well-maintained singletrack paths that reward hard-earned pedaling with breathtaking vistas and the tranquil sounds of nature.
As you ride, take a moment to appreciate the local flora and fauna that thrive in this vibrant ecosystem. From moss-laden trees to vibrant wildflowers, each bend reveals something new. Additionally, the cooler climate of the Chuckanut region makes it an ideal summer riding destination. Riders often find themselves sharing the trail with hikers and other cyclists, fostering a vibrant community spirit. Whether you’re a seasoned biker or a weekend warrior, Larrabee Trail has something for everyone looking for a memorable ride amidst Washington’s natural beauty.
Adventure Guide to Larrabee Trail Mountain Biking
Key Facts and Details:
Length: 4.6 miles one way
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Advanced
Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,200 feet
Trail Type: Singletrack
Recommendations:
Best Time to Visit: Late spring to early fall for optimal trail conditions.
What to Bring: Hydration pack, helmet, and protective gear.
Interesting Facts:
Larrabee State Park was Washington's first state park, established in 1915.
The trail features sections named “the Roller Coaster” for its exhilarating ups and downs, appealing to those seeking a thrill.
History of the Area:
Chuckanut Mountain has a rich history tied to both Native American culture and early European settlers. The trail system was developed to enhance recreational access and protect the natural landscape. Today, it serves as a testament to the ongoing preservation of the lush Pacific Northwest wilderness, offering riders an opportunity to connect with nature while enjoying an adrenaline-filled activity.
Adventure Map
Bellingham Info
No GPX info
Reviews
Tiffany C.7 months ago
Beautiful place ever. Definitely a great place to visit. The chucknut drive part is pretty but roads are tight. There’s plenty of bathrooms, campgrounds, camping, BBQ pits, benches, water spots for drinking. Takes about a 5 minute hike to the water to the right. Then to the left is trails for awesome view points. Down at the beach which is kind of a small one. If you go to the left there’s rocks you can easily climb to get to other side of beach area. The rocks have lots of sea life in them. Some the rocks are slippery but majority of them are not. There’s a public boat launch. Then a sign where you get cut off for the homes on the water. Lots of seashells, sea glass so much of it by the boat launch. Takes about a whole 20 minutes to walk both beaches. Such a beautiful pretty place. Lots of parking. $10 to park unless you have a pass.
Komalpreet Kaur7 months ago
My favorite place for hiking and beach exploration!
Trails and parking are along both sides of the road.
Beachfront is rugged and fascinating. A beautiful beach with gorgeous scenery! The walk down was really easy and there were lots of little tide pools during low tide. There is a picnic area too.
Don't forget your discover pass or $10 for day use! You can buy your state park day pass at the machine in the parking lot. The Beach is less than 0.2 miles down a mostly paved path with some stone steps.
PhilE Sloniker5 months ago
My family brought me here for Father's Day. There were a lot of nice views and trails with views of the mountains and water. It was very enjoyable and relaxing. Plenty of parking in many different areas depending on where you would like to explore.
Chelsea Facey6 months ago
My kids, large dog and I were on our way home from a hike and saw the entrance for the park and thought it would be fun to stop and take a quick peek at the views. We were very pleasantly surprised by a wonderful park! Playground, grassy hillside area with a stage and covered area, and then you can walk down the hillside on a gravel/dirt and root path through the forest to a beach with incredible views! It was a small pebble type beach with a creek flowing down the hill and into the ocean. The water was calm and the skies were clear and the views at nearly sunset were breathtaking. My kids found rocks to climb on and little tide pools full of hermit crabs and barnacles and dubbed today the best day ever.
JP G (Greywulf73)3 months ago
Have tried to visit this park for many years. Fortunately, we were finally able to do so. This park is located along Chuckanut Drive, in Coastal Washington, between Fairhaven and Edison or The larger township of Burlington.
The drive has been a favourite of mine and many others because of its picturesque landscape, replete with high-above the ware coastal vistas and drive-through grove.
Larrabee, as a park is quite large and we only visited the west-side (west of the drive), which has campgrounds and picnics areas, as well as a couple of beaches, accessible by foot, via trail or rounding of the point during low tide. We have not explored the east side of the park which has many hiking trails that can take you to cedar Lake and Pine lake to the South East, Old Salish Road to the East and connect to other trails that can take you as far as South Bellingham. I hear those trails are fantastic, which, in a way, is evidenced by the number of hikers that brave parking along the narrow Chuckanut drive road throughout the week.
For me, the part I did visit was beautiful and I would like to return to camp at some point. The park has everything from walk-in and drive-in, single un serviced tenting, to family tenting, to group tenting campsites to van and full hookups and dumpsite for RVs. They have flushing toilets and showers, a boat launch and separate picnic areas with day-use shelters for those cold, windy or rainy days.
Pets are allowed, as long as they remain on leash.
We stopped at the day/picnic area and decided to head down to the beach. Along the way, we took a short switchback trail that took us to the south day-use shelter and found there to be an open-air theatre (Band Shell) close to the (Henry Mural) tunnel which takes you under the train tracks to get to the beach trails.
The tunnel, know as the Henry Mural tunnel is colourfully painted but unlit. The trail to the beach is relatively easy but inaccessible to those on a wheelchair or difficult for some using a walker or cane. After the tunnel, there are two beach trails, we took the north trail which is a bit shorter. There are some steep steps to get to the beach.
The beach itself is made up of small pebbles and wind-worn sandstone at the point. The beach was clean but busy.
When the tide is low, one can walk from the beach to the boat launch beach. This beach is mostly composed of large boulders and small open sandy spots. There is a lot of seaweed in this location.
The boat ramp is a bit steep but useable. We saw at least two boats floated and picked up while we were there and there was no drama. There were also many kayakers and paddle boarders putting there. The walk to the beach takes 5 minutes. Around the point to the boat-launch, anywhere between 15-30 minutes, depending on your agility.
The park seemed very clean everywhere we walked. We drove around the tenting sites and the RV’ing sites and they all seemed clean. Although during the day, the sites seemed quiet and everyone respectful. At the time, there was a fire ban, meaning that no open flames are allowed - pretty standard now, during hot summer days in many Canadian and Washington parks. We did use the picnic area restrooms and they too were clean.
I do recommend anyone wanting to camp there, to take a drive or walk around the site. It is a place I would have taken my kids when they were younger.
All park visitors require a Discover Pass to picnic or camp.
Someday, I will return and explore the trails with my wife and pup. Just have to plan, and get there early as we are slow hikers who get winded easily…🤪