Pedal your way through the holidays with the 12 rides of Christmas
On the first ride of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…One skyline view!
Hop of the Burke-Gilman Trail for the best view of Seattle’s skyline from Gas Works Park. Rails to Trails designated the 20-mile Burke-Gilman a Hall of Fame trail. It runs from Golden Gardens Park to Blythe Park in Bothell. This is a popular commuting path or a great way to soak in views of Lake Washington and the University of Washington.
On the second ride of Christmas, the bike rail gave to me…two moose sightings!
Did you know Anchorage, Alaska is home to over 1,500 moose?? That means you’re nearly guaranteed to spot a moose on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This 11-mile trail cuts through Kincaid Park and its rainforest landscape where we actually saw two moose. They were giant and extremely close to the trail, so keep your eyes peeled. The Coastal Trail can also be combined with three other bike paths to make the 32-mile Moose Loop around Anchorage
On the third ride of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…thee batty biker sculptures!
Tucson, Arizona is widely known as the biking capital of the US and for good reason. The famous “Loop” trail has over 130 miles of paved, perfectly flat trails to explore. There are also 60 art installations around the Loop including the batty bike themed ones. The three sculptures mark bat viewing sites and celebrate the popular bike trail. Add on a side trip to Saguaro National Park to see the towering cacti.
On the fourth ride of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…four trips to the Tetons!
That’s right, we’ve visited Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming four times in the last couple of years. The park has an outstanding 20-mile bike trail from Jenny Lake Visitor Center, through the park, past the National Elk Refuge to the outskirts of Jackson. The towering mountain views are unbeatable. Grand Teton is equally fantastic in the winter when the main park road is closed to cars and groomed for Nordic skiing. We’ve visited twice in the summer and twice in the winter to soak in everything the park has to offer in all seasons.
On the fifth ride of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…the golden trail of the year!
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is my absolute favorite ride and deserving of the “golden” title. The mountain peaks, winding road, waterfalls, steep drop-offs and the grueling 16-mile uphill climb are all literally breathtaking. I may be biased because this is my home state national park, but I don’t think any ride or any park will ever top Glacier. I’ve done this ride multiple times and it never gets old. Grab an e-bike (or a regular bike if you like a challenge) and be ready to be stunned by the scenery.
On the sixth day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…six bison crossing the road!
Yellowstone National Park is well-known for bison traffic jams as herds cross the road and block cars. But I have never experienced bison up close on a bike. Every year Yellowstone plows the road and only opens it to bike for a two week window in the spring. Brave the elements for a completely empty park and up close wildlife viewing opportunities. A total of 49 car-free miles are available to ride from West Yellowstone to Mammoth Hot Springs in Gardiner. Beware of headwinds!
On the seventh day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…7-11 snacks to keep us pedaling!
Sometimes your ride covers a few more miles than you were prepared for and you have to pull over at a 7-11 for some Nutter Butters to keep you going. That was the case for us when we rode the Pacific Coast Highway 47 miles from Oceanside to San Diego. Stunning coastal views and Torrey Pines State Reserve were highlights. I don’t know if we would have been able to finish the ride without a sugar pitstop though on this all-day excursion.
On the eighth day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…an 8-mile loop around Stanley Park!
We don’t often do short rides, but this was a great exception. Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada is larger than NYC’s Central Park and home to the Seawall Loop Path. This path circles the Stanley Park peninsula with ocean views the entire ride. Take advantage of the slower pace due to bike traffic and skinny corners to soak in views of Lion’s Gate Bridge, lighthouses and beaches.
On the ninth day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…9 condors trying to eat my lunch
Condors are the largest bird in North America and they love to hang out at Hermit’s Rest at the end of the 21-mile Ride the Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon. The main park road is closed to cars for half the year making it a perfect bike ride to enjoy crowd free views. Make sure to stop at Hopi Point for the best view of the canyon.
On the tenth day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…the Valley of the 10 Peaks!
I don’t know if there is a more stunning view than that of the Valley of the 10 Peaks at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. The entirety of the park is beautiful, but Moraine Lake is my favorite. And the best part? You can bike the main road to the lake for a couple weeks each year before it opens to cars. The 7-mile steady uphill climb is worth the effort to have the lake to yourself.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…11 sets of red chairs!
Parks Canada is known for their iconic pairs of red chairs placed at some of the most picturesque spots in the country. Banff National Park itself has 11 sets including one pair stationed along the 16-mile Legacy Bike Trail from Banff to Canmore. These chairs make for a perfect mid-ride snack stop.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, the bike trail gave to me…12 years to build the Red Rocks Amphitheater!
That’s right 12 whole years to engineer this famous concert venue into the natural red rocks outside of Denver, Colorado. The combination of nature and stunning acoustics has attracted performers like the Beatles, Johnny Cash and U2. It is not an easy ride from downtown Denver. This was our first over 50-mile ride and another time when gas station snacks saved us because I did not think we were going to finish! It does feel like you’re cycling through the movie Cars at the end though.