There is no fee unless we win!
EN
- EN
- ES
With flowers blooming, daylight lengthening, and temperatures consistently rising, Spring leaves many of us yearning for more time outdoors. What better way to enjoy the outdoors than to dust off the old two-wheeler in your garage and go for a spin? The start of May marks the beginning of National Bike Month with cyclists across the country participating in a month full of pedal pushing.
To celebrate, Lehmbecker Law has put together a list of the top 5 bike routes in Bellevue, WA. Whether you’re biking for the first time in a decade, or you’re a seasoned cyclist, there’s a route (or a portion of a route) for everyone in Bellevue.
Starting in beautiful Lakemont Park, this route stretches 7.2 miles to neighboring Mercer Island. As the shortest route on the list, it’d be a perfect start for beginners. The ride extends from Lakemont Boulevard up to Newport Way before turning on 150th Avenue. Riders can then take 36th street to I-90 trail, which spans across Lake Washington.
Those looking for a longer ride can continue down the I-90 trail to travel from Mercer Island to the Seattle area. The scenery provided by Lakemont Park and Lake Washington make the route well worth the ride.
The Lake Washington Loop is a route reserved for only the most avid of Washington cyclists. At 61.14 miles in length, the route is a grueling test of endurance. Nevertheless, the beauty of the lakeside roads and trails are too great to ignore. A rider of any skill level can handle a select portion of the loop.
The Bellevue section of the lake loop spans 11.1 miles in total starting on Hazelwood Lane. From Hazelwood, the route curves onto 106th Avenue. 106th Avenue becomes Lake Washington Blvd., which eventually transitions into 118th Avenue. From 118th cyclists can then turn on 6th Street to get to 112th Avenue. 112th will take riders a majority of the trail until Northup Way. Bikers can then turn on Northup Way to return to Lake Washington Boulevard.
At 8.2 miles in length, the Phantom Lake Loop is the perfect circle route for a nice, easy weekend ride. Starting on the I-90 Trail, riders can turn onto Eastgate Way in order to ride up 161st Avenue. 161st Avenue connects to the Lake to Lake Trail which will take cyclists around Phantom Lake. Ending at 24th Street, riders can transfer from Lake to Lake onto 165th Avenue before turning on 28th Street. From 28th Street, bikers can then turn on 148th Avenue which connects back to Eastgate Way.
Should you have time to kill, it’s worth taking a rest stop at Phantom Lake to lay in the grass or go fishing. The Phantom Lake Loop is easily one of the best leisurely bike routes Bellevue has to offer.
Looking for a more challenging ride? Why not ride around the entirety of Bellevue? The Bellevue Loop circles around Bellevue spanning from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish. Riding on West Lake Sammamish Parkway, you’ll be able to bask in the beauty of Lake Sammamish while Lake Washington Boulevard will provide breathtaking views of the western side of the city.
For the average biker, the loop around the city will take roughly two to two and a half hours. You can end your ride by stopping in Downtown Bellevue to treat yourself to a refreshing smoothie or after-ride snack.
Like the Bellevue Loop, the Lake to Lake Trail will take you from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish without looping around Bellevue. Starting at Community Park on Evergreen Point Rd., riders can then turn on Overlake Drive to get to Lake Washington Boulevard. Similar to the Bellevue Loop, cyclists will take 101st Avenue to get to 99th Avenue. At 7th Street, bikers can turn to shimmy their way over to 104th Avenue.
104th Avenue transitions into 28th Street, which then becomes 30th Street. At 30th Street, riders can turn on 107th Avenue to get to the I-90 Trail. From I-90 the route combines components of the Mercer Island to Lakemont Park Route and the Phantom Lake Loop Route.
The route continues down the I-90 Trail ending on Lake Sammamish Parkway to get to Timberlake Park. Once at Timberlake, riders can relax and enjoy a leisurely stroll through shaded forest trails.
A bike ride isn’t nearly as pleasant with a bike that isn’t properly tuned. Luckily, there are several local bike shops in the Bellevue area that can provide you with a tuneup, some new parts, or an entirely new ride should you need it.
Staying safe on the roads and trails is just as important as enjoying your ride. Remember to wear a helmet at all times and use hand gestures to signal turns. Night owls should invest in reflective gear and bike lights to ensure safety in low visibility. With the proper safety gear in place you’re ready to roll. From all of us at Lehmbecker Law Firm, we wish you a fantastic National Bike Month. Enjoy your cycling!
