3 new mountain bike trails coming to Galbraith Mountain this spring

Jack Belcher
·3 min read

Three new trails are expected to open for mountain bikers on Galbraith Mountain this spring along with the installation of a crosswalk that will connect the mountain’s south side parking lot across South Samish Way to Galbraith Lane.

Two of the new trails have not yet been named. But the third trail is called “Blue Ribbon,” according to Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) communications director Ellie Price. Most of these trails started construction over the winter season but are not expected to be open until about May when the weather is drier.

“It has been a really wet winter lately, so (the trails) just need to drain a little better before we open them up. They are soft when they are first built,” Price said in an interview with The Bellingham Herald.

“Blue Ribbon” is on the south side of Galbraith, near the trail “Whoopsie Woodle.” It is considered an intermediate or blue trail. Its construction is being funded through WMBC membership funds and by Transition Bike Company, according to Price.

While the crosswalk is not yet completed as of February 28, 2024, the gravel pathway from South Samish Way to the southern Galbraith parking lot is nearly ready in Bellingham, Wash.
While the crosswalk is not yet completed as of February 28, 2024, the gravel pathway from South Samish Way to the southern Galbraith parking lot is nearly ready in Bellingham, Wash.

The second trail is on the north side of the mountain and is a dual slalom race trail, meaning two riders can race it at the same time. This trail is also funded by members and with help from Kona Bicycle Company. Price could not confirm the difficulty level of the trail but said it would likely be considered intermediate.

Despite being a dual slalom trail, it will likely not be used by the WMBC during the organization’s Whatcom World Cup races, which are held during the spring and summer months.

“Our (Whatcom World Cup) races are enduro style, where you race one after each other on a much longer trail,” Price said. “But I am sure there will be an opening event on it for racing.”

The third trail is another intermediate, with a number of expert or black-level options that will cross “El Pollo Elastico”. This is a memorial trail funded by the family of an avid mountain biker who passed away in recent years, Price told The Herald.

A switchback path leads from the south Galbraith parking lot to a soon-to-be-completed crosswalk on South Samish Road.
A switchback path leads from the south Galbraith parking lot to a soon-to-be-completed crosswalk on South Samish Road.

Recreators will also soon have access to a new crosswalk leading from the southern parking lot, across South Samish Way to Galbraith Lane, which leads to the mountain.

Bikers have historically had to wait for a break in traffic before crossing the country road without any protection, which bikers previously told The Herald can be dangerous, especially for families with children or riders with dogs.

This crosswalk has been in development since 2018, along with plans for the parking lot expansion. The parking lot expansion was completed in 2022 and paid for by WMBC fundraisers. The crosswalk was paid for by Whatcom County and is being constructed by the city of Bellingham, Price said.

While the path leading from the parking lot to the road is complete, the rest of the crosswalk is not yet under construction. The crosswalk plans include flashing lights that will alert vehicles of cyclists crossing the road. These lights will be solar-powered, but will not be added to the crosswalk until spring of 2024, according to Price.