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Starting Point: Gas Works Park. The Lake Washington Loop is 53.5 miles. By adding to it, the Mercer Island and Seward Park Loops, you extend your overall ride by 19.0 and 2.5 miles, respectively.
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| Note from Eugene: I used these directions last year, and it
turns out that the directions contained a few bugs, parts of the
route were shut down, and I got lost a few times and that
added a lot of unanticipated miles and hills. So if you're willing
to go with me sometime, it's pretty easy to remember once you've
done it once, but if your first time out is without me, here are a
few tips which I will just incorporate into the ride cues as soon as I have
some free time:
At mile 24.0 you're supposed to turn left onto NE Northrup Way.
Well, the sign just said Northup Way. The other directions are
so precise, it was strange that this error was in there. Then it says to
make a left at 108th Ave SE. Instead, you really should make a RIGHT
at 108th Ave. NE. This really threw me off. At mile 26, you're supposed to make a left onto 114th Ave. SE. However, you're not really looking for a street. After you cross 8th, there's a bike path across the street. You have to cross the street and jump on the bike path which then will take you to 114th. Otherwise you'll never find 114th. At mile 35.8 you're supposed to make a left onto Garden Ave N. You actually want to pass the first Garden Ave. you come to as a left just takes you into a private facility. Go to the next light, which is also Garden Ave N. When I went, the service road through Renton Airport was closed, so I had to go back and down south around Renton Airport to loop back to Rainier Ave. S. I'm not sure when that road is supposed to be closed or open. All in all, I really liked the route, in part because it was new, and in part because it took me through some pretty interesting areas. It's a somewhat hilly route. During the first half of the route, if you're going clockwise, there is a very long hill to climb after you make it to the top of the lake. It's a good hill to train on. Not too steep, but long. |
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0.0 |
R |
Burke-Gilman Trail |
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7.2 |
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Mathews Beach (Restrooms) |
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13.3 |
R |
68th Ave NE (Very Hilly Route) |
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For less hills and a 1.0 mile savings, continue and turn right on 96th Ave NE (Waynita Way) @ Wayne Golf Course Club House, mile post 14.0. Road continues as 100th Ave NE which becomes 98th Ave NE. |
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14.9 |
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Continues as Juanita Drive |
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19.2 |
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98th Ave NE |
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Continues as Market Street |
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L |
Central Way |
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21.3 |
R |
Lake Street |
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Marina Park on Right, Kirkland Bakery on Left |
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Continues as Lake Washington Blvd. (Lakeview Drive) |
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24.0 |
BL |
NE Northrup Way |
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L |
108th Ave SE to 110th Ave SE to 112th Ave SE |
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(Route follows along west side of I-405 going South) |
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26.0 |
L |
114th Ave SE (Turn just after crossing NE 8th Street) |
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Continues as Lake Washington Blvd. SE |
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Continues as 118th Ave SE |
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29.0 |
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Lake to Lake Trail - Under I-90 Bridge (Wooden Bridge) |
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Instead of continuing straight south to Coulon Park, you can loop around Mercer Island for an extra 19.0 miles. Take Lake to Lake Trail to Mercer Island Bridge. At end of bridge turn left on East Mercer Way, becomes West Mercer Way. At west side of island, turn left at SE 32nd Street, right at 60th Ave SE, then right to return to the I-90 Bicycle Trail going east. Note - Restrooms and Drinking Fountain at Baseball Park. Take Mercer Island Bridge back to the Lake to Lake Trail and our route. |
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Continue South on Lake Washington Blvd SE. |
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29.8 |
R |
Lake Washington Bicycle Trail (turn just before I-405) |
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Follow Lake Washington Bikeway Signs. |
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L |
Exit trail left onto Ripley Lane. |
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32.7 |
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Continue South on Lake Washington Blvd N. |
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33.6 |
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Cross railroad tracks to Mtn View |
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33.9 |
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Enter Back Gate of Coulon Park. (Restrooms) |
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Bicycles must stay on high trail through park. |
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35.0 |
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Exit Park, cross tracks, go under bridge to Houser Way. |
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35.6 |
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N. 8th Ave (Past Kenworth Truck). |
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35.8 |
L |
Garden Ave N. |
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36.4 |
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N. 6th Ave. |
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Cross bridge into Renton Airport. |
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Stay on service road bearing right as you loop around airport's south end. On far side, exit on Rainier Ave S. |
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38.1 |
R |
Rainier Ave S. |
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40.9 |
R |
Seward Park Ave S. |
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Stay on Seward Park Ave going down hill. |
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43.0 |
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Down hill on Juneau Street to Seward Park. |
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Circle Seward Park for an extra 2.5 miles. |
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43.1 |
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Lake Washington Blvd. |
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48.9 |
BL |
Follow Lake Wash Blvd up hill through Lakeview Park. |
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49.7 |
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Cross E. Madison (FOLLOW SIGNS TO ARBORETUM). |
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50.8 |
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Exit Arboretum |
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51.2 |
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24th Ave E (across 520) |
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51.4 |
L |
E. Shelby Street |
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51.5 |
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Montlake Blvd. E (Across Draw Bridge) |
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51.7 |
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Across NE Pacific Street to UW |
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51.9 |
L |
Burke-Gilman Trail. |
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53.5 |
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Finish at Gas Works Park |