Stevens Pass bike trail wins approval

STEVENS PASS — Mountain bikers and the people who run Stevens Pass ski resort are happy. At least one environmental group is not.

The U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday approved a plan by Stevens Pass to build a mountain bike trail park for use during the summer.

The plan involves building five trails of varying difficulty about 800 feet above the pass. The $925,000 trail system will cover seven miles on existing ski runs in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Bikers and their bikes would be able to ride chair lifts to the park.

The plan still has to clear a 45-day appeal period.

“It’s an opportunity for us to have lift-served trails within a reasonable distance of Seattle,” said Glenn Glover, interim director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance in Seattle.

The nearest biking area with access to chair lifts is at Whistler in British Columbia, Glover said.

Environmental groups have objected to the bike park as well as a broader, long-term plan by Stevens Pass to expand its ski area. That plan is on hold, but the Sierra Club and other groups have said the bike park and the ski-area plan should have been considered together, not separately. Under the long-term plan, Stevens Pass would grow from its current 588 acres to 938 over 10 to 20 years.

“The Highway 2 corridor is important to both people and wildlife, and this process did not take a holistic approach in providing the public a chance to engage in a discussion of the full plans for the Stevens Pass Resort that are tied to this first phase,” said Jen Watkins of Conservation Northwest in an e-mail Tuesday.

The Forest Service conducted an environmental assessment on the bike park, a step down from the more thorough environmental impact statement. The study, however, included a detailed examination of the park’s effect on the ability of animals to move through the area, said Sean Wetterberg of the Forest Service.

“Yes, there would be change but it wouldn’t be huge,” he said. “There’s wilderness north to south, there are other options. They can go around.”

The Forest Service met with various interested people as it conducted its review for the bike park.

The pass worked with Gravity Logic to create a trail system. The design group won praise for its work on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia.

“We’re about five years in the making to get to this point, so it’s kind of nice to see a big first step,” said Joel Martinez, spokesman for Stevens Pass.

If no one files an appeal during the 45-day period, which ends in late May, work can begin in mid-June, Martinez said.

In that event, Stevens Pass would likely build two trails this summer and the other three next year. If an appeal is filed, that could hold things up, Wetterberg said.

Conservation Northwest is reviewing the Forest Service’s decision, Watkins said.

Glover of the bike group said there are many types of mountain biking, such as long distance and downhill, and the latter is gaining in popularity, he said.

Riders use heavy bikes that are difficult to haul uphill, making the chair lift handy.

“Downhill biking is a very popular version of the sport. It’s been under-served, which has led to a lot of unauthorized trail building,” Glover said.

The Stevens project “provides the legal and legitimate venue for the riders to do their activity.”

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

You can read the environmental review for the mountain bike park at Stevens Pass at http://tinyurl.com/mountainbiketrail.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.