Vancouver, Washington is the perfect destination to satisfy your biking needs. From paved paths to intense downhill trails, Vancouver has a little bit of everything for everyone.
One of the best places in the Pacific Northwest to get your adrenaline pumping is located at Yacolt Burn State Forest. About 40 minutes from downtown, this riding area has some of the best trails in the United States. Two trails that really stand out are Thrillium and Cold Creek.
Last year, I made a “Top 10 trails I rode in 2023” series on social media, and Thrillium got the number one spot on this list! Thrillium is rated as a black diamond downhill trail with 1,600ft of descending and two miles long. From tight and technical in the trees to fast and flowy over the jumps, this trail offers a variety of advanced features. One of my favorite parts of this trail is towards the end, where there are a series of big table-tops to jump and throw down some style!
My number two trail is Cold Creek, also located at Yacolt Burn State Forest. This classic single-track downhill trail is historic to the area and rated as a blue downhill trail with 1,860ft of descending and is about four miles long. With that much time descending, a few breaks along the way are always nice to catch your breath and recover a bit before heading right back into the fun.
I will have to note that one of the best things about riding at Yacolt Burn State Forest is that you can shuttle the trails in your own car. This means more time for riding downhill and no need for pedaling uphill! Along with the epic downhill riding, the views of this 90,000-acre working forest are beautiful and worth that selfie or landscape picture to share with your friends.
A 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver to Camas, Washington and you will find another great area to ride. This riding area is called Lacamas Park, and it is more beginner to intermediate skill level friendly. This network of trails offers 63 trails that, in total, cover 15 miles. The best trail to ride here, in my opinion, is called Red Tape, and it is number three on this list. Red Tape is a blue trail and has 223ft of descending and a total distance of 3,450ft. Short but thrilling to ride, this is a trail that you will find yourself doing lap after lap because you can’t get enough!
On your next trip to or through Vancouver, make sure to check out the bike riding! After riding all day, make sure to stop at one of the many great restaurants in town. My favorite is Hopworks Brewery in Vancouver, along with great-tasting food, they have about 40 old bicycle frames displayed over the bar! You have to check it out for yourself.
Looking to rent a bike? Check out Camas Sport & Bike to check out their bike rental options.