Fat Biking in Seattle, Washington

While fat bikes—mountain bikes with big tires that can ride over snow—are the fasting-growing sector of the biking industry, winter fat biking trails in Washington are still few and far between. Seattleites may need to drive over the Cascades to get to the state’s best fat biking options. But the new genre is so much fun that bikers often find it is well worth making the long trip.

The most extensive network of fat biking trails is in Methow Valley. Traditionally a destination for Nordic skiing, Methow Trails now opens many of its groomed snow paths to cycling crews, too. While it is currently not as big as Methow Valley, Washington’s up-and-coming fat biking scene is found in the Cle Elum Valley. Plus, it’s a bit closer to Seattle. From the snowmobile trails of Salmon La Sac Sno-Park, to the John Wayne Iron Horse Trail, to the Coal Mine Trail, the Cle Elum area has many good options—and, in the years to come, there will likely be more.