AN MTB GETAWAY SEATTLE STYLE

August 31, 2026

We’re breaking the typical format a little for this one: no reviews, no spec sheets. Just Emma and I; a long weekend, and a corner of Washington State that deserves the attention it gets. We loaded up the truck, headed down the I-90 corridor from Spokane to Seattle, and let Snoqualmie and Duthie Hill do the talking.

Big thanks to Evo for making this trip happen, and to Fox and Michelin for keeping us rolling on trail all weekend. If you want to see more of this vlog-style content instead of our usual reviews, let us know in the comments, and I’m sure we can drag Emma in front of the camera again.

THE SUMMIT AT SNOQUALMIE

Snoqualmie Pass Bike Park sits about an hour East of downtown Seattle, right off the I-90. It’s close enough to civilization that you can grab espresso on the way up, but far enough that it still feels like you’re in the mountains. If you’re coming from out of town, there are scattered camping options nearby, a handful of solid Airbnbs, and if you want a real bed, North Bend and Cle Elum are your closest towns with hotels.

The trail network here provides a good mix of everything. From long, flowy green and blue runs for building confidence, to a handful of double blacks for when you’re feeling brave. Rock slabs are scattered across nearly every difficulty tier, giving exposure to all abilities. One thing worth knowing before you go: most of the rock features have ride-arounds, except on the double blacks. Scout before you send. Look before you leap!

Our Favorite Blue Tech Trail: Wapiti

I asked Emma what she loves most about Snoqualmie, and her answer was basically the whole mountain. She pointed to Wapiti as the standout: a blue-rated tech trail that doesn’t rely on a steep gradient to keep things interesting. You have to earn your speed here.

My advice for riding this trail is, “Ride it like you’re mad at it.” Hesitate, and the trail will find every hole and rut to throw you into. Commit and press into the earth, and it smooths right out. Fair warning though: with traffic increasing and lines opening up, don’t be surprised if Wapiti gets a rating bump in the next couple of seasons, as the roots begin to really show through the PNW old growth loam.

Fuel Stop: Spring Rolls and Banh Mi

Not every trailside meal has to be a protein bar smashed in a jersey pocket. Somewhere between laps, we ended up with spring rolls and banh mi sandwiches. Not exactly what we had on the bike park food bingo card, but it worked amazingly, we would highly recommend! The verdict on Snoqualmie: if you’re into tech riding, short lift lines, and a genuinely chill atmosphere, this is your spot.

DETOUR: DOWNTOWN SEATTLE

To break up the riding and make the most of the holiday weekend, we swapped the dirt for city blocks and headed into downtown Seattle. Stopping by the Evo store, we grabbed a coffee before circling back to the trails. Check out the full feature on EVO HERE. Both Emma and I were in need of some new off-bike attire, and EVO has a solid selection of brands to choose from. Emma found some wide-leg pants, and I finally got to try on some clothes from Finisterre, a UK-based brand I have been looking at from afar.

DUTHIE HILL

We closed out the trip at Duthie Hill, and if Snoqualmie is about testing your tech skills, Duthie is more about progression for every level of rider. Duthie is a special place: while it does not have very much vertical drop, the trail crews have done an insane job at fitting in feature-packed trails. If it is your first time on a bike, there is something for you, and if you want to hit some rather large dirt jumps, you will be here all day.

I grew up just down the road from Duthie, and have watched it evolve over the years. None of that evolution happens by accident. Emma sits on the board of the Evergreen East chapter, and while that’s technically the east-side crew, Duthie on the West Side has become a staple of trail building and community progression in its own right, built and maintained almost entirely through volunteer effort.

WRAPPING UP THE WEEKEND

Was it a long weekend or a quick one? Somewhere in between, honestly. This wasn’t our usual review-format content, and stepping into more of a storytelling mindset with Emma getting some screen time and shredding right alongside me, it was a fun change of pace.

Between the tech trails at Snoqualmie, the progression at Duthie, and everything in between (coffee, banh mi, and Evo included), this holiday weekend in the Seattle area delivered exactly what we came for.

If you want to see more trips like this, let us know in the comments. And if you hated it, tell us that too. That’s the only way we get better! Consider starting a forum thread on our new platform for your recommendations on where you would like to see us hit next.

Special thanks to Evo, Fox, and Michelin for supporting this trip.