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COPPERWOOD BIKE ROUTE

The CopperWood Bike Route is a 30-mile stretch that takes you right through the heart of Seattle and into Woodinville Wine Country.  Ride it to experience Washington's EPIC landscapes, excellent food, and fantastic booze!  This route guide serves as a detailed companion to the google map posted below. You will see letters next to certain destinations like this : A. Pike Place Market.  These are links that will take you to their website for more info. The letter corresponds to the letter in the google map.  In case 30 miles of riding is not for you I have conveniently broken up the ride into three legs that you can start from which still contain all three pleasures.  Enjoy!

--Alberto

                              HERE’S THE GOOGLE MAP !   

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FIRST LEG (Downtown Seattle)

Pike Place Market to Copper Works Distillery to Fremont Brewing Company

7 miles

Start: Pike Place Market

End: Fremont Brewing Company

A.  Pike Place Market is a busy spot with uncomfortable cobblestone roads for riding but I included it because the fish market is iconic!  It offers sooo many great food options to load up for the big ride. Another reason I routed Pike St is to catch the downhill turn onto Western Avenue.  Once you make the turnaround you get to speed down cool underpasses like this one.  

Head down Pike St and make a U-turn on Virginia to get on Western Avenue.  Riding along Western Ave you will have the awesome view of the city, the towers of the Seattle Steam company, and the beautiful waterfront view of Elliot Bay.  University Ave will come up shortly. Make a right onto University and CopperWorks will be to the left on Alaskan/University.

B.  Copper Works Distillery  is our first stop on the booze list.  This establishment makes some of the smoothest  vodka and gin in Seattle.  They make their fine spirits in really cool old copper stills. The stills in action are quite a sight and the folks there offer daily tours with free tastings.  Nothing like shots to give your bike ride some kick!  CopperWorks also gives this route the first part of its name.

After getting a bit warmed up head right to the Elliot Bay trail on Alaskan Way for an easy ride under the Viaduct.  You may have to maneuver through the crowd on a busy day but it's not too bad.  You might be tempted to ride into Miner's Landing and check out the Great Wheel but its much better to skip that and ride into C. Pier 62 and 63

There you can take some cool photos like this! and gaze out into the waters of the bay...ships in the harbor....Mt Rainier in the distance...beautiful skies...waves softly splashing the rocks....sigh. Passing the pier, continue on the trail past the Port of Seattle towards the Naked Guy Fountain and the Giant White Head sculpture.

Once you pass the giant white head you will get to D. Myrtle Edwards Park.  There are wonderful spots on this portion of the Elliot Bay Trail to stop and soak in Washington's immaculate landscape. I have taken bike rides just around downtown and ended here on sunsets that blew my mind.  It's amazing.

  ***UPDATE NOV 22, 2014***

Upon riding this part of the route on Nov. 22,  Another rider and I found it rather difficult riding down Western to get to the Seattle Center.  It is better to just continue straight down third after the Overpass and make a right on Harrison.  Continue on to the Seattle Center as directed by the Bay Loop route.  

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One of the highlights of this route is riding on the supercool Thomas Street Pedestrian & Bicycle Overpass.  You will see it come up on your right continuing on the Elliot Bay Trail.  Going up the first part takes a little huffing and puffing but soon you will be coasting.  

You will be catching speed at the end of the overpass onto 3rd Avenue.  But this street is uphill and will slow you down pretty quickly.  Once you are under control turn right around and head down the same street past the overpass.  This part of the route continues on to a bit of backtracking and riding on busy roads but i felt it was worth the highlight  

It is a good move to make a stop at Stella Deli and Market. Its not included in the google map but it is easy to find right around the corner on 2nd Ave.  Take a sandwich for the road.  I recommend the Michaels Special on foccacia bread.

  At the corner of 3rd and Western there will be a parking lot to your left which you can ride through to get onto Western Avenue which will get you to the Space Needle. 

I like to ride slowly on the sidewalk on this section of the route.  This part of Western Ave is a busy road with no bike lane.  But it was the flattest, most direct way I could find to get to the Seattle Center.  

Up ahead curve left onto Denny Way and onward towards the Space Needle.  A smorgasbord of food and attractions are available to you on this another iconic stop.  

There are a few paths to get into the very bike-friendly Seattle Center F. Seattle Loop area but I like to go through the red curly statues and then make a left.  You can ride all over this place, maybe stop by the EMP? it's a lot of fun.  

Once you're on your way head north towards Mercer St.  Make a right on Mercer towards Lake Union then make a left onto 9th avenue.  At Westlake Ave N and 9th you will be able to connect to the awesome Lake Union Trail and ride along the shoreline.

Riding on the Lake Union Trail gives another BEAUTIFUL view of an epic washington waterfront.  Eventually the trail directs you to an easy ride through marina parking lots. 

The Lake Union Trail trails off into a sidewalk that leads you right across the Fremont Bridge.  Make the first right off the bridge onto 34th St and go down the bike lane.  Fremont Brewing Company will be on the left.   

H. Fremont Brewing Company made the list because of their excellent brews.  Hands down one of the best in Seattle.  Good food options too.

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SECOND LEG (Fremont-Kenmore)

Gas Works Park to Wall of Death to 192 Brewing Company via Burke-Gilman Trail

13 Miles

Start: Gas Works Park 

End: 192 Brewing Company

From Fremont Brewing continue down 34th. Keep right towards the Burke-Gilman trail and Gas Works park.

I.  Gas Works Park is a great place to explore and eat that sandwich at the rocks of the waterfront.  Breathtaking landscape of the city! 

From here find your way to the Burke-Gilman trail, ride at a desired pace, and onward past the Wall of Death straight to 192 Brewing Co.

This part of the trail offers some of the most inspiring sights of nature as the sun glimmers on Lake Washington.

J.  192 Brewing Co.  Lake Trail Taproom is an excellent stop to take load off.  The outside area is extremely accommodating to cyclists.  You may even start a fire in available pits if you wish!  Food is great and I enjoyed their porter.  

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THIRD LEG (Kenmore-Woodinville)

Lake Trail Taproom to Warehouse Winery District to Redhook Brewery via Sammamish River Trail 7 miles

Start: Lake Trail Taproom

End: Redhook Brewery & Forecasters Pub

From the Lake Trail Taproom follow the Burke-Gilman to the Sammamish River Trail.  You will know you are on the right track when passing the small brightly painted tunnel with big ole fish on it.

The Sammamish river trail is full of beautiful greenery.  The river flows through a lush landscape and the road curves and cuts onto bridges to take you merrily on your way.  

  The trail will take you all the way to Wimont Park.  Here you can make an exit to 131st St.  Make a right off 131st to 177th Pl and take it straight down.  

***UPDATE*** I found this next section of the route difficult to get through as the shoulders of the road began to narrow.  I have yet to find a good solution to get to Woodinville Way.  

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Once you pass the railroad tracks you should ride left onto the opposite sidewalk.  Woodinville-Snohomish road is usually busy and I prefer to take the sidewalk all the way up to Woodinville Way.  

 Keep on the sidewalk heading up NE N Woodinville Way.   This road is an uphill struggle until you make a left on 144th.  Brave through it and you will coast right down to the Warehouse District.  There are two entrance roads into the wineries, take the second one to the far back.  Coast straight down to the very last building.  

K.  BAER Winery  makes fantastic deep, rich red Bordeaux style wines carefully aged in exquisite French oak.  Their chardonnay is also an excellent unoaked, crisp white, with a refreshing citrus finish.  Crafted by the great Erica Orr.

There are a whole lot of wineries in the district you can't hit them all in one afternoon.  Be sure to taste at  Sparkman Cellars, Guardian Cellars, and Savage Grace Wines.

You can also grab some delicious wood-fired pizza cooked in a classic brick oven over at Callahan Cellars.  They also make excellent pomegranate and apple hard cider to wash it all down!

L. Triplehorn Brewing  is located right across the street from the warehouses.  This is Craft Brew Heaven.  

From Triplehorn head back the way you came and return to the Sammamish River Trail.  Continue on and take the bridge exit.  There is a trail that takes you past two dragonfly statues and it is a pleasant ride straight into Redhook brewery.  

N. Redhook Brewery & Forecasters Pub is the final destination on our long journey.  Here the weary cyclist can drown in a fine ale and chow down on a great burger.