Tacoma’s First Mountain Bike System

Tacoma, Wash.

Photo at right: Catch some air on one of the more technical routes at Swan Creek Park. Photo courtesy of Tacoma Parks

A new mountain bike system opened over the weekend at Swan Creek Park in Tacoma, Wash. Despite heavy rains, hundreds of mountain bikers made the trek to celebrate the first mountain bike trails in the city, and to play in the mud.

During the creation of the Swan Creek Park Master Plan in 2011, Metro Parks was joined by more than 1,000 members of the community in focusing on a vision for the trails. The plan’s recreation improvements were aimed at enhancing the 272-acre park’s natural character and providing opportunities for park visitors to engage with nature through thoughtfully developed walking and mountain biking trails.

The system — constructed and operated by Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance on behalf of Metro Parks Tacoma — includes a 1.5 mile cross-country loop that circumnavigates the 50-acre Douglas fir forest. The system offers everything from entry-level and kid-friendly rides and skill development features, to advanced trails designed for expert riders.

Swan Creek Park is also home to one of only two salmon-bearing streams in Tacoma. The stream is accessible by footpaths for viewing. And, a variety of other wildlife inhabits the park, too, making it a popular destination for bird watchers, hikers and walkers, and picnickers.

For more information about the new trail system, go to http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/swan-creek-park

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