Gold Creek / Dungeness

How about a ride that has a little bit of everything? There’s smooth and wide, rocky and exposed, up and down (repeat), logging road climb, fast descents, remote location, rushing river, old growth and some definite hike-a-bike (you can avoid most of this with a start variation). It begins with a roly poly up and down eventual descent to the Dungeness River. Once near the river you have some incredible old growth rain forest riding to a concrete bridge (the nominal half-way point). A logging road climb of over 1,000 vertical feet brings you to the Gold Creek Trail. This trail hugs the side of Dirty Face Peak – fast and smooth in places and very exposed in other spots, you’ll wish you had your seatbelt fastened. After some exhilarating downhills don’t think the climbing has stopped because this trail still has some steep short lungbusters ahead. Eventually you will start switchbacking down down down to the river and the road, and the 1 mile (uphill) back to the car.

Trails are typically open from late March through November or later, depending on snowfall. Short sections may be muddy in winter and early spring. The Dungeness in the rainshadow of the Olympics, and may be dry when most other areas of Western Washington have showers.