Loam
App StoreGoogle Play
Best bets right now: Galbraith Mountain, Lake Padden, Chuckanut and Blanchard and 1 more.
5 of 7 networks rideable across 5 riding zones
Rideable means PRIME, DRY or DUSTY. These estimates use weather, soil, and terrain data. Check each network for details and closures.
Conditions modeled 12:47 UTC, Nov 5
Compare Galbraith, Chuckanut and other Bellingham riding areas before you head out. Find the right part of town, check the current dirt conditions and follow the local trail notices.
525 ft, the lowest elevation among currently rideable networks.
About 7 hours until rideable, based on the current drying estimate.
Dots are trail locations. Numbered groups zoom to nearby networks.
Map geometry © OpenStreetMap contributors · Elevation contours: NASA SRTM via OpenTopoData
Ordered by current verdict, with matching verdicts listed alphabetically. Official closures take priority.
7 of 7 networks shown
Find your trail in Loam and turn on alerts. Watch one network free. No account needed.
Forest cover is common around Bellingham, but the terrain and weather response still vary between networks. A Galbraith estimate does not stand in for Chuckanut or Lookout Mountain. Use the comparisons to choose an area, then check the local notices.
Across the 7 networks Loam tracks here, elevation spans 1,634 feet and canopy runs from 79 to 86 percent. These measurements describe representative network points, not the full elevation range of every trail. Compare the individual forecasts and check local reports before choosing a ride.
The useful unit here is the riding zone. Each one has its own exposure, elevation, and weather response.
Galbraith has north and south access points and a network maintained by the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition. It remains a working forest, so respect active operations and posted trail closures.
Lake Padden is a separate city-park riding area near Galbraith's south side. Follow the designated bike routes and yield to other park users.
The Chuckanut Mountains and Blanchard State Forest are south of Bellingham. Follow trail-specific permitted uses; nearby scenic hiking routes are not automatically open to bicycles.
These areas are east of Galbraith around Lake Whatcom. Use the county maps to identify bike-legal routes and check each network independently.
Moran State Park is on Orcas Island, a ferry ride from the mainland. Washington State Parks restricts bicycles on some park trails, and the park map opens the Cold Springs area trails to bikes from September 15 to May 15. A Discover Pass is required.
Choose one riding area when time is short. With three days, keep the order flexible around weather, access and your group's ability. Use the linked maps to choose routes; a favorable forecast does not override a closure.
Choose Galbraith for an extensive, steward-mapped mountain network with two distinct approaches: Birch Street on the north side or Samish Way on the south. WMBC's map and access notes help match the entrance to the part of the mountain you want to ride.
Check WMBC's current access notes and responsible land-manager notices before setting out. The mountain crosses private and public ownership and includes working-forest activity.
For a different outing, compare the DNR-mapped Chuckanut/Blanchard areas south of town; check trailhead notices and use only signed, mapped public trails.
Maps and access: WMBC Galbraith maps and north/south access · Washington DNR recreation maps and current notices
Choose Galbraith's north entrance from Birch Street for that side's mapped options, then use WMBC's current map rather than treating Loam's regional status as navigation.
Choose Galbraith's south entrance from Samish Way for a separate starting area; verify parking and access notes and plan within that mapped area rather than assuming a north-to-south route.
Choose one Chuckanut or Blanchard trailhead for a separate south-of-town outing. DNR provides the access map and warns that working-forest road activity can affect access; verify notices and use signed trails.
Maps and access: WMBC Galbraith access and maps · Washington DNR Blanchard recreation, access and maps · Whatcom County Chuckanut Mountain Park
Use the trail-condition trip-planning guide to build a backup, and check tread firmness before committing to dirt.
Planning patterns, not opening dates. Live conditions and official access decide the day.
Wet ground and thawing patches can persist under trees. Check the trail itself and avoid riding through soft sections.
Dry weather can produce dust and loose surfaces. Working-forest operations and fire restrictions still need a separate check.
Rain and fallen leaves can change grip as daylight shortens. Recheck conditions at the network you plan to ride.
Storm damage, snow and freezing can affect access even when lower parts of town look clear. Follow local closures and do not treat a model as a trail inspection.
WMBC maintains Galbraith and works with its landowners. County, city and state trails have their own permitted uses. Stimpson Family Nature Reserve is a hiking destination and is not included in these mountain bike recommendations.
WMBC: Galbraith maps and access · Whatcom County park rules · Washington DNR recreation
Trail work around Bellingham is done by Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition. Support your local builders.
5 of 7 networks around Bellingham currently have a PRIME, DRY or DUSTY verdict, meaning rideable conditions. For example, Blanchard State Forest is DRY and Lookout Mountain is STAY OFF. Check the network page for details and closure notices.
Rideable options around Bellingham include Blanchard State Forest (DRY, rideable and dry), Chuckanut Mountain (DRY, rideable and dry) and Galbraith Mountain (DRY, rideable and dry).
Check the current Galbraith estimate, WMBC notices and conditions on the ground. A rideable model does not account for every blocked trail or active forestry operation. Avoid soft tread that ruts under your tires.
Use the riding-area map to compare Galbraith, Lake Padden, Chuckanut/Blanchard and Lake Whatcom/Lookout. For Galbraith routes and difficulty, use WMBC's trail map rather than treating the regional conditions map as navigation.
No. Loam models environmental riding conditions at each network. Land-manager restrictions, trail directions and closures remain authoritative.
Loam updates condition estimates hourly. Each network page shows when its estimate was last updated.
Loam uses recent rain, soil, slope, slope direction, tree cover, and current weather to estimate how wet the ground is. These are estimates, not rider reports. Official closures take priority. See how the model works.