(technical difficulty)
(physical difficulty)
General
I-5 Colonnade is the first ever urban mountain bike skills park. It's part of a City of Seattle park, but was funded and constructed by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (formerly Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club). The park features a novice area - the Tqalu Trail; an intermediate and advanced area - Limestone Loop; a dirt jumping section; pump track; trials area and more.
The Tqalu Trail
The Tqalu TTFs are in the range of 1 to 2 stars for technical difficulty.
Features:
- Ladder bridge
- Rock chute
- Log rolls and skinnies
Limestone Loop
Offers a 1/2-mile tight'n'twisty Cross Country loop with several intermediate to advanced options. It's a great place to work on key skills by sessioning:
- Tight switchbacks
- Ladder bridges, log rides and skinnies
- Steep rock chutes and technical rock rolls
- Suspension bridge
- Rock step-ups
- A long ladder bridge roller coaster ride (be careful to keep your speed waaaay down... she bucks!)
The Limestone Loop TTFs are in the range of 2 to 4 stars for technical difficulty.
Advanced Area
Features:
- More flowy advanced trails
- Jumps, berms and wall rides
- Long, narrow, elevated skinnies
- Progressive and elevated drops
- Steep rock chutes
- Pump track
- Trials area
The TTFs in the advanced area are just that - advanced. Prepare accordingly!
Because Colonnade is primarily under the elevated spans of I-5, the surface of the main riding areas are mostly dusty and dry. However, there are several areas exposed to rain and a few trails under some new freeway leaks. When water hits the local moondust, things can get pretty slimy... so be careful after a heavy rain. Check things out first!
Skills classes are occasionally held at Colonnade; check the evergreen calendar for any upcoming events.
Note that Colonnade can eat up bikes and be quite challenging - it would be nuts to ride here without a helmet, and full face helmet and/or body armor is advised for the tricky areas.
2015 Colonnade Improvement Planning Project
More info:
