Ride up Galbraith lane. Turn right when the private road starts and continue through the gate. Now it's up to you -- there are just too many trails through here. If you keep riding up the hill you will eventually come to the radio towers. If you're into speed, turn around here and you can take a 1,000-foot descent down the road that you just came up. If you are into a more technical trail, continue past the towers on the trail that leads off to the left. It will eventually meet the road that you came up. It has a couple of brutal drop-offs and the ruts are getting pretty bad with all the motor cross riders, but it the best single stretch of trail that I've found so far.

Anywhere you go on the mountain is great. There's more terrain out there than you could handle in a day and it's all fun with ramps up almost every log and a couple good streams to cross. Be sure to hit it after it rains -- the entire mountain turns into an old fashioned Pacific Northwest mud bowl. Starting from the north side of the mountain offers a more difficult ascent but the hard work going up makes for more fun coming down.

Access Galbraith from the other side. Take I-5 exit 253 and turn east on Lakeway Drive. When you get past the cemetery, turn left into Whatcom Falls Park and park you car. From here, ride back the way you came across Lakeway Drive at the light. Follow Kenoyer Drive until you come to Alvarado. Turn left on Alvarado and follow it until you come to a gate at a logging road. From here, just follow the logging road up the mountain. If you want the most speed and air with the smallest effort just ride up until the road comes to a “T” at the left and turn around. If you're more adventurous take the “T” to the left and follow the road up the hill. After a little while the road will start to go back downhill. Off to the right will be some single tracks -- pick one and follow it. It's hard to go wrong, just explore from there.

If anyone out there know the names of the different trail systems on Galbraith and Lookout mountains, I'd appreciate it if you would give me an e-mail and let me know.

Written By: Jason Rose

Features
Biking Trails

Comments
absolutely awesome... Thanks to the whimps and everyone else that contributes to make it an unbelivable enormous playground!
- Madison Miner on Mon, February 19, 2007

Its amazing and dude who cares about where your going just get lost its fun just going and going and going and then tryin to find your way back......sit ride and enjoy man
- Nicole BT on Fri, October 27, 2006

I just did my first ride in whatcom county this past saturday and I have to say that this is some of the best riding in the country! Keeping my fingers crossed for a pas right down the street there!
- Steven Bochinski on Mon, March 6, 2006

I have never truly been mountain biking before and i guess you could say that this mountain popped my cherry and popped it well. Didnt know where i was but that was fine with me. I think ill take a helmet with me next time. Thanks for all those who put the hard effort into this mountain i truly appreciate it.
- Dan on Thu, February 9, 2006

A free and good map that shows many of Galbraith's trails is available at galbraithMt.com. All Galbraith maps share two fundamental problems: one is that there are few landmarks on Galbraith so it is difficult to know where you are on the map. Second, the trails change frequently so the maps become outdated quickly. However, they are better than nothing. A good option is to join a WHIMPS ride (Whimpsmtb.com). Alternatively, just ride around and watch were other riders are going. They will be happy to give directions.
- Chris Sandvig on Wed, November 10, 2004

Try the happy trail maps. They are the most accurate and with a good compass will allow you to find the longest single tracks with the least amount of time. However, the man (I met him once) who made them does not put any contour lines on the map. Instead he provides arrows that point downhill. But the arrows do not indicate how downhill or uphill the trail is. So good luck and just try some trails. P.S. Get a GOOD pair of mud tires for this mountain!
- jeff gordon on Mon, March 19, 2001

Galbraith is justifiably famous among bike riders, but it is superb ground for trail running as well. I've run there since 1986, since before the area was popular, (long before the Ridge Trail existed and before most of the clearcuts evident today were made) but the selection of routes is better now than ever. The names of the trails are to me totally unimportant. For people who are learning the intricacies of the area, whether on foot or on a bike, you can do as I have done over the years. Just get out, get lost a few times, and gradually you'll learn the details. But a recommendation: don't go there to explore if you have a definite time commitment soon after! You need to allow time for figuring out where you are the first few trips.
- Doug McKeever on Tue, April 4, 2000

who needs maps!!!! go ride get lost find your way back have fun quit with the where am i whine, JUST ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!
- john baker on Fri, January 7, 2000

Galbraith Mountain RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but you guys need a map of all the trails please ! =)
- Coconut Monkey on Sat, September 4, 1999

Get "Horry's Map" at local stores for Galbraith trail names. It was made last summer, so it is somewhat out of date, but it does list the most common names for most of the trails on Galbraith.
- Steve Hindman on Thu, July 29, 1999

A better route to access Galbraith from the north is park at Whatcomfalls park and ride out accross Electric and onto Birch st. follow it south (uphill) to the end and follow the gravel road up and left. This is the start of the Ridge Trail and it leads you up the mountain and right into a trail system that is like none other.
- Paul Reed on Thu, July 1, 1999

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