Grab your kids and get rolling with these great family rides

Kids and bikes: what’s not to love?
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Portland Wheelmen Touring Club has unveiled their schedule of family-friendly rides.

Ride organizer Ann Morrow says the club’s Family Rides are designed especially for novice riders and/or families with children in bike trailers, on tag-alongs or on their own little bikes.

“It’s a great form of exercise; a chance to ride with others; a training session for Bridge Pedal; and a fun easy ride for adults who are just getting back in the saddle.”

The rides (listed below) are free and each one has a designated “Ride Leader”. They vary from a basic roll along the Springwater Corridor Trail or a ride out to Smith and Bybee Lakes (not to be missed!), to a more adventurous, 12 mile excursion on the Banks/Vernonia Trail.

Pick and choose or do them all. But whatever you do, mark your calendars, grab the kids, and get out there!

Here’s the schedule:

The Springwater is full of fun.

Smith and Bybee Lakes (8 miles)
Sunday, July 20
10:00 am
Start at the Princeton Trailhead at North Princeton and Carey Streets off Willamette Blvd. to ride along the Peninsula Crossing Trail to the Smith and Bybee Wetland Area. Bring binoculars for bird watching. Ride Leader Ann Morrow, 360.608.3173 (cell).

Springwater on the Willamette (7 miles)
Saturday, July 26
9:30 am
Start on the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge. Meet near the Portland Fire District Building and check out this stretch of Rail with Trail to Oaks Bottom. You may see an Osprey or a Great Blue Heron.

(*Also on July 26th is Bicycle Day at OMSI!)

Sauvie Island Loop & Pumpkin Patch (10 miles)
Saturday, August 2
10:00 am
Start at the Pumpkin Patch, 16511 NW Gillihan Road on Sauvie Island, and ride the infamous Sauvie Island Loop with fresh fruit and fun at the Pumpkin Patch.

Cycling on Sauvie Island.

Columbia River Bike Path (9 miles)
Sunday, August 3
10:30 am
Start at Marine Park in Vancouver. Take SR14 to Exit 1 South then East on Columbia Way. Ride west along the Columbia to Esther Short Park and back. This is a pre PWTC club picnic ride. Club members will enjoy lunch after the ride at Marine Park.

The End of the Springwater Trail (8 miles)
Sunday, August 17
10:30 am
Start at Gresham City Park @ Powell Blvd. & Main Ave. Ride eastbound on the Springwater Trail until the pavement ends, and then back to the City Park. Bring along a picnic lunch for after the ride and enjoy the big playground area for more fun after your ride.

Willamette River Greenway Trail (9.4 miles)
Saturday, August 23
10:00 am
Start at Willamette Park at the south end near the playground. Park is off Macadam Avenue/Highway 43. Cross street is Nebraska. There is a fee in the summer to park so you may want to park on the streets nearby and ride in to the park. The route will follow the Willamette River into Portland and down to the Steel Bridge and back. Explore this ever changing route and learn how you can access other fun activities by bike.

Pedaling along the Columbia River
adjacent to Marine Drive.

Marine Drive Bike Path (10 miles)
Sunday, September 7
10:00 am
Park at the 42nd Street Boat Ramp between 33rd and I-205. The ride heads east and jet planes, water traffic and others using the path make for an interesting ride. Plan to enjoy the beach and Columbia River after the ride. It’s Grandparents Day so include them in this family ride if you can.

Portland Downtown Loop (3+ miles)
Saturday, September 13
9:30 am
Start on the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge. Meet near the Portland Fire District Building. Ride along the East Bank Esplanade and cross the Steel Bridge and ride along the west waterfront back to the Hawthorne Bridge.

Banks/Vernonia Bike Trail (12+ miles)
Sunday, October 12
10:30 am
Start near Buxton. Allow at least 2 hours travel time. Take Highway 26 west of Portland to Fisher Road, just past the North Fork of Dairy Creek and before the turn-off for Highway 47. Turn right on Fisher Road and go up the hill and follow it around the bend to the right (you are now on Bacona Road). Turn right into the trail head just after Ped/Bike sign. Very easy, hard pack, pretty rails to trails route. Those choosing to ride farther can get on the paved portion and ride all the way to Vernonia and back.

To contact the leaders of any of these rides, download the Family Ride Schedule (PDF).