Bicycling

Chilly Hilly
The annual 33-mile bike event of Chilly Hilly kicks off the cycling season in the Pacific Northwest. Whether you choose to participate or not, you'll know when it's in town. There are throngs of bikers from on and off Island riding the streets of Bainbridge in their brightly colored attire. The Chilly Hilly route is challenging and beautiful as it circles the Island and includes some, but not all, the legendary climbs such as Toe Jam Hill.

Click here for a printable copy of the Chilly Hilly Bike Route. Truly, a beautiful ride.

Photo courtesy of Kitsap County Public Works

The Mosquito Fleet Trail and Heritage Tour Route

The Mosquito Fleet Trail is a 113-mile hike and bike (roadside) route along the eastern shore of the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island that highlights the historical background of the area's waterways and harbors.

From the beginning of settlement in the Puget Sound Region over 150 years ago, the most efficient and effective way to move from one area to another was by boat. Early settlers depended on the small steamers that buzzed around Puget Sound quickly and regularly for commerce and transportation.

As population and commerce increased, the need for a larger, more organized water-borne transportation system became evident. Moving passengers as well as freight, the system became known as the "Mosquito Fleet".

There are over 40 historic Mosquito Fleet ports along Kitsap County's 228 miles of Puget Sound shoreline. Each port has a unique history and preserves a rich community heritage. Points of interest along the trail highlight environmental features, have historical significance, and provide cultural and educational value. Click here for the complete article on the Heritage Trail.

Click here for a map of Mosquito Fleet Trail and Heritage Tour Route.

Bainbridge Island Bike Tour

This loop covers 28 miles of island roads and was at one time the route for the Chilly Hilly Race. The ride takes between two and four hours to traverse, depending on experience. There are several challenging hills. Click here for route directions.

For additional bike routes and maps around Bainbridge Island and the Kitsap Peninsula, click here.

Ken Lambert/Seattle Times

Bicycle around Bainbridge Island

Excerpted from Bike your way around Bainbridge - July 7, 2005
By Florangela Davila Seattle Times staff reporter

"If your idea of a sweet weekend getaway is getting away from your car, onto a bicycle and out of the city, Bainbridge Island, with its undulating terrain, is candy.

For the hard-core, there's a 50-mile route called The BUTWHY (Bainbridge's Undeniably Tumultuous Worst Hills You'lleverride). It climbs 4,400 feet and includes the villainous Toe Jam Hill.

For those less inclined, but still quite comfortable in a saddle, there's the 33-mile island perimeter route known as The Chilly Hilly. It's a course customarily completed during the Chilly Hilly ride each February. Challenging, but reasonable, if that's your thing."