I-5 Colonnade in Seattle, lucky bastards

That's.... SM's trail right? Is it SM? Who's the lounge money that built it?

Good timing on the post. We just passed through there a couple of weeks ago. I think it's pretty ground breaking all things considered. They managed to take an unused piece of land in an urban environment and pretty much packed in every conceivable from of riding in a very well laid out set up. Big thumbs up to all those made this happen and hope that others can draw inspiration from it and make similar things happen in their area.

The Joker said:

That's.... SM's trail right? Is it SM? Who's the lounge money that built it?

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Many many people voluntered lots of time into making this happen. A man named Mike Westra was the lead on this project...

more info http://bbtc.org/home/index.php

I think Skookum worked on that project, or one very similar.

S.n.a.k.e. said:

I think Skookum worked on that project, or one very similar.

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Yep... he did lots of work on this.

Its a great project. Have spent some time there digging and making things happen.

Right now its the only thing that's even remotely making me tinge on the thought of moving out of Seattle next week.

DirtMcGirk said:

Its a great project. Have spent some time there digging and making things happen.

Right now its the only thing that's even remotely making me tinge on the thought of moving out of Seattle next week.

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well, you won't be too far from whistler.

I'll be in Anacortes next year. Makes me sad that its two more years until I will be living near Colo. Its that great.

How would one find this so-called "Colonnade" (whatever the hell that means)? I'm gonna be driving up to Whistler in two weeks from California and definitely wanna check this place out on the way. Anybody got directions, or a freeway exit, or a cross street?

From their website:

Colonnade is located between the Capitol Hill and Eastlake neighborhoods, under the I-5 freeway, more or less below St Mark's Cathedral. It's where Lakeview Blvd turns underneath the freeway and turns into Boylston Ave. For a Google/Yahoo map, use 1800 Lakeview Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98102.

If you're headed north on I-5, take exit 168A for Lakeview Blvd. Take a left onto Lakeview and immediately park on your left. The bike trails are on the west side of Lakeview.

If you're headed south on I-5, take exit 168A for Boylston Ave / Roanoke St. Merge onto Boylston and go straight at the light. Follow Boylston south, paralelling I-5, veer left under the freeway, and then park on your right.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-sfPuRyASw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-sfPuRyASw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Pretty damn cool project in my opinion.

dexterq20 said:

How would one find this so-called "Colonnade" (whatever the hell that means)? I'm gonna be driving up to Whistler in two weeks from California and definitely wanna check this place out on the way. Anybody got directions, or a freeway exit, or a cross street?

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If you're driving north on I-5, take the Lakeview Blvd. exit (168A, I believe). As you approach the stop sign coming off the freeway, look left...you're there.

Here's a couple/few vids I've put together over the last couple of months...




I was out there earlier this evening after work for a little while and it's amazing to think I was sitting around somewhere - by myself- that I would not even consider going near just a few years ago. It was a real shady part of town. The only "downer" about the park at this point is that there's no lights. It will be tough to get out there after work in the fall/winter months as it's dark here at-or-before 5pm. Since it IS a city park, I'd guess they've done a little research into that matter. *fingers crossed*

I believe the term colonnade goes back to at least the Egyptian era and how some of the king's tombs had large areas with huge rows of colums. Something along those lines...saw something about it within the last year on History Channel.

damn, I was just out there last week and had no idea about this, woulda loved to check it out!

Beware the hobo pee!

MMike said:

Beware the hobo pee!

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MMikes just pissed there is no flaming hoop.
He has this obsession with burning rings of fire...

trailhacker said:

MMikes just pissed there is no flaming hoop.
He has this obsession with burning rings of fire...

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Meh....Colonnade is just a dream....it will never get built...

dexterq20 said:

How would one find this so-called "Colonnade" (whatever the hell that means)? I'm gonna be driving up to Whistler in two weeks from California and definitely wanna check this place out on the way. Anybody got directions, or a freeway exit, or a cross street?

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Easiest place in the world to find!

Just after you pass the main downtown area with all the buildings. Just take the Lakeview exit after that. You'll see log rides and a pump track right on the side of the highway offramp.