Biking the trail can be an exhilarating experience. The scenery is incredible, but in many places the trail is also incredibly rough. Following some biking tips will greatly enhance your biking experience on the Klickitat Trail. For more handy tips and general information for having a fun ride, see Bob Hansen’s article, Biking the Klickitat Trail
Biking Tips for the Klickitat Trail
Expect to take 3 to 5 hours to bike the entire trail.
Front suspension for your bike HIGHLY recommended.
Carry at least 3 liters of water on a hot day. You can refill water bottles in the town of Klickitat.
Slime in your inner tubes will help prevent flats.
Carry a tire repair kit. Yellow-star thistle burrs and Goat Head thorns (aka Puncturevine) are notorious for puncturing tires.
Bikers need to exit the trail at Schilling Road, and re-connect in the town of Klickitat via SR 142.
Carry extra food, sun screen and a first aid kit.
Beware of ticks, poison oak and rattlesnakes. Lime Disease is in the area, check for ticks!
There is currently NO predictable cell phone coverage on the trail, especially in remote Swale Canyon.
The only way in or out of Swale Canyon is at the trailheads.
Stay on the trail. Private property abuts the trail in most places.
JUST SO YOU KNOW: Every summer the Swale Canyon portion of the Klickitat Trail is closed to all recreational use due to fire danger. All other sections remain open year around. Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) determines the reasonable and responsible time to close this section of the Klickitat Trail. When DNR’s fire danger level reaches “high”, Swale is officially closed. Generally, the time of closure is from mid-June to mid-October. Here’s the link to check for fire danger conditions in Washington state:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/
Photo: Ashleigh Coyner