How hard is the Olympic Adventure Trail The Olympic Adventure Trail is not technical, so it’s a good ride for beginner riders and up. That being said, the full trail is 25-miles one-way, so depending on how far you ride, you’ll need to factor in fitness levels.
What Kind of Bike Do I need? The Olympic Adventure Trail is dirt, but it’s not a technical mountain bike trail so you can get away with a wide-tire gravel bike or any mountain bike. I rode the trail on my Cross-Washington trip on a hardtail Santa Cruz Chameleon with a wide gravel tire – fully loaded with bikepacking gear.
Are Electric bikes allowed? Yes, class-1 pedal-assist e-bikes are allowed on the Olympic Adventure Trail. Bikes with a throttle are not allowed.
Which side is better to start from? The whole trail is pretty awesome, so you can’t really go wrong.
The western trailhead is less popular and quieter, so if you want solitude, start from there. The forest also felt a bit more lush and magical on the west side.
The eastern side of the trail parallels the beautiful Elwha River and has opportunities to add miles on additional singletrack trails. I haven’t ridden these trails, but you can learn more about them on TrailForks.
What is the best time of year to ride? Late spring, summer, and early fall are the best times of year to ride the Adventure trail for nice weather. Spring may still bring cold temps and rain, so be sure to check the weather before heading out.