Throwing Stones
Ride Guide Overview
Ride Details
Distance: 24.9 miles (or 11.7 miles*)
Elevation Gain: 1,372 feet (or 625 feet*)
Suggested Time: 4-5 hours
Riding Surfaces: streets & bike lanes (76%), city trails (24%)
Starting Point: Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery at 1009 Larrabee Avenue
* Note: “Throwing Stones Lite” is a shorter route (11.7 miles long) with less climbing (625 feet).
About the Ride
Adventure doesn’t always require traveling to faraway places — sometimes the best discoveries are just a stone’s throw away. Inspired by Fairhaven’s Stones Throw Brewery, the “Throwing Stones” ride begins and ends at the taproom, serving as both the launch point for your two-wheeled adventure and the place where you’ll return to celebrate the journey. Along the way, you’ll pedal through Bellingham in search of rock- and stone-themed landmarks, public art, historic sites, local businesses, and geological curiosities uncovering the city one stone’s throw at a time. The route brings you full circle, arriving back where you began — with fresh eyes and a raised glass to a deeper appreciation for a place you thought you already knew.
The route begins at Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery. First head over to the Fairhaven Park Labrinyth, before heading to what remains of Donovan Rock. Pedal up to Western Washington University to see three stone-themed sculptures: Stone Enclosure, Feats of Strength, and Split Stone, while also learning about Rock Mementos and visiting the campus’s Geology Museum. From there, stop by a neighborhood Rock Trading Library where you can swap a rock for another. Head over to Whatcom Falls Park to learn the story of the Whatcom Falls Bridge, before heading up to Big Rock Garden to check out the Unity, State Street Totem, and Peace sculptures in a serene outdoor setting. From there, pedal up to Whatcom Community College to learn the story behind the fascinating Levitating Sphere. Visit Bellingham’s new Storybrook Park before pedaling into downtown to see the Lottie Roth Block and the Mt Baker Theatre Boulder. Peruse the eclectic The Stone Moon where you might find a gem that you just can’t live without. As you head back from whence you came, learn about the Giant Cairn and the Tin Slag Rock. Just a short distance beyond, admire Chuckanut Sandstone architecture while refueling on calories at Colophon Cafe. Finally, you’ll return to Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery to celebrate your ride, having a new appreciation for the stones and rocks all within throwing distance.
Notes:
* Consider bringing a rock with you to exchange at the Rock Trading Library.
* Throwing Stones Lite does not visit the Whatcom Falls Bridge, sculptures at Big Rock Garden, Levitating Sphere, and Storybrook Park.
The Route
Click “Send to Device” above the map to download the Throwing Stones ride guide to the Ride with GPS app on your phone. By clicking “Send to Device,” you agree to the Terms of Use for BIKE Bellingham.
Note: Click here to view the route for the shorter Throwing Stones Lite ride.
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Some businesses offer Pedal Perks to cyclists riding BIKE Bellingham routes. Participating businesses are indicated below with a . Find the Pedal Perk link in the downloadable ride guide, then show the link when you make your purchase.
Featured Businesses
The route includes stops at the following businesses. Check their hours of operation before you ride.
The Stone Moon in Downtown Bellingham is a charming metaphysical gift shop featuring a thoughtfully curated collection of gemstones, jewelry, divinatory supplies, and more. Its welcoming atmosphere and unique selection make it a favorite stop for finding meaningful gifts and one-of-a-kind treasures.
(360)393-4390
Located in the heart of Historic Fairhaven, Colophon Cafe serves fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, quiche, and house-made desserts. With its cozy atmosphere overlooking the Village Green and commitment to locally sourced ingredients, it’s a popular spot for a relaxed and satisfying meal.
(360)647-0092
PEDAL PERK: 10% off one coffee, espresso, or fountain drink at Colophon Cafe
PEDAL PERK: 10% off one coffee, espresso, or fountain drink at Colophon Cafe
Fairhaven’s Stones Throw Brewery is a neighborhood brewery known for its handcrafted beers, unique taproom built from shipping containers, and spacious outdoor beer garden. With a family-friendly atmosphere just steps from Fairhaven’s historic district, it’s a favorite gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
(360)362-5058
PEDAL PERK: $1 off a beverage at Stones Throw Brewery
PEDAL PERK: $1 off at Stones Throw Brewery
Where to Park
Parking in Downtown Fairhaven is metered Monday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm; there is no charge on Sundays. Streets on the periphery of the downtown corridor offer free parking. You can also park for free at Fairhaven Park, which is 0.5 miles from the starting point.
Extend Your Experience
The City of Bellingham supports the arts by incorporating artwork into public spaces throughout the community. The city manages and maintains a collection of more than 84 outdoor public art pieces and provides an online guide where visitors can explore the creations.
The Friends of Big Rock Garden Park is a nonprofit organization that partners with Bellingham’s Parks & Recreation and guides the continued growth and stewardship of the park as both a sculpture garden and botanical space. Volunteers meet weekly and take on larger projects during biannual work parties. Each May, the Friends of Big Rock Garden Park host a Mother’s Day Celebration featuring the garden and the opening of a new seasonal sculpture exhibition. The organization welcomes volunteers who are interested in helping to care for the park.
The Mount Baker Rock & Gem Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting interest in geology, mineralogy, lapidary arts, and fossil collecting through education, field trips, workshops, and community events. Welcoming members of all experience levels, the club provides opportunities to learn new skills, share knowledge, and connect with others who enjoy the natural beauty and geological treasures of the Pacific Northwest. The club holds an annual Mineral Show the last weekend in March as well as a fall sale event called Rockhound Rendezvous. The club runs a retail store in Bellingham’s Bellis Fair Mall and holds regular meetings the third Monday of the month in nearby Ferndale.
Visiting the Chuckanut formations is a fascinating way to connect the landscapes on the Throwing Stones bike ride with the natural history that shaped them. The shoreline of Chuckanut Bay and nearby Larrabee State Park — Washington’s oldest state park — are excellent places to see these sandstone outcrops that tell the geologic story of Whatcom County. When you see the stone up close, notice its distinctive layers, sculpted textures, and honeycomb-like patterns that were created by wind and water over millions of years. For one of the best views, hike to Clayton Beach, where broad sandstone shelves, sea caves, and tide pools are exposed at low tide. Or take the Rock Trail at Larrabee State Park, where towering sandstone cliffs and moss-covered outcrops showcase the stone’s dramatic colors and textures beneath a canopy of Douglas firs.
Lookout Arts Quarry is a 61-acre former rock quarry at the south end of Bellingham. Purchased by a collective of artists in 2007, it has been transformed into a creative campus that operates as a Social Purpose Corporation dedicated to artistic expression, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. The site features outdoor performance spaces, a quarry lake, forest trails, artist studios, large-scale art installations, and seasonal camping. Lookout Arts Quarry hosts concerts, festivals, theater, circus and aerial arts, workshops, retreats, weddings, and artist residencies in a rustic, immersive setting. Refer to the webpage for more information.
No bike? No problem. Bellingham has shops in town that rent bikes and e-bikes.
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Thank You to this Ride's Sponsor
