MTP Tacoma Students Help Rebuild Swan Creek Mountain Bike Trails

For years, the tight, switchback corner at one edge of Swan Creek’s Hustle and Flow Trail had sent novice mountain bikers off their bikes and into the woods. 

Today, thanks to work by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and the help of Major Taylor Project volunteers, that tight and scary corner has been re-shaped and moved so all-ages mountain bikers can ride smoothly around the trail.

“It was hard for people to ride before,” said Ian Robinson, a trailbuilder with Evergreen. “People used to lock up their brakes and wash out.” 

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Josh Stowell, the Tacoma Major Taylor Project Manager, loves introducing MTP students to biking of many varieties – from trail riding to mountain biking to road riding. Stowell grew up racing BMX bikes with his friend Jeremy Bushnell, who now works at Evergreen as a trailbuilder, and the two connected over the trail work volunteer opportunities for MTP students.

“It’s exciting to see students’ love of biking grow and blossom,” said Stowell. “There isn’t just one way to ride bikes. We can ride for transportation to visit friends or get around to our jobs, but we can also be out here riding jumps and corners for fun.”

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On a drizzly day in early February, about nine MTP students joined the trail maintenance party. They spent the afternoon exploring the fruits of their labor by bike. 

Yahsuni Reed, a senior at Idea High School who has been joining MTP Club in Tacoma for two years, said he just loves riding bikes, and mountain biking adds an exciting way to ride.

“I like that it’s unpredictable. You don’t know if you’re going to fall or go down, but the most you’ll hurt is your ego,” said Reed.

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Swan Creek’s history dates back to local Native Americans who hunted and held council on the land, which eventually became part of the Puyallup Tribe’s reservation. Over time, that land was stolen and sold to various buyers, and after becoming part of a housing development, much of the canyon and wooded area became Metro Parks Tacoma’s Swan Creek Park.

Swan Creek Park’s mountain bike trails have been carved out of the woods of East Tacoma for about 10 years, according to Evergreen staff. Evergreen reports numerous all ages options, including “Hustle and Flow,” a beginner 1.75 mile trail through douglas firs, “Feedback” a short, beginner-friendly trail, and more advanced options like “Light Rail” and “Braking Bad.” 

Visit Swan Creek any time of day or early evening and you will see mountain bike enthusiasts of all ages running trails – enjoying the smooth “hero dirt” and rollers, thanks to trail builders and volunteers like those at Evergreen.