Tour de Whatcom & Mt. Baker Hill Climb Registration Now Open

Whatcom Events is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Tour de Whatcom (Saturday, July 22^nd) and Mt. Baker Hill Climb (September 17^th). This will be the 18^th annual Tour de Whatcom and our fifth year hosting the Mt. Baker Hill Climb.

The Tour de Whatcom starts and finishes from behind Boundary Bay Brewery in Downtown Bellingham. The Tour de Whatcom has four different routes of varying lengths from 22 miles to 100 (Century Ride) miles and offers something for every level of cyclists and every member of the family. These rides are awesome! You get to see everything: Mt Baker, Lake Whatcom, valleys, rivers, lush farmland, and beaches all in one fairly level ride.

Any individual may register for either the 22, 44, 62 or 100-mile rides. Current prices vary from $45-70 per person and prices will increase $10 per rider after May 16th. There are also reduced prices for tandem riders and for families (living in the same household) of three - six riders. Riders must be at least 10 years old for safety reasons. Details on the ride and registration can be found at tourdewhatcom.com

The Mt Baker Hill Climb departs from Chair 9 Pizza in Glacier. Ascend 4,100 feet to Artist Point (5,076 feet elevation) in approximately 22 miles. The Mt. Baker Highway (SR542) is known as one of the most scenic paved roads in the country and rarely is the highway closed to motorized vehicles on the way up Artist Point. With steep elevation and several switchbacks, this ride is not for the faint of heart. We invite racers to experience the agony AND the ecstasy!

There are three divisions to choose: Social riders leave at 7:00am (untimed, e-bikes allowed); Recreational Riders leave at 8:00am; and Competitive Racers leave at 8:30am. Registration price is $80 until May 31 and then $90 per person until registration closes. The race will be capped at 450 total participants this year.

In BIG Hill Climb news, well-known ex-professional cyclist Phil Gaimon from Worst Retirement Ever will be participating and stated, "I've heard great things about Bellingham and Mt. Baker, and I'm excited to finally cross this event off of my bucket list!"

The Mt Baker Hill Climb is listed on National Hill Climb Series website and was awarded the #2 Hill Climb in the US by the Gran Fondo Guide. Details on the ride and registration can be found at bakerhillclimb.com.

Whatcom Events is a volunteer-operated community 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Our mission is volunteer-driven management of events that showcase the diverse natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities Whatcom County has to offer while supporting local nonprofit organizations. The Beneficiaries of the 2023 events are Shifting Gears and Incite Cycles!

We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.