Ride Around Clark County adds Green Mountain route

Cycling events can feel interchangeable — same bib pickup, same rest stop bananas, same promise of “scenic roads.” But Ride Around Clark County is trying something more specific this year. The Vancouver Bicycle Club rebuilt its annual summer ride around a local-tour idea, then added a route mix that stretches from a family spin to a full century. The new hook is simple: show riders Clark County’s landmarks, weirdness, and views in one day, with Green Mountain now part of the long-route draw. ### What changed this year? The 2026 edition is the 42nd Ride Around Clark County, set for Saturday, July 25, and it starts and finishes at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver. Organizers say all five routes are new this year, built around a “See the Wonders of Clark County” theme instead of just offering standard mileage options. That matters because the event is no longer selling only distance — it’s selling a curated tour of the county. (vbc-usa.com) ### What are the routes now? There are five choices: an 18-mile Family Route, a 34-mile Explorer, a Metric Century, a 61-mile Adventure/Gravel Route, and a 100-mile Century. That’s a broader spread than the older versions of the ride, which often centered on a smaller set of paved loops. The gravel option is the clearest sign of the rethink — organizers are trying to catch riders who want something rougher than a pure road event. (vbc-usa.com) ### Where does Green Mountain fit in? Green Mountain is part of the eastern Clark County scenery that gives the long routes some real payoff. The local coverage around this year’s ride points to Green Mountain Open Space north of Camas as one of the notable additions, and that lines up with the event’s push to send riders past more recognizable county landmarks instead of just stacking miles. Green Mountain itself has become a bigger recreational draw in recent years as public open-space access expanded around the Camas side of the property. (vbc-usa.com) ### Is this just for serious cyclists? Not really — and that seems intentional. The 18-mile route is pitched as family-friendly, kids 12 and under ride free with a paid adult, and riders ages 13 to 17 can do any route for $20 with a paid adult. E-bikes are welcome too, which widens the field beyond the usual road-bike crowd. ### What do riders actually get? (columbian.com) Basically, the club is leaning hard into hospitality. The event promises stocked rest stops, mechanical help, SAG support, route guidance, and a post-ride ice cream bar. It even keeps the ride’s homemade personality intact with “trail putty” and cookies — the kind of detail that makes a local fundraiser feel less like a race and more like a county tradition. (vbc-usa.com) ### Why does the “wonders” theme matter? Because it gives the ride an identity beyond endurance. Each route is designed to touch seven or more standout sights, and the 100-mile route teaser alone name-checks Battle Ground Lake, Daybreak Park, sculptures, farm animals, a yellow submarine, and views of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens. That’s a smart shift — riders get a built-in story to tell, not just a number from their bike computer. (vbc-usa.com) ### Who benefits from the event? The ride is still a Vancouver Bicycle Club signature fundraiser, and registrations support local charities. So the event works on two levels: it markets Clark County to riders, and it sends money back into local causes. That makes the route redesign more than a gimmick — if the broader menu brings in more families, gravel riders, and first-timers, the community upside grows too. (vbc-usa.com) ### Bottom line? This year’s Ride Around Clark County looks less like a standard organized ride and more like a one-day map of what locals want to show off. The mileage still matters. But the real update is the route design — especially the push east toward places like Green Mountain. (vbc-usa.com)