Registration open for Bellingham Traverse multi-sport relay

The annual event, now hosted by Whatcom Events, will take place on August 29, 2026.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:08pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the various athletic events of the Bellingham Traverse relay race, including sea kayaking, road biking, trail running, and mountain biking, all rendered in a fractured, multi-perspective style.The Bellingham Traverse relay race challenges athletes to navigate a diverse course through Whatcom County's natural landscapes.Bellingham Today

Registration has opened for the 2026 Bellingham Traverse, a multi-sport relay race in Whatcom County, Washington. The event, which was recently purchased by Whatcom Events from Pacific Multisports, will feature a route involving sea kayaking, road biking, trail running, mountain biking, and a final team run, with an after-party and award ceremony at Kulshan Trackside.

Why it matters

The Bellingham Traverse is a popular annual event that showcases the outdoor recreation opportunities in Whatcom County. The change in organizers from Pacific Multisports to Whatcom Events, which also hosts the Ski to Sea race, signals a transition for the event and an opportunity to potentially expand its reach and impact.

The details

The current plan for the 2026 Bellingham Traverse route includes starting at Waypoint Park with sea kayakers heading to Marine Park, followed by a road bike race around Lake Samish, a trail run around Lake Padden and up to Galbraith Mountain for a mountain bike race, a greenway run back to Waypoint Park, and a final short team run to wrap up the event. The exact route is still being finalized and could change.

  • Registration for the 2026 Bellingham Traverse opened on April 9, 2026.
  • The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

The players

Whatcom Events

The organization that now hosts the Bellingham Traverse after purchasing the event from Pacific Multisports in December 2025. Whatcom Events also organizes the Ski to Sea race.

Pacific Multisports

The previous organizer of the Bellingham Traverse, which sold the event to Whatcom Events in December 2025.

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What’s next

The exact route for the 2026 Bellingham Traverse is still being finalized and could change from the current plan.

The takeaway

The transition of the Bellingham Traverse event to new organizers at Whatcom Events presents an opportunity to build on the event's success and potentially expand its reach and impact within the Whatcom County community.