Pacific Northwest - Redmond to Snoqualmie Falls: how's Hwy 202 for riding a bike?

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Tourmalet
08-19-08, 03:58 PM
I'm planning to ride out to Snoqualmie via Hwy 202. But 202 is a 55mph rural highway with small shoulders. If I got hit by a car I'm pretty sure they'd kill me. I was thinking about starting early on a Sunday morning when traffic is light. Has anyone done this ride? How was the traffic? And did you have any incidents with the pickup-driving rural types? They seem to be the norm out there...

mattm
08-19-08, 09:27 PM
I've done it a few times, both at night and during the day. It's a decent road, and many cyclists use it. Lots of traffic, but what else is new?

I think cars/trucks are used to seeing bikes on it, so I wouldn't worry too much.

The only bad part about it is the climb up to the Falls, it lasts for longer than you might wish (a mile or so?), although it isn't very steep.
BengeBoy
08-19-08, 09:31 PM
Also, this route at a little website called Veloroutes.org shows that there is another road in between 202 and 203 that you can take part of the way.

I don't know the name of it but I've ridden it; it has less traffic than 202. When you come over the hill from Redmond just go a little further and find the turn-off.


http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=10547

rnorris
08-25-08, 11:09 AM
The side road referred to above is the West Snoqualmie Valley road, a delightfully quiet little cruise- it's not far from where I live. Don't know if it's possible to go that way right now because the last time I was there, I saw signs that the Tolt River bridge (at the north end of this route) was going to be closed for several weeks for renovation.

202 is ridable, but I don't enjoy it as it has high speed traffic with lots of gravel trucks during the day. It's much more enjoyable late in the evening or early on weekend mornings.
mcoomer
08-26-08, 12:52 PM
Just ride up 202. The shoulder is nice and wide all the way up to Fall City. Once you leave Fall City the shoulder gets kind of sketchy so your best bet may be to take a right on Fish Hatchery Road, about 1/2 mile after traffic circle, and follow it until it rejoins 202 just as the climb to Snoqualmie Falls begins.

Mike