Pacific Northwest - Teanaway?

Who's taken a bike out to the Cle Elum area? I saw some photos from one of the forks of the Teanaway river, and want to head out that way. Everything Google has to say about the river and cycling points to mountain biking, though. Are the roads paved? Are they clear of snow? Can you do any skinny-tire road riding up here?

Can anyone recommend any other scenic riding in the eastern Cascades?

This time of year there may still be some snow and especially ice in the shaded areas. Even the shoulders on the highways have quite a bit of sand/gravel on them although they're pretty clear. The county has been putting down de-icer the past week so you'd want to clean the bike off after riding on those roads.

I haven't mountain biked in the area but there are a ton of forest service roads and jeep trails. The Roslyn area has some good trail systems. I tend to ride in the Naneum State Forest in the Ellensburg area because it's closer to home. There are also some good trails in the Taneum area between Cle Elum and Ellensburg - but again, this time of year you'll run into snow most of the time.

From experience I would say there's probably more paved road riding in the lower valley than in the Cle Elum area - at least more back roads with less traffic.

From Cle Elum you can ride through town on 970 to Airport road to Masterson road to Red Bridge road and then left on Teanaway road. When Teanaway road splits, you can either take the W. Fork and then the Middle Fork or you can take the N. Fork. In either case, ride until you run out of pavement and then turn around and come back. From Cle Elum, you can get about 20 miles in one way. It's a decent ride, narrow (or no) shoulders but traffic is typically light. Although on Teanaway road, traffic will be travelling fast and there are some short sightlines.

Great mountain biking up the Teanaway Valley, off all three forks - see the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance website for details.

As scozim says, probably still too early ro ride up that valley.

Teanaway road is paved; West Fork Teanaway is paved for about a mile from where it joins with Teanaway Rd. North Fork Teanaway is paved for about 8 miles from its junction with Teanaway. I haven't been out there since last summer because, as scozim says, there's probably snow and ice in quite a few places. There is no shoulder for most of its length however, traffic is generally light and I have no qualms about cycling there with my grandson.

*I see that woodway posted about the same thing I said while I was typing. From Cle Elum you can also go up to the Peoh Point area--paved and unpaved roads abound there also.

If you want a decent highway ride you can take the Hwy 10/Hwy 970 loop. Moderate climbing and pretty good shoulder on 970 and 97. Hwy 10 doesn't have much for shoulders but traffic is pretty respectful of cyclists because so many travel that route.

The Manastash Metric (http://www.drier-ride.org/CENTURY.htm) is a good ride, low traffic on good roads. Wind can be pretty brutal though!

Thanks, everybody! I'm showing my ignorance here, but I'm glad to learn the roads are paved. :D One of these days, and probably sooner than later, I'll need to get a mountain bike, but, if that doesn't happen before the ice melts, I'll still be able to go enjoy.

Are there enough roads around Katchess and Cle Elum lakes to get a metric in?

I've been living in Seattle for almost ten years now, but I haven't been to the east side of the Cascades nearly enough. Fixing that is something I'm looking forward to this year.

Cle Elum to Salmon la Sac (end of pavement) runs along the east side of Lake Cle Elum and is ~20 miles; I don't know of any paved roads around Lake Kachess. If you're looking for a metric loop that starts and ends in Cle Elum, you could follow the Manastash Metric route that woodway suggested.

Thanks, everybody! I'm showing my ignorance here, but I'm glad to learn the roads are paved. :D One of these days, and probably sooner than later, I'll need to get a mountain bike, but, if that doesn't happen before the ice melts, I'll still be able to go enjoy.

Are there enough roads around Katchess and Cle Elum lakes to get a metric in?

I've been living in Seattle for almost ten years now, but I haven't been to the east side of the Cascades nearly enough. Fixing that is something I'm looking forward to this year.

My familiarity is more with the lower Kittitas Valley (Ellensburg area). This area is blessed with miles of paved, rural roads (mostly chip seal) with very little traffic. But, on the flip side, you can encounter some serious wind. A few years back some friends of mine put a route together that circumnavigated the lower valley and ended up at 138 miles.

aRoudy1 documented his trip from Cle Elum over the Old Blewett Hwy with a little camping trip. I rode from my place to the top of Blewett Pass and back last fall and it was 73 miles. So, there are plenty of roads to get in some miles - but I would plan on the areas around Cle Elum and Ellensburg.

There's one paved road from I-90 to the Lake Kachess campground - but it's only 5-6 miles long.

Other place to check out are is the Wenatchee area and the Methow valley around Winthrop - lots of cyclists up in that beautiful country.

If you're looking for a metric loop that starts and ends in Cle Elum, you could follow the Manastash Metric route that woodway suggested.

My brain wasn't working yesterday. I went back and looked over the Drier Ride site again yesterday; I had missed it this fall. I was thinking Woodway was suggesting I do the ride next time. :innocent: Following its route makes a lot more sense.


There's one paved road from I-90 to the Lake Kachess campground - but it's only 5-6 miles long.

Other place to check out are is the Wenatchee area and the Methow valley around Winthrop - lots of cyclists up in that beautiful country.

Thanks! I had camped at Lake Kachess about ten years ago, and haven't been back since. I remember it being nice, but that's pretty short... A friend of mine loves the Methow valley; it's a little further up, but probably a great place to go ride. (Once all the snow melts, I'm planning to ride from Winthrop to Diablo.)

We've had a few nice days in Seattle, and now I'm itching to travel. When does the snow usually melt on the east side?

One of these days, and probably sooner than later, I'll need to get a mountain bike, but, if that doesn't happen before the ice melts, I'll still be able to go enjoy.


There is some pretty cool riding up in the Teanaway Valley.

For example, some really pretty meadows to cruise through:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nU9Rbg57e44/Tn6EikVHDZI/AAAAAAAAArU/n1q6s8hpujY/s640/P1000974.JPG

And big slabs of rock to ride on. The traction is amazing!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vIQKZH6swI8/Tn6Eb4LXTAI/AAAAAAAAArY/QuOXXExH93M/s640/P1000967.JPG

Save for a horse rider here or there, you'll have the whole place to yourself. Highly recommended.

We've had a few nice days in Seattle, and now I'm itching to travel. When does the snow usually melt on the east side?

I was in Tacoma yesterday and it was 60 degrees - wishing I had brought a bike with me.

This time of year snow is hit and miss. Was clear the past couple of days but snowed last night. As we get through February the snow received overnight will typically melt quickly. I usually tell folks the roads are pretty good by April. Then it's a matter on how fast the gravel and sand gets cleaned up. The closer you are to Easton and the pass the longer it may take for the snow to melt.

I'll typically head into the hills on the mtb around the 3rd week of April to allow for snow melt and some hardening of the roads. The gravel roads will be pretty muddy until then. I have ran into snow in May at some higher elevations but that's usually on the north side of the hills where there's little sunlight.

In all the years I've lived here i've spent lots of time in the woods in spring, summer and fall. The Teanaway typically has snow drifts in places until mid-spring. As stated above roads closer to Ellensburg are snow free or were until last night. It even tried to snow here about an hour ago. SR821 is snow free and open and a pleasant ride however this time of year it is open to all traffic and real narrow in places. The drier ride route is a good route and I will hazard a guess that it is snow free now as well but de-icer, sand and gravel may be a hinderance. Feburary to mid-March are usually windless mostly. Late march and into June best to count on 30-35 mph westerly wind, with some higher gusts. If it is raining/ overcast in Seattle it will be windy here. Most all the forest service roads are closed to motor vehicles and become a huge snow park in the winter so count on them not being plowed or open until late spring. However that said this winter has been a light snowfall year and if it continues most roads will be passable early. My co-worker that lives in Roslyn says he only has a couple of feet on the level currently. Over twice that amount two weeks ago. Keep in mind last year the higher elevations got over 5 feet late February to early March.

.... I don't know of any paved roads around Lake Kachess.

There isn't a paved, or even unpaved road route around Kachess. A 3/4 or so circumnavigation can be done on mtn bike (with LOTS of pushing), but it's known as a death march, and for good reason.

I drove out along the Teanaway yesterday; pictures are here: http://retrocycler.blogspot.com/2012/02/teanaway-drive.html