Pacific Northwest - Suggest some rides east of the cascades

Well, it turns out that I will have access to a car this coming holiday weekend, so I thought I'd go camping and riding in areas that I usually cannot access without a car. Seattle Forest's pics from Icicle Creek makes me want to do that ride, but I am looking for suggestions for other rides. Can be anywhere within a few hours of Leavenworth I guess. Thinking maybe up in the north, maybe close to omak or something like that? I am open to anything.

I've done, and recommend:


Icicle Creek (http://pacificnorthwestcycling.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/icicle-creek-road-edge-of-the-alpine-lakes-wilderness/)
Leavenworth -> Plain -> Coles Corner -> Leavenworth (http://pacificnorthwestcycling.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/escape-from-leavenworth/)
Blewett and Swauk Passes, as a loop (http://pacificnorthwestcycling.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/hot-brown-mountains-swauk-and-blewett-passes/) (last chance 'til November!)
Leavenworth (or thereabouts) to Steven's Pass (http://pacificnorthwestcycling.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/escape-from-leavenworth/) (you could take SR-207 instead of US-2 if you can handle dirt roads?)

I'd like to ride:


Winthrop to Diablo Lake (65 miles, ~5,000 feet elevation gain)
Lake Roosevelt

Not a complete list, but good for starters. What kind of mileage and elevation are you looking for? I've seen maps of what looked like good loops from Winthrop and Omak, but don't have them handy.

It's a ways but when I rode the Northern Tier, I really liked the northeast Washington section from Omak to Newport.

Winthrop area is a mecca for good road and mountain biking, the local bike shop has nice maps and I think you can find them online if you do some searching for Methow bike rides. Flatter rides to Mazama or up the Chewuch River or hit the hills up to Washington Pass, Loup Loup Pass, Sun Mountain or some of the side roads off the Chewuch.

Longer drive than Leavenworth but less crowded.

Yeah, i was scoping some FS campgrounds around twisp and winthrop, so I think I'll be in the area anyway. Thanks for the tip.

There are several up Chewuch Road. Falls Creek, I think, is small and quite. On the river and close to the road.

Klipchuck outside of Mazama is nice too. Lone Fir gets crowded and might not have water this early and Early Winters is not very scenic IMO.

Lots of options. We fish at Black Pine Lake and that is nice but farther from Winthrop.

The Manastash Metric route is always a good one with the exception of spring winds. Lots of mtb options also if you're into mixing it up a little.

The Manastash Metric route is always a good one with the exception of spring winds. Lots of mtb options also if you're into mixing it up a little.

Except that SR 10 is closed for bridge deck replacement of the Bristol Fill bridge. See link (http://http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6C0C2B33-0BB9-435F-9BC2-49EBAC722EE5/0/2012_SCR_Construction_KittitasCounty_120501.pdf) or link (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/southcentral/Construction/). I've not confirmed that it is not passable but it would add many miles if you got there and it was not passable. However, great minds think alike in that I am thinking of doing that route on Saturday or Sunday and detouring 970, then 97 over Bettas and home. I think that will add 5-10 miles to the route. I'll post later.

BTW Seattle Forrest might want to add Bettas Pass to his list..... on both 97 and Bettas road, both can be considered passes in my book although not as severe as major passes.

Except that SR 10 is closed for bridge deck replacement of the Bristol Fill bridge. See link (http://http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6C0C2B33-0BB9-435F-9BC2-49EBAC722EE5/0/2012_SCR_Construction_KittitasCounty_120501.pdf) or link (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/southcentral/Construction/). I've not confirmed that it is not passable but it would add many miles if you got there and it was not passable. However, great minds think alike in that I am thinking of doing that route on Saturday or Sunday and detouring 970, then 97 over Bettas and home. I think that will add 5-10 miles to the route. I'll post later.

BTW Seattle Forrest might want to add Bettas Pass to his list..... on both 97 and Bettas road, both can be considered passes in my book although not as severe as major passes.

Didn't know that about Hwy 10 - glad you said something because I'm contemplating that route also this weekend as well as a long mtb ride in the Naneum State Forest for some good climbing.

BTW Seattle Forrest might want to add Bettas Pass to his list..... on both 97 and Bettas road, both can be considered passes in my book although not as severe as major passes.

Thanks for the tip! :D

Lots of super rides around Spokane, eastern Washington, North Idaho. With little or no traffic and some very good trails both on and off road. Give me a shout I'd be glad to help

Ended up riding from Winthrop to Twisp and up Twisp River Road. Some beautiful riding up there, hellish winds.

Weather was pleasant except for the winds. We rode to Washington and Rainy Passes from Winthrop on Saturday and the winds going up the valley weren't too bad. On Sunday we rode through Twisp and up to Loup Loup Pass and the winds on the return leg were energy sapping. A lot of the locals recommend riding in the morning to avoid the afternoon winds. Sometimes they are bad and sometimes not.

Don't know if I've ever seen that many cyclists over there other than during the bike festival. More auto traffic than normal too, seemed like everyone was over there this holiday weekend.