Pacific Northwest - Need help planning a route to Seattle

I'm working on a short bike tour for this summer which would bring me from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley to Seattle. The plan is to cross into Washington at Osoyoos and Oroville on Highway 97. From there, what's the best route to take to get into Seattle?

I would head on the Northern Tier over the North Cascades Highway. Instead of going all the way to Anacortes, turn left and go down Whidbey Island. You could go down Whidbey to the southern end, take the ferry to Mukilteo, then head down through Edmonds and on to Seattle. I rode the opposite direction about 4 years ago and it was a great route. I started at my brother's house in Edmonds. 35 years ago I did the last part from Edmonds to Seattle and rode down Highway 99 (Aurora.) People would probably cringe at my choice of Aurora, but it was a road I knew and wasn't too busy when I got there - maybe 9:00 at night. I'm sure there are much nicer ways to get through the city now. On that same trip 4 years ago I did come riding in the city with an old friend and rode a lot on a trail - the Interurban? - that they were building then. We went from the Locks to Shoreline. Someone should be able to steer you on a good route through the Everett/Edmonds/Seattle corridor.

Another choice after you get onto Whidbey Island is to take the ferry across to Port Townsend and ride down the weat side of the peninsula, then to Seattle via one of the ferries. If it was me I'd go all the way down until I could get around Hood Canal. Then I'd ride parallel to the Canal and up into Bremerton, and take the ferry across from there. But that's because I grew up there and have sentimental attachments to Hood Canal and Bremerton. Still, it would be a fun choice for anyone.

Thanks. How's the North Cascades Highway for climbs and elevation gains?

Thanks. How's the North Cascades Highway for climbs and elevation gains?

Kind of brutal, actually. A steep mountain highway.

I would head on the Northern Tier over the North Cascades Highway. Instead of going all the way to Anacortes, turn left and go down Whidbey Island. You could go down Whidbey to the southern end, take the ferry to Mukilteo, then head down through Edmonds and on to Seattle. I rode the opposite direction about 4 years ago and it was a great route. I started at my brother's house in Edmonds. 35 years ago I did the last part from Edmonds to Seattle and rode down Highway 99 (Aurora.) People would probably cringe at my choice of Aurora, but it was a road I knew and wasn't too busy when I got there - maybe 9:00 at night. I'm sure there are much nicer ways to get through the city now. On that same trip 4 years ago I did come riding in the city with an old friend and rode a lot on a trail - the Interurban? - that they were building then. We went from the Locks to Shoreline. Someone should be able to steer you on a good route through the Everett/Edmonds/Seattle corridor.

Another choice after you get onto Whidbey Island is to take the ferry across to Port Townsend and ride down the weat side of the peninsula, then to Seattle via one of the ferries. If it was me I'd go all the way down until I could get around Hood Canal. Then I'd ride parallel to the Canal and up into Bremerton, and take the ferry across from there. But that's because I grew up there and have sentimental attachments to Hood Canal and Bremerton. Still, it would be a fun choice for anyone.

Yeah, sorry but I don't agree with him. Your best bet is down to Wenatchee and take Hwy 2 to Monroe and head south to Fall City and head west into Redmond. From there, you have a few options including taking the Burke-Gilman Trail around lake Washington into Seattle or around Lake Sammamish and hook up with the I90 trail into the city.

Although 20 is a beautiful pass, I wouldn't want to ride it. I would avoid it like the plague. Also, you probably don't want to ride up Blewitt pass from Hwy 2 near Leavenworth to Hwy 90 either. It's got 3 killer hills.

However, if you do go 20, I would get off at Sedro-Woolley and catch Hwy 9 down to Arlington and catch the Centennial Trail into Snohomish and either go down through Monroe like I mentioned above or bite the bullet and ride out of the Snohomish Valley into Everett where you can catch the Interurban Trail all the way into the city.

I have ridden all these routes except Hwy 2 but have been eyeing it for years. It will happen.

Finally, if you have a mountain bike/hybrid, then check out the John Wayne trail. It's a rails to trails path that you can catch at the Columbia River near Vantage and ride a 2% grade (up and down) all the way into North Bend. From there you can ride down into Snoqualmie, Fall City, and into Redmond and follow the advice above. I have ridden the John Wayne Trail from the west to the top of the pass and back and it was pretty and pretty easy.

Having said all that, your best options are I-90 or Stevens (hwy 2). Of those 2, I would take 90 as it is the safest but also the furthest from you.

The North Cascades Highway is pretty tough, but incredibly beautiful. Highway 2 is also beautiful and I don't dispute that it would be a good choice. I think it has a bit less climbing. I've ridden Highway 9. I started in Bellingham, rode south by Lake Whatcom, and joined Highway 9 somewhere southwest of there. It was a beautiful ride for the first part, but then became straight and busy without much scenery. The highway down Whidbey is also busy, and often you don't see anything but trees, but there are also plenty of views of the sound and San Juans. I like camping at Deception Pass and South Whidbey.

Plenty of options.

Highway 2 involves less climbing, but also less natural beauty. It's also less bike friendly. Most of US 2 isn't bad, but there are sections, like part of Tumwater Canyon, the several miles around Steven's Pass, a few miles between the pass and Skykomish, some of the area about halfway down the west side, and most bridges, that made me pretty nervous. Also the bridges tend not to have any shoulder at all. The speed limit is 60 which means a lot of cars and some trucks are doing 70 to 75 mph, very close to you. People take Route 2 because they have somewhere to go; people take SR 20 because they're sight seeing.

20 goes over two mountain passes; 2 only goes over one. They're both long, though, and the grading is pretty gentle. I don't think there was anything worse than 8 % on either. If you take 2, there are signs near the top that basically say no hitchhiking and no pedestrians, but don't say whether bikes are ok, while the cars are zipping past at 75 mph and the road divides like a freeway. Know that bikes are allowed here. I started to wonder if I should turn back at that point. (Also, if you take 2, take time out to visit Icicle Creek, and Lake Wenatchee too.)

I wouldn't want to go too far on 97, it's hot, sun parched, and the scenery is interesting, but not spectacular. If you go that route, Old Blewett Pass is a better ride than New Blewett (Swauk), if you can cross the creek with your bike - there's a bridge out until November.

If you take Snoqualmie Pass, you'll be stuck on I-90 most of the way. I've seen people on bikes here, and I think the mountain scenery is pretty nice. But I'd hate to ride on the freeway.

I have a touring bike with cyclocross tires and the John Wayne Trail on I90 is a great option if you go that route.

Also, he didn't say what his goal is. There's a lot o beautiful stuff out there. But if he's looking to make time, then riding down Whidbey is not the best option. But I do agree with him it's a beautiful island. :)

I wouldn't miss HWY 20 personally. The most scenic route, and the climb from the east side isn't as bad as the west. After you reach the pass you are in store for a 30-50 mile downhill...weeeee

Also, he didn't say what his goal is. There's a lot o beautiful stuff out there. But if he's looking to make time, then riding down Whidbey is not the best option. But I do agree with him it's a beautiful island. :)


He said bike tour, it's not a commute or a race. Take the scenic route, smell the flowers, enjoy the views.

Avoid HWY 20 like the plague? I think hundreds of bike tourers and thousands of recreational cyclists would disagree with you. But hey, different strokes or whatever.

He said bike tour, it's not a commute or a race. Take the scenic route, smell the flowers, enjoy the views.

Avoid HWY 20 like the plague? I think hundreds of bike tourers and thousands of recreational cyclists would disagree with you. But hey, different strokes or whatever.

No, you're correct. I should have taken more time to read the OP. I scanned it. Yeah, if you've got the time, do 20. Agreed Hwy 20 is awesome. Heck, zig-zag the passes and build those thighs. I admit Zoltani, you have good taste in pass routes, but I still question your Seattle analysis. :)