Pacific Northwest - What do you think about the Methow Valley as a place to ride...?

It's the spot for skiing cross-country, and pretty renowned for MTB trails. They've been advertising themselves as a bike destination in general, and I always thought the idea of road riding out there was kind of silly. I mean, there are about a dozen roads in the valley. One day I was driving my bike to Arlington for a more rural ride, stopped for a nature break at a highway rest stop, and ran into two ladies who were driving their road and mountain bikes to Winthrop for some riding. I've heard people at LBS talk about going out there to ride. A new guidebook I bought has some Methow rides out there. And, in general, there's been a lot of buzz lately.

I camped in the North Cascades (at Diablo Lake) over the Fourth of July, did some exploring, and went for a long road ride out of Winthrop. So I guess it (the adverts and word of mouth) worked on me. (I'll post a ride report, in a separate thread.)

What I'm curious about is how other people think of the area. Have you heard anything/much about cycling there? Do you have an opinion on it? Have you been on a bike out that way?

http://themethowvalley.com/toppics/Washington_State.gif

My wife and I stayed in Winthrop over the Memorial day weekend and brought our road bikes. Although there aren't as many routes to choose from compared to MTB, the roads and scenery were excellent! Low traffic on all but the main road and any cars we encountered gave us plenty of space.260753

I've chimed in on this before but it is my favorite place to ride. My GF and I go over there at least 2 times a year for 3 day weekends. We do the ride to the pass almost every trip. I never tire of those last few miles when the views open up to the Liberty Bell Group. The camping is great, there is access to showers at the KOA and State Park, several good restaurants, a couple of micro-breweries, good fishing and a great candy shop.

There are maybe more spectacular roads within a few hours of Seattle like Sunrise, Stevens Canyon to Paradise, Hurrican Ridge and the the Mt Baker Highway but all those rides are best done on a weekday and there aren't the other amenities close by to make a great weekend.

Here's an article from six years ago, from the Seattle Times:


Driving the wide sweeping curve below Liberty Bell, just past Washington Pass on Highway 20, I always fairly salivate as I begin the free-fall descent into the Methow Valley.

The mountain biking.

The trail-running series.

The ski trails.

The cowboy-horsey stuff that makes you feel like you stumbled onto the set of "Deadwood." (Minus all the four-letter words.)

The Sun Mountain Lodge. (Oooooh, pretty.)

And now, after an October spin through wide-open spaces and dry ponderosa forests, rolling over and around scrubby hills that look like the backs of tan elephants, I've got something else to salivate for: the road biking.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2003310720_nwwbikemethow19.html

The bold part is important to me, because I have a road bike, but no MTB or CX bike, at least for now. Your mileage could vary.

My friend told me Carleton is where the showers are, and to bring quarters.

The only road riding I have done over there is from Winthrop up to Washington Pass and back and I think it's a great ride. I've mountain biked about everything you can over there and it's one of my favorite places.

My friend told me Carleton is where the showers are, and to bring quarters.

We "sneak" into Perrygin State Park and use the showers. You need quarters for those and you are supposed to have a Washington State Parks Pass to enter the park.

The KOA in Winthrop, $6 I think, has showers but they told us that on busy weekends they might not be able to let us use them.

We bought one of those solar showers but haven't use it yet. Not keen on draining soapy water in a camp ground.

We "sneak" into Perrygin State Park and use the showers. You need quarters for those and you are supposed to have a Washington State Parks Pass to enter the park.

The KOA in Winthrop, $6 I think, has showers but they told us that on busy weekends they might not be able to let us use them.

We bought one of those solar showers but haven't use it yet. Not keen on draining soapy water in a camp ground.

I also was up in the Methow During memorial day weekend, and really enjoyed the riding.

While riding through Twisp I noticed a laundromat/shower place, http://www.hwy20washworks.com/, so that is one option for showering.

We "sneak" into Perrygin State Park and use the showers. You need quarters for those and you are supposed to have a Washington State Parks Pass to enter the park.

If you are on a bicycle you do not need a Discover Pass.

I also was up in the Methow During memorial day weekend, and really enjoyed the riding.

While riding through Twisp I noticed a laundromat/shower place, http://www.hwy20washworks.com/, so that is one option for showering.

Thanks for the link, I'll remember that in the future. Convenient if you are going to the Twips River Pub or the pizza place across the street after the ride.

There were a lot of bikes Memorial Weekend. Nice to see.

If you are on a bicycle you do not need a Discover Pass.


That's cool, didn't know that but it makes sense. Since we usually camp at Klipchuck 20+ miles outside of town we drive in and shower. Was going to buy a pass last time we were there but my friend lent us his.

Yeah, except the twisp river pub had the worst beer! I could not even finish a glass of it, and that is VERY rare.

Yeah, except the twisp river pub had the worst beer! I could not even finish a glass of it, and that is VERY rare.

I've had mixed experience with their beer, some real good, some not. I usually ask to sample anything there before getting a pint. The Schoolhouse in Winthrop has some of my favorite beer anywhere, the Blond and the Ruud Awakening IPA are great. But the food is better in at the Twisp Brewpub. Both have decks on the water which is great in the summer.

I've ridden SR 20 through the Methow Valley from Washington Pass up to Loup Loup Pass as part of a cross-continent bike tour last year. And yeah, it was beautiful. I agree with the writer of the Seattle Times piece that Seattle Forrest quoted; entering the valley from Washington Pass is indeed epic. (Though technically speaking, it's the Early Winters Creek Valley, a tributary.) Love to do it again sometime.