Seattle Forrest

Has anyone biked along the shores of Lake Roosevelt? How is the scenery? How's the riding? Would you recommend it? When's the best time to go see it?

I'm trying to explore further afield of Seattle. I've biked over Steven's and Snoqualmie Passes, over beautiful parts of the North Cascades Highway, and other spots in Western WA. I love it, and will continue, but I'd like to see more of the eastern parts of the state. Also, with the rain and gloom lately, and snow in the mountains, I've been making summer plans.

To that end, I bought the 3D/raised relief map for Washington state:



... and Lake Roosevelt stands out. It's surrounded by mountains, long enough to make for a good ride, and far enough from home to make me feel like I'm not doing the same things over and over again. I'm thinking this might be good around Memorial Day, when there will probably still be snow keeping some of the higher roads closed?

Seattle Forrest

This thread has got a lot of views, but no replies. What that probably means is that there's at least moderate interest in riding in nice, scenic, new (to the rider) places around the Pacific Northwest, but nobody who reads this forum has been to Lake Roosevelt.

So here are some pictures, fresh from Google Images. I can't say much about them, except that this looks like a nice place to ride.







Beyond a certain point, it turns to desert.



Here's a map, if anyone else wants to think about checking this place out.

ngateguy

I have never rode the whole route just part of the northeast corner and have driven the eastside of the lake. It is very hilly no shoulder, busy and fast traffic. I would say it is not for the weak of heart. Spectacular scenery.

Seattle Forrest

Thanks!

No shoulder next to fast and busy traffic isn't my favorite kind of riding. Since I'm more or less in the "I've got wanderlust, and it's time to make plans to address it" stage, I'll try to find other places to ride.

ngateguy

If you don't mind climbs there is some very nice riding in the area of Chewalah that doesn't have much in traffic.

ACree

I've driven through the area on mtb trips. Definitely some roads that look good, others not so much. Might go a little further east to the other side of Colville for some more remote, and probably quieter roads.

pat5319

lots of roads around spokane, Coeur d'Alene and the "Palouse" (just south of Spokane) many roads with very light traffic, see : https://www.spokanecentennialtrail.org/ https://friendsofcdatrails.org/CdA_Trail/index.html https://www.luminous-landscape.com/lo.../palouse.shtml

gritface

In 2009, cascade.org's Ride Around Washington hit the eastern shore of Lake Roosevelt and it was fantastic riding! It was some good exploring on excellent pavement. Pic 5130 and higher https://www.renfrow.net/photos/displayimage.php?pid=5130 are from the South end of Roosevelt up to Kettle Falls. If you're interested, I can piece together the route, but you should be able to do the same from the pics.

toddles

Are you driving there??

Seattle Forrest

Some great advice in this thread. And yeah, the plan is to drive the bike out that way, stay for maybe half a week, and get some riding in.

toddles

When are you thinking of going?

Seattle Forrest

Dunno. I've been getting restless because there are only so many times you can ride around town before you need to go check something out. Saturday I rode from Monroe to Sultan and back on side roads, and Sunday I did the Green River Gorge, Black Diamond, and the edge of Maple Valley. I'll probably keep explore back roads around here (the sound, foot hills, maybe some of the islands) until around May and see if I can get out further when it's a little warmer and the days are longer...

toddles

Last summer I rode from Woodinville, to Snohomish, Monroe, Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Redmond and back. I've pretty much taken this year off but looking to get back into it this week. Let me know if you're interested in hooking up sometime.

Seattle Forrest

Sounds good. What kind of pace do you like to keep?

toddles

Yeah, that could be a problem. I was riding about 14-15 mph for about 60 miles with stops every 20 or so. But as you know, there have been some chemicals that have been effecting my performance lately (where's Lance Armstrong when you need the right kind of chemicals?). It definitely has taken a bit of a hit but I hope to be back on my game in May/June. So if that's too slow -- I totally get it. It was just a thought.

Seattle Forrest

Nah, that's fine. Would have been a problem if you wanted to keep a 25 mph average, though. The main reason I ride is to get out and enjoy the scenery. You ever ride around Granite Falls?

It's supposed to pour all weekend, maybe that'll change. I'll shoot you a PM some time before too long and make plans.

vandalarchitect

Definitely some good rides with light traffic out this way on the Palouse. I haven't ridden around CdA or Spokane to give any advice on those areas, but if you're in Pullman the LBS has a great list of rides you can check out here. The one problem with riding around Pullman is in the old saying, "All dirt roads lead to Pullman." They've paved most of them now but if you try to go exploring to find new roads you usually wind up on some gravel.

toddles

Oddly my gal and I took a road trip out there. We entered town through the back way and I was eyeing some spots. It's pretty easy catching it from the Centennial Trail. Yeah, if I'm going to go out -- I like a steady pace but want to take in my surroundings. It'd be fun. I typically alone so it'd be cool to catch up with another rider. There's still a lot of great riding to be had here.

Again, it's only been 3 months but I know I'm quite a bit off that pace -- and it won't return until I quit that other stuff.

Wildwood 

I rode across the state last summer, went due east from Nespelem across the Colville Indian Reservation to Inchelium. There is an excellent campground at Gifford (just north of the ferry), right on the lake that is excellent. Next morning south to Hunters and east to Springdale - the ride was excellent. I would agree with earlier post about no shoulders on many roads, but mid-week mornings there was almost no traffic.

I would do it again in a heartbeat - but alas, there will be no spare time for me this summer.

edit - ya gadda have lunch or dinner at Geronimo's in Springdale if you are there.