Author Topic: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights  (Read 7842 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jon_baler

Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« on: February 18, 2018, 09:49:30 am »
My wife and I will be riding from Seattle to Vancouver the last week of July, and looking for route suggestions.  We have 7 days/6 nights of riding, and must arrive in Vancouver on the 7th day due to other travel obligations.  We'll be looking to depart Seattle early on 7/28 (Saturday), and arrive in Vancouver on 8/3 (Friday)

We typically average 65 miles a day while enjoying ourselves with good food and beer, but can pull a longer day to reach a destination.  We will be camping most nights, but will spring for a hotel  to take advantage of a larger city.

We definitely plan to hit the San Juan islands, but still working the rest of the details.  I was considering starting with the ferry to Bainbridge Island, but now considering the direct ferry to the San Juan islands from Seattle.  This would give us more time to spend in Victoria/Vancouver Island, and cut-out the need to take every day.

Current thought is looking something like this:
-2 nights - San Juan Islands
-1-2 night Victoria
-1-3 night TBD, Vancouver Island

In 2015, we rode from Vancouver - Bellingham - Fidalgo Island - Whidbey Island - Port Townsend - Quilcene and south on the 101 over 3 days, so would like to hit up different areas this time.





Offline jon_baler

Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2018, 09:04:03 pm »
Current thought is just to ride out from Seattle, and take the Mukilteo / Clinton ferry to Whidbey Island.  There are a number of ferry options to the San Juans from Anacortes, including options for different islands.   

Offline adventurepdx

  • World Traveler
  • *****
  • Posts: 568
  • Riding bikes in and around Portland, Oregon
Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2018, 02:42:30 pm »
Current thought is just to ride out from Seattle, and take the Mukilteo / Clinton ferry to Whidbey Island.  There are a number of ferry options to the San Juans from Anacortes, including options for different islands.

That's how I'd do it. You can do Seattle to Whidbey in a day (camp at South Whidbey?) Then ride up to Anacortes to ferry over to the islands. You can camp in Anacortes, or if you can still catch a ferry get on to one of the San Juans for the second night.

As for San Juans camping, this is what I've found out over the years:
  • San Juan Island: The county park is on the opposite (west) side of the island from the ferry dock (east) in Friday Harbor. About an hour ride. It has a shared hiker/biker site, and a great sunset view.
  • Lopez: The county park (Odlin) is about a mile from the ferry, and also has hiker/biker. The state park (Spencer Spit) is about four miles from the ferry, and has hiker/biker.
  • Orcas: There's a few camping spots, but they are a bit aways from the ferry. Moran State Park is the typical go-to, and about a hour and change ride.
  • Shaw: The county park is about a mile from the ferry landing and has hiker/biker. It's the quietest island since it's small and there's not much going on (the ferry dock has the sole store/cafe), so possibly the best spot to find camping on a busy weekend.

The San Juans get busy on summer weekends, but drop off during the weekend. I was amazed how quiet Odlin Park was on a Sunday night in July when I was there last year!

One note regarding the ferry to Sidney (BC/Vancouver Island): There's only two sailings a day. Both start at Anacortes, but only one (the morning) has a stop in the San Juans, and that's Friday Harbor/San Juan Island. So if you are going that way, it would probably be best to plan to be on that island the morning you want to go to Vancouver Island.

Offline Steel, my bike

Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2018, 10:29:03 pm »
Vancouver Island has some of the few remaining temperate rain-forests and an unbelievable Biological Beach, unfortunately they are on the West end of the island. We cheated and rented a car. The route thru the middle of the island was pretty by car but its a full day ride.
LMK if you want more details on camping and sightseeing on the West side.

Offline Itinerant Harper

Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2018, 03:24:53 pm »
South Whidbey State Park no longer allows camping. That means that Fort Casey is the closest campground, which is certainly doable but a lot longer ride (and Whidbey is plenty hilly). The closest camping to the city would be on Bainbridge Island, but might be too close.  What I personally would do (and have done more than once) is ride up to Port Townsend and camp either at Fort Townsend (closer) or Fort Worden (more scenic). Both have h/b areas.  You then are also in PT which is always a nice visit.  Then the ferry to Keystone and you’d be the same as if you’d ridden to Fort Casey.

Offline adventurepdx

  • World Traveler
  • *****
  • Posts: 568
  • Riding bikes in and around Portland, Oregon
Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2018, 03:31:31 pm »
South Whidbey State Park no longer allows camping. That means that Fort Casey is the closest campground, which is certainly doable but a lot longer ride (and Whidbey is plenty hilly).

Huh. I didn't realize the camping closed at South Whidbey. The website says it's due to diseased trees. Reminds me about what happened to the camping at Oswald West on the Oregon Coast.

Offline Itinerant Harper

Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2018, 04:41:54 pm »
Yeah it’s a shame — I really enjoyed the h/b sites there.

Offline neil

Re: Seattle - Vancouver: 7 days/6 nights
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2018, 06:01:05 pm »
Well
I've put together and am bringing 12 English cyclists on that route in August, but we're taking 3 weeks.
Here's the itinerary that took about 3 months to put together.
We are the UK equivalent of the ACA tours as volunteers for CUK also known as the Cyclists Touring Club

  Good Luck
     Neil

Itinerary
Sat 25 Aug
Sun 26 Aug Mon 27 Aug Tues 28 Aug Wed 29 Aug Thur 30 Aug Fri 31 Aug Sat 1 Sep Sun 2 Sep Mon 3 Sep Tues 4 Sep Wed 5 Sep Thur 6 Sep Fri 7 Sep Sat 8 Sep Sun 9 Sep Mon 10 Sep Tue 11 Sep Wed 12 Sep Thur 13 Sep Fri 14 Sep Sat 15 Sep
Sun 16 Sep
Fly from London Heathrow to Seattle . Stay 2 nights.
Free day to explore the city.
Ferry to Bremerton, WA. Cycle to Shelton. 45mi. Stay 1 night.
Cycle to Quilcene. 52mi. Stay 1 night.
Cycle to Port Angeles. 41mi. Stay 3 nights.
Explore the area west of Port Angeles. 43mi.
Cycle Hurricane Ridge. 38 mi.
Ferry to Victoria BC; explore the capital of Vancouver Island. 5mi. Stay 1 night.
Cycle then ferry to San Juan Island. 38mi. Stay 4 nights.
Explore Orcas Island. 40mi
Explore San Juan Island. 52 mi.
Explore Lopez Island. 37 mi.
Ferry to Sidney, cycle to Crofton. 35mi. Stay 1 night.
Cycle to Nanaimo. 26mi. Stay 2 nights.
Explore Gabriola Island. 18mi.
Cycle to Qualicum. 37mi. Stay 1 night.
Cycle to Powell River. (37mi) Stay 1 night.
Cycle to Sechelt. 52mi. Stay 1 night.
Cycle to Vancouver. 42mi. Stay 2 nights.
Free day to explore Vancouver.
Train to Seattle, WA. Stay 1 night.
Transfer to Seattle airport
Arrive London Heathrow at 0705.