Best roads in your area of the PNW

[johnsondasw]

We could share the best rides in our areas of the PNW. 

I'll start.  If you're in Central Washington (around the Cle Elum or Leavenworth areas) and planning to go over Blewett Pass, or are just in the area looking for a good ride, try the Old Blewett Highway.  If you're coming from the south. about 4 miles past Mineral Springs Resort the Old Blewett takes off on the left.  From the north, it starts about 5 miles past Ingalls Creek store/resort on the right.  There are signs both ways, but you need to keep a close watch. This old road it a total of 10 miles long, gains 1000 feet in 4 miles using the south entrance and about 1200 feet coming from the north.  We locals ride it all the time, and often extend the ride by starting on the main Blewett highway farther down on either side. You can do this to make the ride as long as you want. This main Blewett has good shoulders and a very smooth surface, although on weekends can be busy.  The old road is a real gem--no traffic, lots of fun curves, etc.  Maintenance is rare, so there is often some debris on the road, but it's easy to see and steer around.  The route is good for climbing conditioning!  If you get the chance, check it out. 

[johnsondasw]

Hmmmm.  273 views and not one response?  Oh well, so much for that idea!

[saafrican]

Dont be despondent ,   Lots of people will read your emails   , and keep the information to be used later .
Thanks for the idea though . I did quite a lot of riding 2 years ago in that area , and wished that I had access to local suggestions like yours.
I plane to be back in PNW later this year , and will try your route .
Once again thanks for your help .
 

[vanvalks]

Wish I had seen this earlier--I just finished a 10 day Cascade lop that included Blewett Pass.  I used the new road, which as you say is very nice and traffic was light, but wondered about the old.  Maybe next time...

Bob

[johnsondasw]

Yes, the old Blewett Pass road is a true gem and a relic from the days before highways.

[doug_in_seattle]

One of my favorite ways to get out of the suburbs near Seattle is May Valley Road.  Very bucolic, relatively little traffic.  Another road I love is High Bridge road, which follows the contours of the lower Snoqualmie Valley near Maltby.  My favorite roads are dead-end dirt roads that lead into the mountains, though.

[johnsondasw]

This Doug in Roslyn agrees with you.  I ride in the Seattle area a lot, but often go out to the areas around there--Fall City, Snohomish, Bellingham--anywhere in the greater Puget Sound area.  I love exploring back roads on a bike and do quite a bit of it.