Mountain Biking Adventures
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Iron Horse State Park: Snoqualmie Tunnel - Easy (6.1 miles)
Click on this pic to link to Seattle Times article
Ever want to go on a night ride -- during the day? The Snoqualmie Tunnel, on the Milwaukee Railroad grade, affords that unique opportunity with a 2.3-mile tunnel through, not over, Snoqualmie Pass. The flat, smooth, gravel rail-trail is suitable for beginners, but provides an experience that even advanced-level riders won't find elsewhere. Advanced riders can also continue west to the tunnel for more than 15 miles each way. For miles of decidedly non-flat riding nearby, tackle the roads and singletrack at nearby Ski Acres Mountain Bike and Hiking Center. The area has hosted national- and international-level competition, both cross-country and downhill. Be like the downhillers and take the ski lifts up, or be like the cross-country riders and climb from the base. Even in the heat of summer, the tunnel is dark and chill; lights and warm clothing are essential. Scenery: Alpine views on the way to the tunnel, darkness inside, Keechelus Lake nearby.
Read more at Trails.com: Iron Horse State Park: Snoqualmie Tunnel | Hyak Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW050-034#ixzz1r0znM41I
Read more at Trails.com: Iron Horse State Park: Snoqualmie Tunnel | Hyak Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW050-034#ixzz1r0znM41I
Mt. Amabilis Loop - Easy to Moderate (11.2 miles)
This 11.2-mile ride is a combination of two out-and-back spurs and a loop. Of the climbing, 2 miles are easy, 2.5 miles are moderately difficult, and 1 mile is demanding. The route follow good gravel roads, with some exposed rocks and a loose, coarse tread in the steepest areas. There is a short stretch of dirt doubletrack in good condition. The second half of the ride is a long descent that starts out roughly: the road is washed out and rutted at the top, but it quickly improves. Freeway noise and views of clear-cut forests are predominant as you climb. Your senses are rewarded with less assaulting stimuli as you near the summit of Amabilis Mountain. At the top, the view of Kachess Lake, with its mountain backdrop, is lovely. To the north you can see the rugged Rampart and Chikamin Ridges, which lie in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. Mt. Rainier looms large on the horizon in the southwest.
Read more at Trails.com: Amabilis Mountain | Cle Elum Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW050-035#ixzz1r12A9xd9
Read more at Trails.com: Amabilis Mountain | Cle Elum Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW050-035#ixzz1r12A9xd9
John Wayne Pioneer Trail: Easton to Ellensburg - Easy to Moderate (38.4 miles)
This mostly flat section of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail offers outstanding views as it winds across prairie lands near Easton then eastward through South Cle Elum before moving into the sagebrush-dotted lands along the Yakima River, near the farming town of Thorp. The ride concludes in Ellensburg
Read more at Trails.com: John Wayne Pioneer Trail: Lake Easton to Ellensburg | Easton Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW046-336#ixzz1r109avvt
Read more at Trails.com: John Wayne Pioneer Trail: Lake Easton to Ellensburg | Easton Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW046-336#ixzz1r109avvt
Kachess Ridge Loop - Challenging (18.6 miles)
Located just east of Snoqualmie Pass, this ride offers a convenient adventure for Seattle-area mountain bikers.
A long, steep climb, stunning views of Mount Rainier and Kachess Lake, a hike-a-bike scramble over a scree-covered slope, a rapid-fire shot through mountain meadows, and dangerously eroded switchbacks all combine to make Kachess Ridge an excellent adventure in mountain biking. Located only a few miles on the east side of Snoqualmie Pass and above the tiny town of Easton, Washington, and above Kachess Lake, the Kachess Ridge Loop is a fantastic ride for advanced mountain bikers. The Kachess Ridge Loop starts off with an easy 4.5-mile warm-up as the access road follows the east side of the lake. But don’t let the leisurely ramble fool you. About a third of the way in, the route begins a long, steep climb to the top. Cyclists will climb nearly 3,000 feet in just 4 miles, making this a ride for mid- to late-season conditioning. Early in the season, it is a punishing workout. The pain is worth the effort. Near the top of the ridge, riders are rewarded with awesome views of Mount Rainier to the south and the lake below. Trail surface: Forest roads, singletrack, creek crossings, and meadows.
Read more at Trails.com: Kachess Ridge Loop | Easton Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW063-039#ixzz1r11T5iZL
Read more at Trails.com: Kachess Ridge | Easton Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW046-015#ixzz1r11DthjJ
A long, steep climb, stunning views of Mount Rainier and Kachess Lake, a hike-a-bike scramble over a scree-covered slope, a rapid-fire shot through mountain meadows, and dangerously eroded switchbacks all combine to make Kachess Ridge an excellent adventure in mountain biking. Located only a few miles on the east side of Snoqualmie Pass and above the tiny town of Easton, Washington, and above Kachess Lake, the Kachess Ridge Loop is a fantastic ride for advanced mountain bikers. The Kachess Ridge Loop starts off with an easy 4.5-mile warm-up as the access road follows the east side of the lake. But don’t let the leisurely ramble fool you. About a third of the way in, the route begins a long, steep climb to the top. Cyclists will climb nearly 3,000 feet in just 4 miles, making this a ride for mid- to late-season conditioning. Early in the season, it is a punishing workout. The pain is worth the effort. Near the top of the ridge, riders are rewarded with awesome views of Mount Rainier to the south and the lake below. Trail surface: Forest roads, singletrack, creek crossings, and meadows.
Read more at Trails.com: Kachess Ridge Loop | Easton Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW063-039#ixzz1r11T5iZL
Read more at Trails.com: Kachess Ridge | Easton Washington Mountain Bike Trails | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailId=BGW046-015#ixzz1r11DthjJ
