BikePacking Washington

BikePacking
Palouse to Cascades Trail

This is an excellent trail to tackle as a weekend adventure or as a weeklong High Adventure.

Weekend trips have include Hyak to North Bend Day Trip - 30 miles of downhill with and ice-cream finish

Kittitas to Columbia River with Camping

North Bend to Idaho - 6-day High Adventure

Length: 287-mile trail
- Can be extended west to Third Place Commons
  - Use to shift trail west to avoid some sun
  - Or, extend trail for a total of 339 miles
- Can be shortened by shuttling riders past detours and undesirable sections of trail
  - A 6-7 day ride by the average 13-14 year old Scout (after train up) is reasonable
Location: North Bend to the Columbia River near Vantage then to Idaho
Trail surfaces: Gravel
Trail category: Rail-Trail
Elevation Gain: mostly flat with up to 2% slopes (with a few hilly bypasses east of Columbia River)
parks.state.wa.us/521/Palouse-to-Cascades

Showing possible route from Seattle to Idaho Boarder
Trail generally starts at Rattlesnake Lake
End point is wherever you want it to be

Epic Adventure
- Participants will remember this trip the rest of their lives
- Considered one of the best long distance rides in the US, second to Continental Divide
Remote
Protected Bikeway for most of the journey
Limited road riding with minimal traffic
Wonderful landscape include forests, mountains and desert
Incredible bridges and trestles along the way
Railroad grade gravel roads - no big ascents
Bikepacking or Supported Camping
- Bigger Adventure with Bikepacking
- Easier riding with Supported Camping
North Route option available at Cle Elum
- Mountain Bike Option
Length can be tailored to group
- Extend east as far into desert as you like
- Extend west as far towards the ocean as you like

Remote
Limited Trail Access to many parts of the trail
High heat in the summer
Many parts of trail east of Columbia River are closed, but detours are available
Trestles can be scare for some, but detours are available
Water planning is essential east of Ellensburg
Potentially a long drive home, depending on where you end

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