Leavenworth -> Coles Corner -> Lake Wenatchee -> Plain -> Leavenworth
04-23-12, 10:30 AM
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Leavenworth -> Coles Corner -> Lake Wenatchee -> Plain -> Leavenworth
I got my first sunburn of the year on this ride, which is a happy occasion for people living in Seattle. And I did the ride in a short-sleeved tee shirt. Good times.
I parked in Leavenworth, and there was some kind of festival going on. Parking was more scarce than in Pioneer Square, and people with buildings (the library, etc) were renting out spaces in their parking lots. I used the Park and Ride to park, and then ride.
From Leavenworth, I went up the canyon on US 2 West, then right at Cole's Corner after having lunch, down to Lake Wenatchee, and I made a loop instead of doubling back, heading out through Plain. I don't have a map handy to tell you exactly which roads I took (Beaver Valley and Chumstick were two of the keys) but if you follow the road signs, it's impossible to get lost.
I was out here a week ago, doing a different ride on US 2. A lot of snow melted in a week.
I parked in Leavenworth, and there was some kind of festival going on. Parking was more scarce than in Pioneer Square, and people with buildings (the library, etc) were renting out spaces in their parking lots. I used the Park and Ride to park, and then ride.
From Leavenworth, I went up the canyon on US 2 West, then right at Cole's Corner after having lunch, down to Lake Wenatchee, and I made a loop instead of doubling back, heading out through Plain. I don't have a map handy to tell you exactly which roads I took (Beaver Valley and Chumstick were two of the keys) but if you follow the road signs, it's impossible to get lost.
I was out here a week ago, doing a different ride on US 2. A lot of snow melted in a week.
04-23-12, 10:31 AM
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04-23-12, 10:58 AM
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Great pics! Looks like you had a nice ride.
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Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
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04-23-12, 01:15 PM
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It wound up being about 45 miles, and 1,933 feet of elevation gain. The road is graded pretty well, so it isn't terribly steep anywhere during the ride.
04-23-12, 09:19 PM
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How were the shoulders on Hwy 2 north of Leavenworth through the canyon area?
04-24-12, 09:08 AM
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The shoulders on Route 2 get narrow and uncomfortable around Steven's Pass, on both sides, but from Leavenworth to Cole's Corner (where the turn for Lake Wenatchee is) are wide enough that I don't think I ever gave it a second through.
04-24-12, 03:12 PM
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The 'river' side of Highway 2 as it goes through the river canyon is somewhat narrow between the road and the guardrail, but still a few feet wide. The 'cliff' side on the highway has wider shoulders. The worst part of riding Highway 2 in this area is the considerable road grit on the shoulders which can make for sometimes slippery conditions on skinny road tires.
04-24-12, 04:15 PM
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Nice pics. When we do this ride, we usually run the loop the other way around, so that we're coming down Hwy 2 through the Tumwater Canyon; makes it easier to look at the river, etc. Of course, then you've got to climb up towards Plain when you leave Leavenworth. But it's a good ride.
04-24-12, 04:40 PM
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I was thinking it'd be better in the opposite direction, too. Mostly because the scenery leaving the canyon on Route 2 (coming into Leavenworth) should be much better. Also, there are a few switchbacks on a climb outside of Plain; you go up, over a little shoulder, then back down ... and these seemed like they'd be more fun going the other way, too. But I didn't know either of these things at the time.
