Seattle Forrest

I say May 15.

https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/highways...sures-openings

diphthong

bucket list ride. let's go with the friday of memorial day weekend.

woodway

I'll say May 25th.

Seattle Forrest

It's actually pretty long and whenever we sing its praise we all mean a 50 to 75 mile section. Different people put the "it's starting to get really nice" at different places.

I biked some of the nice part for the first time ten years ago, went back and skied most of the same route. For me it's something special when I can connect my cycling with other outdoor loves. Great hiking just off the highway too. When you decide to check this one off, ping me for recommendations. 🙂

diphthong

i'd be good with about 110 miles max. was thinking of starting around lake shannon and heading to ross lake and back. looks like there are possibly a few little diversions enroute that may be highly scenic.

i would def hit you up for reccs next time i'm in the evergreen state. it's been about 5 years...last time-no bike. *sad face.* feel free to buzz me should you lose your sanity and descend to socal.

aplcr0331

I'd love to get over and do this sometime this year with my road bike. Which side should I plan to ride this from? Looking at Strava segments and it seems like you can go from either side.

Are there AirBnB's in the area or places to stay on the west side?

Better to do this during the week?

Seattle Forrest

aplcr0331

Where to start depends where you're staying. Start getting whichever end is a shorter drive.

​​​​​​Lodging: stay at the bunny cabins on the W side, get one of the chalets. Lot of options on the Methow side, I'm happy to recommend a few if you want to narrow down what you're looking for. There are also campgrounds and free camping.

There's nothing but hiking trails for about 50 miles. It gets pretty hot in the summer with lots of sun. If you don't bring a camelback you're going to be refilling your bottles from creeks. Only food option is bring it with you. There's everything you need at both ends though. Including iced cream and cold beer. You'll have earned them.

Definitely go on a week day. It's a remote highway, it's less trafficked than other routes and it's hugely popular with cyclists which means drivers know we're there ... but it's still a highway.

Depending what kind of scenery you like, the good stuff starts around Rockport or Marblemount on the W if you like wild and scenic rivers, or Newhalem for a very cool rocky gorge. (I saw a mountain goat walking on hwy 20 in Newhalem once.). To the E, the mountains end at Mazama, it's a lovely "desert" valley as far as Twisp, most people doing a day ride end (or start) in Winthrop. It keeps being pretty though.

Best times of year are spring, and the second week of October.

jazzyrider

News is reporting clearing so looking forward to this ride!
https://komonews.com/news/local/snow...egin-next-week

Funny how I talk about this and ridden it on the motorcycle but not yet on the bike. Maybe this year with the pandemic easing up!

imakecircles

Here is the Flickr album WSDOT has up to show the progress they're making: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/...h/50997162604/

Seattle Forrest

Next week.

The highway is mostly clear of snow and debris, but minor repairs to signs and guard rails are keeping it from opening to cars just yet. This weekend it will be open to bikes and pedestrians, but closed to other uses.

Be aware of avy danger if you go.

jazzyrider

Yea just read the status update as well. Might do a part of it next week on the gravel bike just in case of the debris and misc stuff.

Is Marblemount or Newhalem good parking to start out at? Welcoming suggestions please.

Seattle Forrest

I would start at the Ross Lake trailhead at mile 134. You'll drive through Marblemount and Newhalem this way. Doing so will let you ride without auto traffic, and I don't know how much time you have to ride but if that's limited it'll also get you closer to what most people think is the most dramatic part. I really enjoy riding through Newhalem a lot, but it adds 20 miles and if that means not riding Washington Pass, it probably isn't right.

I'll probably go tomorrow on 28 mm tires. I don't know what to expect in terms of debris but having the entire roadway should make it pretty easy to avoid stuff.

jazzyrider

Thank you SF! Targeting Wednesday this week as forecast shows best warm weather day! Hope to see your pics and ride report when you do this!

Seattle Forrest

1 pm tomorrow, May 5. Pretty close.

jazzyrider

Close guess!! Today ("May the fourth be with you") or Cinco de Mayo would've been great guesses too!

I had some buddies do the ride on Sunday and their pics/routes look stunning! One started at Newhalem while the other started at Colonial creek campground at Diablo. I will see how I feel tomorrow and how the weather starts out...

surak

Some riding acquaintances did this over the weekend. I'm still not riding with others and had some other obligations. Maybe next year.

vandalarchitect

I always meant to come back and post this in here, but well ... priorities I guess. Better late than never.

Anyway, I rode from Ross Lake (Colonial Creek Campground) up to Washington Pass on May 1st before it opened up to cars. Saw plenty of other riders out there, enjoyed the ride and the scenery immensely. Weather was great until some rain came through near the end of the ride. It wasn't too bad, though it did drop the temps quite a bit (mid 40's at that point down to 37 according to my Garmin). I was almost back to the car though. Plus the rain made for a great photo op as it was finishing and sun came out again.

Would definitely recommend for anyone interested.

jazzyrider

Reviving this thread as I'm too lazy to start a new one. Looking at the DOT Flickr album, I imagine the snow clearing date will roughly be mid to end of May unless we get some warming trend which can expedite the clearing quickly.

Carbonfiberboy 

I've never been able to manage it on opening weekend. My favorite ride was from the Colonial Creek parking area on the highway to Early Winters (café) and back, about 100 miles and 10,000'. I've also turned around at the Lone Fir Campground (water) and Washington Pass. Camelbak+,

Carbonfiberboy 

Right now it looks like Friday, May 6: https://www.facebook.com/groups/238860838432631
This weekend looks cold and possibly wet, though. That's a really, really nasty descent in cold rain or clouds..

indyfabz

Near Washington Pass, late May, 1999. Possibly June 1. Fully loaded starting from Colonial Creek Campground. It started raining somewhere before Rainy Pass. The rain then turned to snow. My hands initially froze on the way down to Winthrop.

Wildwood 

Hwy20 opened today for vehicular traffic, info from KIRO website.
I have ridden it 3 times early season with no traffic and 2 times in July (birth month). The summer rides were more enjoyable given temps, beautiful pullouts and vistas. Well worth tolerating traffic on a weekday non-Holiday period. The early season rides each included younger men with more strength (testosterone, sporting spirit, etc) than me, who drove.

Even in July it can look foreboding

But can clear up for the eastern side descent.

indyfabz

Riding that sort of terrain was totally new to me. It was freezing when we woke up at Colonial Creek. We had a rest day in Winthrop. It was warm, the KOA was watering the grass and there were tumbleweeds in town.

I rode it again in 2000 right around the same time. Chilly but dry on the way up. Almost no traffic. I was sitting on the ground at Washington Pass changing for the descent when an older, Asian couple drove up from the east and got out of their car. They never spoke to me, but they had a look on their faces that seemed to say “WTH?”.

I can’t remember exactly, but I think my average speed both times was around 7 mph fully loaded, so a long ride up. The descent was obviously faster.

Seattle Forrest

We named one of the kittens Winthrop. Winnie for short. ❤️