Full cycle

Take a tough or tame two-wheel trip

BY ANN MCCREARY

Remote, highelevation, singletrack trails reward the most-adventurous mountain bike riders with epic rides and breathtaking views of craggy mountain peaks that surround the Methow Valley.

Want something a little less spine-tingling? Choose an easy cruise on U.S. Forest Service roads, or on lightly traveled paved roads that wind through forests and farmlands and along rivers.

From mountain top to valley bottom, the Methow Valley offers cyclists of all inclinations and abilities an abundance of choices.

The expansive network at Sun Mountain alone has more than 50 miles of single- and double-track trails from easy to difficult. The MTB Project online mountain biking guide lists 203 miles of recommended mountain bike rides throughout the valley, and there are many more not on that list.

The towns of Twisp and Winthrop provide easy access to Forest Service roads, trail networks and country roads for people on mountain bikes, gravel bikes, road bikes or e-bikes.

The changing seasons offer different experiences to riders as they pedal through meadows brilliant with sunflowers and lupine in spring, savor the hot sunshine of summer, and enjoy the brilliant foliage and sharp light of autumn.

Cyclists can find maps, trail guides and gear at many locations in the valley, and refresh themselves after a ride with food and beverages at the valley’s selection of restaurants, pubs and bakeries.

Photo by Steve Mitchell

The Methow Valley is host to an array of events to entertain, challenge and educate cyclists. Here’s what’s in store this summer.

May 19: Intro to Bikepacking clinic, hosted by Methow Cycle & Sport and Salsa Cycles, 6-8 p.m. at Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop. Pizza and beverages provided.

June 4-5: Weekend gravel bikepacking ride, hosted by Methow Cycle & Sport, Salsa Cycles and Rendezvous Huts. Riders will have shorter and longer ride options, and will base/camp out of Gardner Hut Saturday evening. For more details, visit Methow Cycle & Sport’s website at methowcyclesport.com.

June 17-19: Singletrack Solstice, hosted by the Methow Chapter of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. The weekend will include a two-person relay race, shuttled rides, and a women’s mountain bike skills clinic. For more information check the EMBA Methow Chapter Facebook page or website at evergreenmtb.org/chapters/ methow.

Sept. 17: Winthrop Gran Fondo takes riders deep into the North Cascades for a 90-mile (Grande) or 38.5-mile (Medio) ride with up to 10,000 feet of climbing. Starts at The Barn in Winthrop. Cost is $75 for the Grande and $65 for the Medio. For more information go to: rideviciouscycle.com.

Stay tuned: A summer kids bike camp may also be scheduled. Check the Methow Cycle & Sport website for information at methowcyclesport.com.

Two-wheeler events

■ MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES

• Buck Mountain Loop: A 14.5-mile loop can be pedaled the traditional route from Cub Creek Road or the alternate route from Buck Lake. Both options offer long, flowy descents and spectacular views. Ride the new Buck Up Track from Cub Creek, or climb a U.S. Forest Service road from Buck Lake. Combine portions of the two loops for additional miles and a double dose of the flowy descent. No pass required for parking or riding. Electric assist bikes not allowed. • Cutthroat Pass: A great alpine out-and-back 11-mile trail with exceptional views of the North Cascades and a rippin’ descent. The ride is one of few alpine routes in the North Cascades open to bikes, and the trail is shared with hikers so keep your head up and ride courteously! The trail switchbacks steadily almost 5 miles to Cutthroat Pass from the Cutthroat Lake trailhead. Boulders and tight switchbacks will demand your attention, but pause frequently for the views of Cutthroat Lake and the Cascade Crest. Remember, no bikes allowed on the PCT, so when you get to that intersection at the pass, turn back around. NW Forest Pass required to park at trailhead.

Where to gear up

• Winthrop Mountain Sports, 257 Riverside Ave., Winthrop, (509) 996-2886 • Methow Cycle & Sport, 29

State Route 20 in Winthrop, (509) 996-3645 • Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies, 50 Lost River Road,

Mazama, (509) 996-2515 • North Cascades Cycle Werks, 2 Country Road, Mazama, (509) 996-2225 • Cascades Outdoor Store, 222

Riverside Ave., Winthrop, (509) 996-3480

roll on in

The Methow Valley’s one-stop bike shop for all things cycling and supping.

No pass required for riding. Electric assist bikes not allowed. • Big Valley Trail: The vast majority of this ride is a flat smooth doubletrack that is great for families with small children (on bikes or in trailers), beginner riders and canines. The trail passes close to the Methow River and a nice river rock beach to access the river on a hot day. This ride/trail is a simple “lollipop” that is easy to follow through forest, meadows and along the Methow River. Stop at the beach on the river for a peaceful break or a quick splash if the weather is warm. The trailhead is accessed by turning on Dripping Springs Road off of Highway 20 near milepost 186. Thanks to an agreement between the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Methow Trails, no pass is required for parking or riding. Electric assist bikes not allowed.

■ ROAD AND GRAVEL RIDES • Chewuch Loop (with options):

This is an easy, 14-mile loop ride on quiet roads, with undulating terrain and some short moderate climbs. Ride up West Chewuch Road and then back on East Chewuch Road, or reverse the direction. For the ambitious, the mileage can be easily increased by continuing up the Chewuch Road to Andrews Creek, about 24 miles from Winthrop and a steady climb. Or for those for whom no ride is complete without some suffering, add Boulder Creek Road, a moderate climb, or Falls Creek, the local Alp D’Huez, which is very steep at the start and 8 miles or so of constant climbing. Electric assist bikes allowed.

• Washington Pass: This is a fairly strenuous climb that is well worth the effort for the outstanding views and epic descent. For a 60-mile round-trip from Winthrop, ride Highway 20 past Mazama (or stock up on some food while passing through). The climbing starts at about mile 15 and is fairly relentless the whole way to the top. Shoulders are good, and restrooms are at the lookout at the top. Take plenty of water, food and some layers of clothing. While it can be really warm in the valley, the summit of the pass can be pretty frigid — especially if the wind is blowing. To shorten the ride to 30 miles round trip, start at Mazama or the Freestone Inn. Electric assist bikes allowed. • Tour De Okanogan: This is the ultimate overachiever ride for the local area. This 105-mile loop takes riders south to Twisp and then up over Loup Loup Pass (a pretty steep and long climb), down to Malott and South to Brewster and then Pateros. The return journey is up Highway 153 from Pateros to Methow, Carlton, Twisp and then Winthrop. Food stops are in the major towns, but take plenty of food, water and some money. Repair opportunities are non-existent once you leave Winthrop, so take necessary repair gear. Watch the wind because in the afternoons it usually blows down valley and riding 40 miles into a headwind is no fun. Electric assist bikes allowed.

■ E-BIKE RIDES • Winthrop to Carlton and Beaver

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Over the past decade, a growing segment of the cycling population has taken to e-bikes, which use an electric motor to assist pedaling.

In 2012, e-bikes accounted for about 1% of bike sales, but increased to about 15% in 2019, according to an article in the Washington Post. Sales were projected to reach more than 550,000 in 2021, the Post reported.

In urban areas, e-bikes are growing in popularity as a form of travel and commuting. For recreational bikers, electric bikes are also growing in popularity, with enthusiasts saying the pedal-assist bikes enable them to go farther and ride more challenging terrain.

But the growing popularity of e-bikes has created some tension among trail users, as an article in the Sierra Club’s online magazine points out. “While the environmental benefits of replacing emission-spewing gas-powered cars with e-bikes may be obvious in cities, the matter gets muddier as e-bikers hit federal, state, and local trails,” the article said.

The Methow Valley offers a wide range of trails and roads for e-bikes. But not all trails are open to e-bikes, and riders need to plan their outings accordingly.

Methow Cycle & Sport in Winthrop offers the following guidance on its website to help e-bike riders choose their rides in the Methow Valley:

“In Washington state and federally, e-bikes are considered motorized vehicles. All classifications ARE allowed on Forest Service roads, Washington Fish & Wildlife roads, and State Park roads. Class 1 pedal-assist electric bikes (which provide assistance up to 20 mph) are allowed on the trails at Pearrygin Lake State Park. All classes of electric bikes are allowed on motorized Forest Service trails. Check the Forest Service Travel Plan for seasonal closures on some Methow Ranger District roads. E-bikes ARE NOT allowed on any trails where motorized vehicles are prohibited, including trails maintained by Methow Trails, Washington Fish & Wildlife, and the Forest Service.”

pavement and gravel, take the east and west county side roads to Carlton but add some distance and elevation by returning via Beaver Creek Road then down Balky Hill for a more-challenging ride. • Boulder Creek Loop: A 21.6-mile ride with 3,000 feet up and down. Great local gravel loop. Beautiful climb on a quiet Forest Service road. Wonderful views and fun descent. • Rex Derr trails: At Pearrygin Lake State Park, beginner to intermediate rolling hills on single- and double-track trails with a beautiful lake and mountain vistas. Start at the Lake Creek trailhead or other multiple access points and create your own ride. Do a loop or out-and-back, add the Bear Creek Road, make it long, make it short, it’s all up to you.

Information from Methow Cycle & Sport, methowcyclesport.com; Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, evergreenmtb.org; and MTB Project, mtbproject.com.

• Winthrop’s website, winthropwashington.com, has information on mountain and road bike riding, and offers a free “Winthrop Washington” app. • The Methow Trails office in downtown Winthrop has information on mountain bike and road rides, and on its website: methowtrails.org. • Methow Cycle & Sport’s website, methowcyclesport. com, provides trail descriptions, maps and a calendar of events. • Stop by local Methow Valley sports shops in person for current trail conditions and maps. • Trailforks.com, a mountain biking database, has up-to-date maps and trail information. • MTBproject.com, affiliated with the REI outdoor store, offers a comprehensive guide for mountain biking trail maps and information.

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