Biking

Pack up your bikes and head to the Kittitas Valley for biking variety, adventure and terrain. The valley has it all! Feel the burn on your mountain bike on the foothills of Ellensburg, take your road bike through the picturesque forests on the Cle Elum Loop, or have your whole family enjoy a leisurely bike ride in Ellensburg’s yearly Manastash Metric. Whatever you are looking for, we’ve got some of the most challenging, breath taking and unforgettable rides in the state.

If it’s sun you’re looking for, we’ve got it all with over 300 days of blue skies and sunshine per year, making it a perfect place to escape the wetside, or anywhere for that matter!

For additional information for mountain biking in the area check out:

Cle Elum & Ellensburg Area Mountain Biking @ Trails.com

Road Biking in Eastern Washington @ Trails.com

Biking Adventures

The Cle Elum Loop (61 miles)

This ride takes you from Ellensburg to Cle Elum on a 61 mile loop. It loops through the back roads of Ellensburg and Cle Elum through some of the most majestic countryside in Central Washington. This popular ride travels through a wide variety of terrain, from Ellensburg’s rolling countryside to Cle Elum’s forested byways. Starting near Central Washington University’s campus it travels up Hwy 10 into some very beautiful but rugged topography. The loop then follows Hwy 940 dropping into Cle Elum where it passes through this 128 year old historic mining town. It then continues onto Taneum road and follows Peoh road through Thorp prairie and then finally past Thorp Road cemetery back into Ellensburg.

From the CWU parking lot at 18th Ave. and D Street, take a left onto D Street. Take a right on Dean Nicholson Blvd/14th Street. Take a right on Water and then a left on 15th Street. From there take a right and continue to Dry Creek. Follow Dry Creek until the intersection with Hwy 97. Jog right on Hwy 97 and take an immediate left onto McManamy. Follow McManamy until it ends at Hwy 10 and take a right onto the highway. Follow hwy 10 approximately 14.5 miles until it intersects with Hwy 970 and take a left and then an immediate right onto Materson/Airport road. Follow Airport Road around to the left until it ends. At the intersection with Hwy 903/1st Ave, take a right. Follow 1st Ave. through downtown Cle Elum, and take a left on S. Cle Elum Way. Follow that under I-90 and S. Cle Elum Way will turn into 4th Ave, and then back into S. Cle Elum Way. From here take a left on Lower Peoh Point, and then a right on Upper Peoh Point road. Follow upper Peoh Point until it goes under I-90 again and then turns into Thorp Prarie. Continue on Thorp parie from approximately 7.5 miles and take a left on Taneum Road. Take a right on North Thorp Hwy. Continue over I-90 and onto S. Thorp Hwy. Take a right on Cove Road. Take a left on Hanson. Take a right on Brown, and after 1.8 miles, teke another left to stay on Brown. Take a left onto Umptanum, left on Anderson until you reach 5th Ave. and take a right. Take a left on Water, a right on 14th, left on D street and back to the parking lot.

This ride is not to be missed if you are planning to experience the road biking routes of the Central Washington area.

A map can be picked up at the Ellensburg Recycle Bicycle Shop.

Double Loop Cemetery Road Ride (30 miles)

This is a fun one, even if you are just taking a break while you are here in town for an afternoon. This one begins at the West Ellensburg Rotary Park west of Ellensburg. It follows the trail behind the park, past Irene Rinehart Park and pops out onto Umtantum Road near the Yakima River. Immediately you take a right on Brown Road and head past a farmhouse that has been restored like an old 1950's gas station. The road zig zags through the farm homes with an amazing view of Ellensburg on the right and the Stewart’s in the distance.

You can take a shortcut at Burns Road if you don’t have as much time, but keep heading straight if you want the full meal deal! Before too long you take a hard left onto Hansen Road and follow that along the route until you reach Cove Road. There you take a right and head towards some amazing views of the Stewart Range and the wind farm north of town. There is a slight climb and at the top have an amazing view of the valley. Head down the hill to Robinson Canyon Road and begin the climb up the hill. You pass the High Valley cemetery on right which has graves dating back to 1888.

Robinson Canyon Road eventually turns into Killmore at the top of this hill and then wonders back and forth down the hill towards Thorp, past Thorp Cemetery Road. you will see that again later. You head over the I-90 freeway passing the fruit stand on the right. In Thorp you will ride by the riding arena, Thorp School, and the Thorp Grist Mill. Once you take a left on Taneum you head up a steep hill past the Springwood Ranch and drop into a pristine little valley just before it passes under the freeway. This time you take a left of Thorp Cemetery Road where you will pass miles of farm land and back to Thorp Hwy Road. Stay on this route, past the golf course, until you end up on Brown Road again heading toward your final destination. This is a sweet little figure 8 ride that is well worth the effort!

Badger Pocket Loop (42 miles)

Come on, we're going to check out some great Ellensburg countryside. Badger Pocket Loop sends you along some great views of the countryside that are seldom seen. The trail begins behind Central Washington University at the corner of 18th Ave. and D Street. It heads out Walnut, which becomes Airport Road, and then drops down into a great farmland ride.

Once you get on Game Farm Road the riding is flat with plenty of picturesque farmland and great old barns. Once you get to the end of Lyons Road the road starts to rise to a glimpse of the Wild Horse Wind Farm. At the end of Park Creek you start to get into sagebrush and more desert like terrain. Once you get onto Stephens Road you start to climb, winding through the Badger Pocket hills. Eventually the road passes under the I-90 freeway and follows along that path for a short distance. When you finally get to the top of the rise, you get a glimpse of the Stewart Range looming in the distance. The road then drops down into sweeping farmland, passing Little Badger and Badger Pocket Roads, eventually dropping you on Sorenson where the road becomes flat and straight again. The ride zig zags along past hay barns, farm houses and old mills, giving you more of the taste of this valley. Once you reach Tjossem Road the route straightens out and eventually drops you onto Old #6 road and back to CWU.

This is not a ride to miss if you want to experience Ellensburg's great country scenery!

Look Loop

From the CWU parking lot at the corner of 18th Ave. and D Street in Ellensburg, take a right on 18th Ave. Take a left on North Walnut, which becomes Airport Road. Then teke a right on Sanders. Follow it until you reach Look and take a left. Then a right on Brick Mill Road. Follow Brick Mill until it ends, and take a right on Venture. Thake a right on Lyons, then a left on Naneum, and finally a right on Game Farm Road. Follow Game Farm until it ends, take a right on Brick Road until it turns into Sanders and returns to the parking lot.

A map is available at the Ellensburg Recycle Bicycle Shop.

Coal Miners Trail

The Coal Mines Trail was established in 1994 as a cooperative effort of the City of Cle Elum, Roslyn and Kittitas County and is dedicated to the pioneers who first settled in this area. This interpretive trail is the original trail that the coal miners took to the mines, and is the old abandoned Burlington Northern Rail Bed, from the late 1880’s to 1963, when the last mine in Roslyn closed with little market for coal after the railroads converted to diesel engines in the years’ prior.

A walk on the trail affords visitors a first hand look at the coal-mining heritage through the remains of Roslyn’s mines, at the railroad depot site and barn, and at Powder House Road where dynamite was stored. You may also view the Coal Miners Memorial located in Roslyn. The official trail is charted at 4.7 miles from Flagpole Park to Ronald with opportunity to explore various spur trails, as well as going to the ethnic Roslyn cemetery where many of the miners are buried. The “easy” trail is open for multi-use, including trekkers, horses, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, sled dogs, and snowmobilers. It is closed to all motorized vehicles except for snowmobiles in the winter.

Google Map to Trailhead

Ambalis Mt. Trail

Let’s get our heart pumpin! Head to Cle Elum on an afternoon and check out this 11.5 mile ride! With an elevation gain of nearly 2,500 feet this one will give you a challenge. The ride follows initially along gravel road then turns to coarse doubletrack in fairly good condition. Your prize comes at the end when you near the summit of the mountain on one of the valley’s sunny days. Views of Mt. Rainier, the Chikamin Ridges and Kachess Lake make the challenge all worth the effort. The climb can become rather demanding in places, mostly in about two or three miles of the trek. The second half of the trip is mostly downhill on firm gravel and dirt. The trail head begins near the Lake Easton State Park.

Cooper River Trail

This one is more for fun! What a great little trek through the Cooper river trail outside of Roslyn. It undulates along for 10.8 miles, through the Wenatchee National Forest. It uses about two miles of paved and gravel roads before it heads onto the Cooper River Trail. There are no extended climbs, which makes it great for the beginner to intermediate biker. It is a great little out-and-back ride with plenty of small roller coaster hills getting some beautiful glimpses of the Cooper river and Lake. There are a couple of options to consider, the simpler one is to ride Pete Lake all the way to the wilderness boundary which has a sign and simply turn back. There are two other trails that ramble up a rocky trail to FR 4616 which parallels Pete Lake Trail. Both trails are tricky but have manageable descents. Both trails are relatively hard to find from the forest road. It might be best to climb the first one, ride up the forest road and make your descent on the second one, then return on Pete Lake Trail. Only a moderate skill level is required for this one to be fun!

Access the trail off of hwy 90 on exit 80, then take Bullfrog Road and head toward Salmon La Sac Campground.

Trail Information

The Book

This tough 8.9-mile, 1,800-foot climb takes you through dry, sun-exposed sagebrush country overlooking Ellensburg, the Kittitas Valley, and beyond. The higher you climb, the better the views, a grand reward for your efforts. At the top it's a tradition to write your name, or anything else for that matter, in the notebook in the metal box for everyone to enjoy. The ride to the top is a reward in itself, but the real reward is the exhilarating 2.1-mile descent that follows -- a plunge from the rocks to the road which parallels the irrigation ditch at the end of the loop. The Book is an advanced-level climb without tree cover but one that is well worth the effort, if your up for it!

So get off the asphalt and enjoy this off road treasure.

Check out Ellensburg's local Bike shop for a map!

Trail Information

Shoestring Lake Loop

Driving Directions: From I-90, take Exit #109 (Canyon Road), and head north on Canyon Road/Main Street. Take a left on Umptanum Road, and then a right on Manastash Road. Manastash will trun into FS Road 31. This will intersect with Road #3100, and follow this to the Shoestring Lake trailhead (#1385).

Route Description: 7 Miles, elevation: 1000'. Ride our the Shoestring Lake Trail (#1385). At the junction with Hereford Meadows Trail (#1207, turn left and continue downhill. At the junction with South Fork Manastash Trail (#1386), trun left onto the trail. The trail ends at a road. Go right on the road to the "T" and then go left on the singletrack trail through a clear cut. At the end of the Singletrack, go left. Follow this winding trail into a dense forest. Continue across a road. The trail will veer to the left and follow the South Fork Manastash Trail. Trun right at the Shoestring lake Trail, and ride back to the car.

Maps available at Ellensburg Recycle Bicycle Shop.

Trail Map Info

Taneum Ride Trail

Driving Directions: From I-90, take the Thorp Exit (#101). From the exit, head south on North Thorp Hwy. Trun right on Thorp Cemetery Road. Follow this until it turns into Taneum Creek Road. Taneum Creek Road will turn into Forest Service Road #33. Drive up this road to Taneum junction where FS road #3300 will branch to the left (milepost 8). Turn left on FS road #3300, cross Taneum Creek and park.

Route Description: Distance 8.5 miles, Elevation: 1400'. Ride up road #3300 to an unmarked road (The Low Road) on the left, go left on the unmarked road. Follow the road and stay right until you intersect road #3300 again. Rode the road and take a left at the South Fork Meadow road. Follow the road to the South Fork Taneum Trail (#1367). Take the Fishook Flats Trail (#1378), cross one road until you intersect the Taneum Ridge Trail (#1363), and go right. Follow all the way back to the parking area.

A map is available at the Ellensburg Recycle Bicycle Shop. Ellensburg Recycle Bike Shop.

Trail Information

Manastash Metric Bike Ride

On the first Saturday of every October the Manastash Metric Century/Half Metric Century ride is held in the Kittitas Valley. This is a fun filled, challenging and scenic ride that almost always has beautiful fall weather. Travel the scenic west side of the valley to Cle Elum and then return along the magnificent Yakima River, or turn off half-way for the alternate 50 kilometer ride. Both of which are unique in their own right. The event is kicked off at the West Ellensburg Rotary Park fields and then begins a 62 miles trek to Cle Elum. The 33 mile ride to Thorp is also available depending on your skill level and bike ride desires. Both are well supported rides with rest stops along the route.

Pre-registration price before Sept. 21, 2012 is $30.00 ($40.00 for tandems) and after that date they are $40.00 ($50.00 for tandems). Registration and check-in is on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. For more details and registration information, contact the RSVP and Volunteer Center of Kittitas County at (509) 962-4311 or look it up online at RSVP - The Drier-Ride or at www.drier-ride.org.

Manastash Metric Bike Ride

Biking

Biking Adventures

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