The Cascade Loop: North Cascades to Leavenworth

Meet your guides in Seattle. Shuttle to the entrance of the North Cascades National Park and start the week with a nice warm-up ride along the banks of Diablo Lake. Contemplate Desolation Peak, where famed beat-generation author, Jack Kerouac, scanned the surrounding mountains for forest fires during the summer before On the Road was published. Pedal past cascading waterfalls on your way to Ross Lake and hop in the van for a boost to the top of Washington Pass. Enjoy jaw dropping views of high alpine peaks while dining on a gourmet lunch spread. Nothing aids digestion like a freewheeling descent on a bicycle. Coast down the eastern slopes of the Cascades to the lovely Freestone Inn for a 3-night stay. It’s easy to see why it received a “Top 25 Lodges in America”-award from Travel and Leisure magazine and attracts guests from all over the world.

Ride through the beautiful Methow Valley – one of Washington’s most popular recreation destinations. Here in the remote Okanagan region, golden eagles ply the skies and nest high in the cliffs above the rivers, white-tailed deer and elk, along with the occasional moose, graze in the forests and meadows. Stop for lunch at Pearrygin Lake State Park before heading to the historic “Old West” town of Winthrop (did you bring your 10-gallon hat?). From here, hop on a saddle at the ice cream shop, or hop on your bike and pedal back up the valley to Freestone.

Today we will leave the skinny tires to rest and hop on some mountain bikes. We will take a tour of some of the easy trails in the area on our way to the Mazama Store – a local favorite – for a delicious lunch. After lunch, hand over the fat tires and lace up your hiking boots, we are going on a hike in the North Cascades to catch some amazing mountain views!

This morning we leave the Methow Valley and shuttle to fjord-like Lake Chelan, the deepest lake in Washington State! Pedal through a region of vineyards and small lakes on the eastern shore of this massive blue gem. Enjoy lunch at a small private winery and cruise back along the lake to Campbell’s Resort in the tiny waterfront town of Chelan for the night. Dinner is on your own.

This morning we continue riding around the southern end of Lake Chelan and along the western shore. Cross over some small hills on a quiet road through open forests and meadows to join the banks of the mighty Columbia River. Before lunch, shuttle a short distance to the charming Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth (lederhosen are optional). Find out why Seattle residents flock to this festive town on weekends – in both summer and winter – as you enjoy a relaxing layover afternoon exploring. Have lunch on your own before we check into the Bavarian Lodge in the heart of town.

If cute towns aren’t your thing and you prefer some extra riding in the afternoon, we have a wonderful out and back ride on a paved road that runs deep into the heart of the mountains. From here you can enjoy views of the Stuart Range and the “Enchantments” – a series of high lakes that are now the most popular backpacking mecca in the Cascades.

Take a drive through a whitewater canyon whose surrounding cliffs are famous for nesting raptors to a beautiful state park on the shores of Lake Wenatchee to begin cycling today. Do a loop through the scented pines and back to the lake before lunch. After lunch, you can enjoy a swim or some relaxing time at the lake, or you can set out on an out and back ride along a quiet road following the lake and a river into the remote Cascade mountains. Go as far as you like, or until the pavement ends, before turning around and heading back to the park where we will load bikes for our return to Seattle.

*Bicycle Adventures operates under special use permits while on Federal Lands managed by the National Forest Service (USDA), National Parks and Bureau of Land Management. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.