CANCELLED: Coulees & Scablands Tour 2024
This tour is cancelled due to uncertainty regarding wildfire smoke, and might be offered again next spring.
We don’t need to travel far in Washington to find awesome geographic features. If we drive a few hours east, we can see coulees and scablands that were shaped in just a few days by gigantic floods during the ice age thousands of years ago. Other famous canyons and natural monuments elsewhere on our planet took millions of years. This bike tour is an opportunity for active senior bicyclists interested in an adventurous 5-day bike tour to explore a unique part of our Washington state.
The Coulees & Scablands Tour 2024 is planned for overnight stays in motels with meals in restaurants to minimize weight and bulk on the bikes. No camping gear required. You will need to carry your gear and clothing on your bike for 5 days of riding. Every day has long ride segments with no services and no shade, so you must carry sufficient supplies including water. Bike shops are scarce around here – your bike and associated equipment must be reliable, and you must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat tire repairs, and maintenance.
The route is something like 96% paved and 4% gravel. Gravel capable bikes are recommended. The routes involve mostly country roads, highways with shoulders, and a few trails. The pace will be a moderate road pace effort slowed down by a touring load of gear, gravel riding, uphills, headwinds, etc. Frequent regroups.
Daytime only riding is expected. White front and red tail lights are recommended for daytime road use to improve your visibility to motor vehicle drivers. A really good white front light is required in tunnels to help you see your way around potholes and debris.
Ride Leader: Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net.
Schedule: Sunday September 22nd through Saturday September 28th, 2024.
Register: as soon as you can before Friday September 6th. Group size limited to 8.
The Plan: Participants are responsible for making their own motel reservations. Motel cancellation policies vary. Ride days start at 9 AM.
- Sunday: 3 hour drive from Snohomish County to Moses Lake for a night in a motel where cars will be left during the bike tour. The last night will be at the same motel: Best Western Plus Lake Front, 3000 W Marina Dr, Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509) 765-9211. Meet for dinner at 6 PM.
- Monday – Ride Day 1: 50 miles with 1,300 ft gain and 1,200 ft loss from the Moses Lake motel to resort with cabins in the Sun Lakes / Coulee City area: Sun Lakes Park Resort, 34228 Park Lane Rd NE, Coulee City, WA 99115 (509) 632-5291.
- Tuesday – Ride Day 2: 55 miles with 3,700 ft gain and 3,600 ft loss from Sun Lakes / Coulee City area to a motel in Chelan for 2 nights. At least an hour can be expected at the Dry Falls Visitor Center at mile 3, then a long early climb and most of the day with no shade and no services. Midtowner Motel, 721 E. Woodin Ave, Chelan, WA 98816 (509) 682-4051.
- Wednesday – Ride Day 3: An easy day with a loop ride of about 23 miles with about 1,500 ft up and down between the Chelan motel and Willow Point Park near Manson. Stay at the same motel in Chelan.
- Thursday – Ride Day 4: 42 miles with 1,700 ft gain and 2,200 ft loss from Chelan to a motel in East Wenatchee. SureStay by Best Western, 580 Valley Mall Pkwy, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 (509) 888-7378.
- Friday – Ride Day 5: 67 miles with 2,400 ft gain and 2,000 ft loss from East Wenatchee to the motel in Moses Lake. Same motel as the first night where our cars are parked.
- Saturday: Drive home the day after the last riding day.
Foul weather, worse than moderate air quality, or other awesome event cancels.
E-Bike Riders Read This: E-bike riders and Ride Leaders should understand the BIKES Club e-bike policy.
RWGPS Hyperlinks:
Coulees & Scablands Tour Overview
Coulees & Scablands Tour Ride – Day 1 of 5
Coulees & Scablands Tour Ride – Day 2 of 5
Coulees & Scablands Tour Ride – Day 3 of 5
Coulees & Scablands Tour Ride – Day 4 of 5
Coulees & Scablands Tour Ride – Day 5 of 5
