Yakima Region Tour - Day 4
Ellensburg Parke Creek Loop
The Essentials
Where: Rotary Park off of West 5th Ave, Ellensburg, WA
When: Monday, May 19th, 2025 @ 10:15AM for a 10:30AM rollout
Pace: Steady (12 - 14 mph)
Route: Farms, canals, and rocks, 37.2 miles, 1,045' of elevation gain
Ride Leader: Paul Heydron, + 1 425 344 1543, paulh.wa@comcast.net
If you are already registered for the Yakima Region tour and want to do this ride, please resister for this also!
The Description
Time to head home, but one last ride on the way. We'll start at Rotary Park in Ellensburg and loop east through the Kittitas Valley along rural farm roads, head north across I-90 and then along Parke Creek for a bit before turning west and heading back to Ellensburg. After that I'm going to go to The Tav and have a Hawaiian Fowl Mother on the back patio before driving home.
If you haven't seen the Ellensburg wind gauge, the local paper has a picture here. Yeah, it's a joke ... but kind of not. We'll ride out, which is uphill, with the prevailing wind and back, which is downhill, into the prevailing wind. Unless it's an epically windy day. Then I'm just going to head to the TAV before going home. May is usually pretty good ... don't let the headline in the news article scare you off.
Once leaving Ellensburg there's not much in the way of amenities. Hit the bathroom at the park before leaving town and bring enough snacks and water.
Nuts and Bolts
HAVE A FLASHING TAIL LIGHT! A headlight is good too.
Remember to bring the usual stuff - snacks, a lunch if you want to pack it, essential bike tools - especially flat repair equipment, sunscreen, and plenty to drink.
The mean daily high temperature is around 75F in mid-May. It can be substantially hotter or colder though. May is usually pretty dry, but not completely. Plan accordingly.
