Mill Creek & North Bend Tour

Mill Creek & North Bend Tour

This is a 2-day / 1-night unsupported bike tour from Mill Creek to North Bend with an overnight motel stay in North Bend.  Different routes for each day.  No camping gear required, but you will need to carry your gear and clothing on your bike.  Meals will be at locally available food establishments.  Picnic lunches for both days.

Ride leader: Rick Proctor, BikeHound@comcast.net, 425-293-3153.

Equipment:  

• Gravel capable bikes are a must.  The gravel surfaces expected are mostly hard-packed gravel with some loose gravel places possible.
• Your bike must be in good condition and ready for the route. 
• You must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat tire repairs, and maintenance.
• Daytime only riding expected.  White front and red taillights are recommended to improve our visibility to motor vehicle drivers.  

Pace: 

• The moderate “effort” pace of this tour is intended for riders who regularly ride paved roads at a moderate pace slowed down by a touring load of gear, uphills, headwinds, photo stops, rest stops, etc. 
• Frequent regroups.
• All riders should have the route information available for their own use (electronic and/or paper) in case of separation. 

If you are new to bike touring, or you are an experienced bike tourist with new equipment, or this tour just looks like your kind of fun, then register for this event as soon as possible. 

Meeting Time & Location: 

• Meet at 8:30 AM Monday, April 21st at the Mill Creek Sports Park for a 9:00 AM roll out.
• Cars cannot be parked at the Sports Park for the duration of this tour.
• Parking arrangements near the Ride Leader's home a mile away can be arranged.
• We expect to return Tuesday, April 22nd by 5 PM.

Register:

• By 8 PM Friday evening, April 18th, 2025. 
• Group size limited to 8 or lodging availability, whichever is smaller.

You must make your own lodging reservations as soon as possible and acquire your own food enroute per the following info.

Routes: The total route is something like 69% paved (67 miles) and 31% gravel (30 miles):

• Day 1 Monday April 21st:
• • 9 AM roll out for 44 miles and about 1,641 feet of gain.
  • 23 miles paved, 21 miles gravel.
  • Paved roads & ½ mile of dirt trail from Mill Creek to Duvall, then mostly gravel Snoqualmie Valley Trail to North Bend.
  • RWGPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49598023 "Mill Creek – Duvall – North Bend 2025 by RAP".
  • North Bend Motel, call for reservations 425-888-1121.  You must make your own lodging reservations (24-hour cancellation policy). 
• Day 2 Tuesday April 22nd:
• • 9 AM roll out for 53 miles and 1,798 feet of gain and 1,848 feet of descent.
  • 44 miles paved, 9 miles gravel.
  • Snoqualmie Valley Trail from North Bend to Fall City, 4 miles of paved roads to connect with Preston – Snoqualmie Trail, Issaquah – Preston Trail, East Lake Sammamish Trail, Sammamish River Trail, North Creek Trail, and roads to Mill Creek.
  • RWGPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49606795  "North Bend – Issaquah – Mill Creek 2025 by RAP".
  • Return to your home, perhaps in time for dinner.

E-Bike Riders Read This:  E-bike riders and Ride Leaders should understand the BIKES Club e-bike policy.