Tour de PNW 2026

We don’t need to travel far in our Pacific NorthWest to find awesome geographic features, some that have been shaped over millions of years, some that were shaped in just a few days by gigantic flash floods during the ice age, and some shaped recently by people.  This is our home – how well do you know it?

Would you like to do an adventurous, no camping, bike tour across Washington and Idaho to see our geographic variety from the Pacific Ocean to the crest of the Rocky Mountains?  This tour is designed for active senior bicyclists to ride their gravel capable bikes eastward in a series of 5-day max tours, or phases, across Washington and Idaho to the Montana border.  Riders may do 1 or more phases.

Postings to the Rides Calendar and Tours Calendar with more details for each phase will occur after specific dates are determined.  If you want to go, you have an opportunity to negotiate the tour phase start dates and other details with ride leader Rick Proctor at BikeHound@comcast.net by the end of January 2026.

The total 700 mile route is something like 79% paved and 21% gravel.  Gravel capable bikes with wide tires are a must.  The routes involve trails, country roads, and highways with shoulders.  The pace will be a moderate effort slowed down by a touring load of gear, gravel riding, uphills, headwinds, etc.  Frequent regroups.

We’ll make use of commercial services enroute for food, water, and lodging.  You must be able to do your own minor repairs, including flat tire repairs, and maintenance.

• Phase 1 Home to Rialto Beach to Mill Creek:
• • Monday __ April to Friday __ April 2026.
  • Monday Day 1 – Drive or travel via public transit to Forks, WA.  All paved 29 miles, 1,100 feet gain.
  • Tuesday Day 2 – Ride from Forks to Rialto Beach roundtrip.  Paved 63 miles, 2,700 feet gain.
  • Wednesday Day 3 – Ride Forks to Port Angeles.  Paved 66 miles, 2,700 feet gain.
  • Thursday Day 4 – Ride Port Angeles to Port Townsend.  59 miles paved, 7 miles gravel, 2,700 feet gain.
  • Friday Day 5 – Ride Port Townsend Mill Creek.  Paved 45 miles, 2,700 feet gain, 2 ferry rides.
• Phase 2 Mill Creek to Vantage:
• • Sunday ___ May to Thursday ___ May 2026.
  • Sunday Day 1 – Ride from Mill Creek to North Bend.  20 miles paved, 25 miles gravel, 1,900 feet gain.
  • Monday Day 2 – Ride North Bend to Snoqualmie Pass.  4 miles paved, 28 miles gravel, 3,300 feet gain.
  • Tuesday Day 3 – Ride Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum.  4 miles paved, 29 miles gravel, 600 feet gain.
  • Wednesday Day 4 – Ride Cle Elum to Ellensburg.  17 miles paved, 13 miles gravel, 600 feet gain.
  • Thursday – rest day in Ellensburg.
  • Friday Day 5 – Ride Ellensburg to Vantage.  32 miles paved, 4 miles gravel, 1,600 feet gain.

• Phase 3 Vantage to Wallace, ID:
• • Saturday ___ May or June to Thursday ___ May or June 2026.
  • Saturday Day 1 – Ride Vantage to Othello.  29 miles paved, 20 miles gravel, 1,800 feet gain.
  • Sunday Day 2 – Ride Othello to Ritzville.  Paved 57 miles, 3,000 feet gain.
  • Monday Day 3 – Ride Ritzville to Cheney.  Paved 56 miles, 1,900 feet gain.
  • Tuesday Day 4 – Ride Cheney to Harrison, ID.  52 miles paved, 6 miles gravel, 2,300 feet gain.
  • Wednesday – rest day in Harrison.
  • Thursday Day 5 – Ride Harrison, ID to Wallace, ID.  All paved 50 miles, 1,200 feet gain.
• Phase 4 Wallace, ID to Lookout Pass, ID/MT and return:
• • Starts Friday ___ June 2026.
  • Friday Day 1 – Ride Wallace, ID to Lookout Pass on ID & MT border, then back to Wallace.  Day ride gear only.  20 miles paved, 12 miles gravel, 2,400 feet gain.
  • Saturday Day 2 – start travel home per option A, B, or C:

A.   Bribe someone to drive to Wallace and provide a ride home.

B.   Ride bikes 2 days to Spokane, then take Amtrak train to Everett or Edmonds.

C.   Ride bikes 1 day to Kellogg, ship bike home from local bike shop, next day take 2 buses (not bike friendly) to Spokane (GEG) airport, fly to SeaTac, take light rail to near home, call someone for pickup or take bus home.

If you want to go, you have an opportunity to negotiate the tour phase start dates and other details with ride leader Rick Proctor at BikeHound@comcast.net by the end of January 2026. 

The Tour de PNW route will not be anywhere near the Lilac Ride in space or time.

From Cheney to the ride start at Big Barn Brewery & Bodacious Berries in the foothills of Mount Spokane is about 34 miles each way by bike.  Spokane is only half-way there.  68 miles roundtrip plus the Lilac R\ride mileage is too much.  On May 17th, day for the Lilac Ride, I expect to be in western or central Washington nowhere near Cheney or Spokane.