Plan Your Trip Pacific Northwest Outdoors - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 79

Randonnée ( www.randonneetours.com ) Self-guided tours in BC's Gulf Islands.
Smith & Miller Productions ( www.rollingpubcrawl.com ) Tours Oregon by day and mi-
crobreweries by night.
Womantours ( www.womantours.com )All-women company featuring an epic North-
west tour that circles half of Oregon.
Washington
You can have an unparalleled multi-day cycling experience in the San Juan Islands that
incorporates kayaking and hiking. Lopez Island is known for its flat terrain and bike
friendliness, but all the islands are worth a pedal. If you're cycling with kids, head to
Bainbridge or Vashon Islands. For a challenge, cycle the scenic loop around Mt Rainier.
The Yakima Valley offers picturesque wine country, while Lake Chelan also has vine-
yards - but is more of a mountain-biking spot. In eastern Washington, go to Moses Lake
for the loop around Potholes Reservoir.
Near Mt St Helens, the Plains of Abraham/Ape Canyon Trail and the Lewis River
Trail provide top-notch mountain biking in staggering Cascade scenery. The Wenatchee
Lake and Leavenworth areas also attract riders; here you'll find Devil's Gulch, which
boasts the smoothest, fastest single track in the state.
Closer to Seattle is easy Rattlesnake Lake, along with more challenging trails such as
Black Diamond Coal Mine and Tiger Mountain's Poo Poo Point. Expert mountain-bike
riders should head to Galbraith Mountain and Phillip Arnold Park.
Oregon
The Historic Columbia River Hwy and mellow Sauvie Island loop are two classic rides
near Portland. Around the Cascade Range there are magnificent cycling destinations: the
Cascade Lakes Hwy (Hwy 46) is stunningly beautiful, as is the Diamond Lake to Crater
Lake challenge. On the coast, Three Capes Dr near Tillamook has brilliant scenery and
burly climbs. In the remote northeast, Hells Canyon Scenic Byway weaves more than
200 miles through dramatic landscape, and you can take side trips along Snake River.
For mountain biking near Portland there's Forest Park's Leif Erikson Dr, Powell Butte
and Hagg Lake. Mt Hood's Surveyor's Ridge Trail has tremendous scenery (and makes
you work for it), while Sandy Ridge is a relatively new and amazing trail system. Post
Canyon (near Hood River) has gnarly free riding with big jumps and extensive wood fea-
tures.