Vancouver BC to Suncadia
#1
Vancouver BC to Suncadia
Hello. Mid-September I am attending a wedding at Suncadia near Cle Elum. I was planning on riding solo and the wife and kids would drive down in the car. I was hoping to find a nice riding route as I don't really have the appetite to stay on I-5 the whole way. Here is my plan:
Take I-5 then pop in to Sedro-Woolley
Take 9 all the way down to Northwest Snohomish
Take 2 down to Monroe
Take 203 down to I-90
Follow I-90 to Suncadia
I have a few questions. Google says 4.5 hours straight. I'll be stopping to take in the scenery and rest a bit. Make a fun day out of it. How long would you experienced riders give yourself to do this ride? This is my first Harley, but I have over 20 years experience on dirt bikes doing lots of back country rides. So I'm a decent rider. Bike is a 2012 Fatboy with windshield and bags. I can usually go 1.5-2 hours before needing to get off for 10-15 minutes. By the look of google maps, there is lots of cool places to stop and snap a few picks and have a drink of water. Any particularly good stops that are a must see?
Is there any better routes to go? I usually travel by car on the I-5, so am unfamiliar with any other highways in Washington. I'm totally open to changing my route if there is some must see/ride areas.
Thanks in advance for any help/input.
Cheers,
DD
Take I-5 then pop in to Sedro-Woolley
Take 9 all the way down to Northwest Snohomish
Take 2 down to Monroe
Take 203 down to I-90
Follow I-90 to Suncadia
I have a few questions. Google says 4.5 hours straight. I'll be stopping to take in the scenery and rest a bit. Make a fun day out of it. How long would you experienced riders give yourself to do this ride? This is my first Harley, but I have over 20 years experience on dirt bikes doing lots of back country rides. So I'm a decent rider. Bike is a 2012 Fatboy with windshield and bags. I can usually go 1.5-2 hours before needing to get off for 10-15 minutes. By the look of google maps, there is lots of cool places to stop and snap a few picks and have a drink of water. Any particularly good stops that are a must see?
Is there any better routes to go? I usually travel by car on the I-5, so am unfamiliar with any other highways in Washington. I'm totally open to changing my route if there is some must see/ride areas.
Thanks in advance for any help/input.
Cheers,
DD
#2
The following 2 users liked this post by GRWHD:
disasterduke (07-30-2018),
RidelikeDale (11-25-2021)
#3
That route could work. The 203 is pretty laid back (for the area). Though if I was planning to make more of a ride out of things and not just get there, I'd do like Gary said and take Highway 2 and cut down after Leavenworth (which is a neat tourist town if you haven't been). Highway 20 and Diablo Lake/Dam is also a good ride and a few neat spots, but it will be a longer route. Might make for a good return route depending.
I'm not a huge fan of the i90 Pass, it can be fine or it can be full of people driving bat-sh** crazy. The pass over Highway 2 does pass a ski resort, been a couple months since I went over it but I'd pack for that just in case.
The less time you're on the i5, 405 or 90 the more enjoyable the route. I only use those roads when I've been riding all day and just need to get home.
I do ride the roads you mentioned when I'm looking to get out for a few hours, and it's a good route. But if you're looking to make a trip of it Highway 2 and Stevens Pass is more special I think. Though you mentioned mid-September and I'm not sure how soon Steven's Pass gets too cold, I went in March this year and while there was no snow on the road I did get stuck because of an "avalanche" for like 4 hours. Should be fine if you bring a coat or two, I would say Leavenworth would make it worth the trip if you haven't been yet.
I'm not a huge fan of the i90 Pass, it can be fine or it can be full of people driving bat-sh** crazy. The pass over Highway 2 does pass a ski resort, been a couple months since I went over it but I'd pack for that just in case.
The less time you're on the i5, 405 or 90 the more enjoyable the route. I only use those roads when I've been riding all day and just need to get home.
I do ride the roads you mentioned when I'm looking to get out for a few hours, and it's a good route. But if you're looking to make a trip of it Highway 2 and Stevens Pass is more special I think. Though you mentioned mid-September and I'm not sure how soon Steven's Pass gets too cold, I went in March this year and while there was no snow on the road I did get stuck because of an "avalanche" for like 4 hours. Should be fine if you bring a coat or two, I would say Leavenworth would make it worth the trip if you haven't been yet.
The following users liked this post:
disasterduke (07-30-2018)
#4
That route could work. The 203 is pretty laid back (for the area). Though if I was planning to make more of a ride out of things and not just get there, I'd do like Gary said and take Highway 2 and cut down after Leavenworth (which is a neat tourist town if you haven't been). Highway 20 and Diablo Lake/Dam is also a good ride and a few neat spots, but it will be a longer route. Might make for a good return route depending.
I'm not a huge fan of the i90 Pass, it can be fine or it can be full of people driving bat-sh** crazy. The pass over Highway 2 does pass a ski resort, been a couple months since I went over it but I'd pack for that just in case.
The less time you're on the i5, 405 or 90 the more enjoyable the route. I only use those roads when I've been riding all day and just need to get home.
I do ride the roads you mentioned when I'm looking to get out for a few hours, and it's a good route. But if you're looking to make a trip of it Highway 2 and Stevens Pass is more special I think. Though you mentioned mid-September and I'm not sure how soon Steven's Pass gets too cold, I went in March this year and while there was no snow on the road I did get stuck because of an "avalanche" for like 4 hours. Should be fine if you bring a coat or two, I would say Leavenworth would make it worth the trip if you haven't been yet.
I'm not a huge fan of the i90 Pass, it can be fine or it can be full of people driving bat-sh** crazy. The pass over Highway 2 does pass a ski resort, been a couple months since I went over it but I'd pack for that just in case.
The less time you're on the i5, 405 or 90 the more enjoyable the route. I only use those roads when I've been riding all day and just need to get home.
I do ride the roads you mentioned when I'm looking to get out for a few hours, and it's a good route. But if you're looking to make a trip of it Highway 2 and Stevens Pass is more special I think. Though you mentioned mid-September and I'm not sure how soon Steven's Pass gets too cold, I went in March this year and while there was no snow on the road I did get stuck because of an "avalanche" for like 4 hours. Should be fine if you bring a coat or two, I would say Leavenworth would make it worth the trip if you haven't been yet.
I came through there recently, with the wonderful construction they have going on....... ONE LANE (that was heading west) loads of fun.
I took 202 to 203 once I got to North Bend (we take it allot these days) it is normally just as fast (if not faster) as taking 405 & I5 to get to I90.
From the looks of it I doubt they will finish the construction on the pass in the next couple of years.
There are sections on that pass they tend to drive 80 plus (totally nuts).
I don't know of any roads that allow you to bypass the pass completely.
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disasterduke (07-30-2018)
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