Washington Motorcycle Touring Guide

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Chinook Scenic Byway

Travel the glacier-fed White River from Enumclaw, over Chinook Pass, to the fertile valley of Naches. Spectacular views of Mount Rainier, dense forests, towering peaks, rocky ridges and river canyons dominate this journey. Pass by the unique basalt flows of the Columbia Plateau, lush sub-alpine meadows and waterfalls.

Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway

Meander through ancient coulees and imagine walls of water hundreds of feet deep churning the rocks and soil gouging these now dry canyons, leaving behind erratic rocks of all sizes and types as silent artifacts of roaring torrents. Observe a jewel-like lake, where mule deer and peregrine falcons live nearby

International Selkirk Loop (Washington, Idaho)

Marvel at the awesome beauty of the International Selkirk Loop, encircling the wild Selkirk Mountains for 280 miles (including British Columbia.) Play on crystal clear rivers and lakes, or traverse mountain trails to view snowcapped peaks and wildlife diversity. Explore charming communities with fascinating history, fun festivals, and picturesque settings.

Mountains to Sound Greenway - I-90

Drive east from Seattle on I-90 through pastoral valleys, lush forests and a dramatic mountain landscape. Visit historic towns and scenic spots for forest walks or challenging hikes. Cross the Cascades into a drier climate where coal mining built pioneer towns on the way to the Columbia River.

Stevens Pass Greenway

Follow the thundering Skykomish River from pastoral Puget Sound through the towering peaks of the Cascade Mountains. At Stevens Pass the byway descends sharply to the fragrant pine forests and fruit orchards of the Wenatchee River Valley. Historic communities shaped by the rugged landscape share their stories and their hospitality.

Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway - SR 112

Travelers on the Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway are in the most northwest point of the mainland. Catch glimpses of eagles diving, gray whales spouting, or otters splashing. Walk, bike, boat, or kayak to explore the wild shoreline or forests, fish for salmon, or learn about Native American cultures.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve - Coupeville, WA
Ebey's Landing shoreline  Within the fast growing Puget Sound region, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve provides a vivid historical record where Pacific Northwest history is still clearly visible in the landscape. Historical features of the reserve appear to today's visitors much as they did a century ago, when New England sea captains were drawn to Penn Cove.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Fort Vancouver National Historic Site - Vancouver, OR,WA
Visitors enjoy the park's annual Children's Culture Parade  Nestled snugly today in the Vancouver/Portland metropolitan area and enveloped by its highway, rail, air, and maritime commercial networks, Fort Vancouver is a gem of a park whose story as an economic and cultural center - told, in part, through engaging programs and a world-class archaeology collection - fascinatingly portends that of the modern-day Pacific Northwest.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park - Seattle, WA
Goods piled up in front of Cooper and Levey store  Gold! read the headlines in July of 1897. After years of struggling through a depression, the people of the nation were intrigued by the possibility of riches. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the story of the 1897-98 stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle's role in this event. The park offers a glimpse at the stories of adventure and hardship of the gold rush.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Lake Chelan National Recreation Area - Stehekin, WA
Climbers on summit of Eldorado  Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area - the Canadian border going to Coulee Dam along the Columbia River, WA
Color photo of Kettle Falls before the dam.  The mighty Columbia River has drawn people to its waters for over 9,000 years. Historically the rich fishery of the river was used for survival and prosperity. Today Lake Roosevelt's visitors continue to enjoy the river's recreational offerings of fishing, camping, hunting and boating. Visit Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and experience life on the river past and present.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Mount Rainier National Park - Ashford, Enumclaw, Packwood, Wilkeson, WA
Mount Rainier winter landscape from Longmire meadow.  Learn about glaciers. Discover life in a rainforest. Hike the Wonderland Trail. Explore subalpine ecology. Watch clouds shroud the mountain and disappear. Visit a rustic historic building. Dream about climbing to the summit. Study geology. Experience a mountain meadow. Listen to a glacier crack. BE INSPIRED!

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Nez Perce National Historical Park - four states, ID,MT,OR,WA
The site of the Nez Perce encampment at Big Hole National Battlefield, one of thirty-eight units of Nez Perce National Historical Park  Since time immemorial, the Nimiipuu or Nez Perce have lived among the rivers, canyons and prairies of the inland northwest. Despite the cataclysmic change of the past two centuries, the Nez Perce are still here. Join us in exploring the park's thirty-eight sites and experiencing the story of a people who are still part of this landscape.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - North Cascades National Park - Marblemount, WA
Climbers on summit of Eldorado  Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Olympic National Park - Port Angeles, WA
Hikers on Wilderness Coast  Here you will find Pacific Ocean beaches, rain forest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and a stunning variety of plants and animals. Roads provide access to the outer edges of the park, but the heart of Olympic is wilderness; a primeval sanctuary for humans and wild creatures alike.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Ross Lake National Recreation Area - Newhalem, WA
Climbers on summit of Eldorado  Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers adorn the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Three park units in this mountainous region are managed as one and include North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. These complementary protected lands are united by a contiguous overlay of Stephen Mather Wilderness.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - San Juan Island National Historical Park - Friday Harbor, WA
Belle Vue Sheep Farm painting.  San Juan Island is well known for splendid vistas, saltwater shore, quiet woodlands and orca whales. But it was also here in 1859 that the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over a dead pig.

Washington Motorcycle Touring - Whitman Mission National Historic Site - Walla Walla, WA
re-enactor portraying Narcissa Whitman singing from a hymnal  The 1847 Whitman "Massacre" horrified Americans and impacted the lives of the peoples of the Columbia Plateau for decades afterwards. Was killing the Whitmans justified legal retribution, an act of revenge, or some combination of both?The circumstances that surround this tragic event resonate with modern issues of cultural interaction and differing perspectives.