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The American Alps

Summary

Come and join us for a loop through the fabulous and remote North Cascades of Washington State, otherwise known as “ the American Alps.” Enjoy more than just mountains, meadows and waterfalls. Try on some cowboy boots while you kick around the “old West” town of Winthrop, then change into lederhosen for a walk through the Baverian-themed town of Leavenworth. Pedal on road bikes, fat bikes and gravel (trail)bikes from rainforestd to rugged peaks. Descend through Ponderosa pine forest to the sagebrush desert on the east side of the Cascades. Finish the week with a ride straight through the mountains (literally). Our route back to Seattle concludes on a trail that takes you beneath the mountains on a old railroad tunnel over 2 miles long. Celebrate an amazing week with lunch at the iconic Snoqualmie Falls overlook.

Road bike

6 days

319 km / 198 mi

$ 3,327.-

North Cascades National Park
Diversity of scenery and terrain, from rainforest to rugged peaks.
Old west town of Winthrop

Deposit for this tour is 25%

Gallery

Details

Type

Road bike

Duration

6 days

Level

Moderate

Support

Guided

Daily distance

40-60 km / 25-37 mi

Total distance

319 km / 198 mi

Lodging

Deluxe, full board

Luggage transport

Daily luggage transfers

Bicycle

Included

Dates

11 Jun 2023 - 16 Jun 2023
18 Jun 2023 - 23 Jun 2023
09 Jul 2023 - 14 Jul 2023
16 Jul 2023 - 22 Jul 2023

Start date: June 11 and July 9 and 16 are guaranteed to run

Start

Seattle

Finish

Seattle

Airport at start

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Airport at finish

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Prices Please note the prices are subject to change depending availability

Price per person / please note the prices are subject to change depending availability

The tour price per person

$ 3,327.-

E-bike

E-bike Fastroad E+ EX Pro
With THRIVE E+ EX PRO, you get an all-access pass to speed no mater what your fitness level
Designed with Liv’s 3F Design Philosophy, Thrive E+ EX Pro is the first road E-bike built specifically for women. Get up to speed fast with the new SyncDrive Pro motor that provides a natural, yet powerful, E-bike experience. The new motor also features a Smart support mode that automatically adjusts the support level based on your ride. PedalPlus 6-Sensor Technology translates six measurements about your riding and adds the perfect amount of power at just the right time for a fast and fluid ride quality. The EnergyPak Smart 375 battery is so sleek, you’ll have your friends looking twice to know it’s an E-bike.

$ 200.-

Optional

Single supplement

If you travel alone a single supplement is charged. With some group tours you can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.

$ 899.-

Itinerary

Included / Not Included – lodging

Day 1: Head to the entrance of North Cascades National Park for an impressive start to your week exploring.

Meet your guides in Seattle Sunday morning. Shuttle to the entrance of the North Cascades National Park (the “Gateway to the American Alps”) and start the week with a nice warm-up ride along the banks of Diablo Lake. Contemplate Desolation Peak, where famed beat-generation author, Jack Kerouac, scanned the surrounding mountains for forest fires during the summer before On the Road was published. Pedal past cascading waterfalls on your way to Ross Lake and hop in the van for a boost to the top of Washington Pass. Enjoy jaw-dropping views of high alpine peaks while dining on a gourmet lunch spread. Nothing aids digestion like a freewheeling descent on a bicycle. Coast down the eastern slopes of the Cascades to the lovely Freestone Inn for a 3-night stay. It’s easy to see why it received a “Top 25 Lodges in America” – award from Travel and Leisure magazine and attracts guests from all over the world.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner. Lodging: Freestone Inn
Ability level: moderate
Distance: 27 miles
Elevation: approx.+1000 ft / – 4000 ft. (most folks jump in the van for the big climb!)

Day 2: Ride from the settlement of Mazama through the beautiful Methow Valley

Ride from the tiny settlement of Mazama through the beautiful Methow Valley – one of Washington’s most popular recreation destinations. Here in the remote Okanagan region, golden eagles ply the skies and nest high in the cliffs above the rivers, white-tailed deer and elk, along with the occasional moose, graze in the forests and meadows. Stop for lunch at Pearrygin Lake State Park before heading to the historic “Old West” town of Winthrop (did you bring your 10-gallon hat?). From here, hop on a saddle at the ice cream shop, or hop on your bike and pedal back up the valley to Freestone.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Lodging: Freestone Inn
Ability level: moderate
Distance: 46 miles
Elevation: approx.+2024 ft / – 2024 ft.

Day 3: Moutain Bike in the morning then strap on your hiking boots after lunch.

Today we will leave the skinny tires to rest and hop on mountain bikes named for their extra fat tires that will roll over just about anything. We ride right from our Inn, taking a tour of some of the easy trails in the area on our way to the Mazama Store – a local favorite – for a delicious lunch. After lunch, hand over the fat bikes and lace up your hiking boots, we are going on a hike to the magnificent Blue Lake. This short trail twists its way above Washington Pass. Granite spires rise overhead, popular with rock-climbers and mountain goats; waterfalls plunge down the mountainside. Blue Lake awaits….
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Lodging: Freestone Inn
Ability level: beginner
Distance: 12 miles on a mountain bike, 4.5 miles hiking

Day 4: Practice your yodeling on the way to Leavenworth

This morning we leave the Methow Valley and shuttle to where the Wenatchee River flows into the mighty Columbia. Cycle upriver through orchards flanked by mountains to the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth. Ride past the picturesque (and alliterative!) Peshastin Pinnacles, popular with rock climbers and nesting raptors. After checking in at the Bavarian Lodge, there is plenty of time for you to enjoy the afternoon exploring town. Tonight’s dinner is on your own (lederhosen are optional). Your challenge will be picking from the long list of recommended restaurants!
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch. Lodging: Bavarian Lodge
Ability level: moderate
Distance: 25 miles
Elevation: approx.+1904 ft / – 1359 ft.

Day 5: Cruise on quiet side roads through vinyards, orchards and forests.

Cruise on quiet side roads through vineyards, orchards, and forests to the tiny town of Plain. Enjoy a delightful lunch at Lake Wenatchee, a sparkling mountain gem set amongst the Cascades. After lunch and a swim in the lake, you will have a choice of cycling back to town or hopping in the van for a more relaxing ride back into Leavenworth
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner. Lodging: Bavarian Lodge
Ability level: beginner
Distance: 52 miles (or 30)
Elevation: approx. +2706 ft / – 2697 ft.

Day 6: ride through the world’s longest bike tunnel on the Palouse to Cascades Park Trail

Hop on trail bikes for our last ride of this tour. Ride through the world’s longest bike/pedestrian tunnel: a 2.3-mile long historic train tunnel on the Palouse to Cacscades Trail. We’ll provide the lights! Cycle downhill through evergreen forests all the way to Rattlesnake Lake for lunch. You’ll be relieved to know there are no rattlesnakes here; the lake got its name from late-summer seed pods rattling in the wind. More downhill after lunch: pedal all the way to gorgeous Snoqualmie Falls, which you may recognize from the popular TV series, Twin Peaks. For the native Snoqualmie people, the falls are the place “where prayers were carried up to the Creator by the great mists that rise from the powerful flow.” After more photos, hugs and a few rituals that are part of every tour, your guides will drop you off at your hotel in Seattle or near the airport.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Ability level: beginner
Distance: 36 miles
Elevation: approx. +2706 ft / – 2697 ft.

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

included

Lodging
All meals, one dinner on your own.
Road / hybrid bike, hiking & Fat Tire Rinding, E-bike rent possible
Luggage transfer

Not included:

Night before and after the tour.
Flights to and from the tour
Gratuities guides

Lodging:

Freestone Inn
Bavarian Lodge

Vaccine or test: A negative Covid test will be required within 72 hours of departure for all non-fully vaccinated guests. or Proof of a completed Covid vaccination course can be used in lieu of a Covid test. A "completed Covid vaccination course" means that the guest has had 1 or 2 shots (depending on vaccine brand) and has completed the 2-week waiting period post final shot.
All of our guides are fully vaccinated.

Map & Routes

Map

Satellite

Bicycle

A road or Hybrid bike is included in the price,

E-bikes

are available for an extra fee.
Bikes for Palouse to Cascades Trail: The trail surface is hard-packed gravel. We recommend bikes (road or Flat bar) with 32mm or greater diameter tires. NOTE: Our extra small (XS) road bikes will only accommodate 28mm tires on the front.
Prior to your bike tour, we request your height in order to choose the right frame size for you. (If you have a fit sheet or sizing information on your personal bicycle, you are welcome to send that to us, and we will do our best to match your geometry and specs.) On the first day of each bicycle tour, your guides tweak your bike fit to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. If they can’t get the fit just right, we typically carry a couple of extra sizes. We try to make sure we have the right size and type of bike you need to enjoy your cycling vacation.

Giant Defy ADV 3

Choose the longer route. Climb higher mountains. This all-new endurance road bike is purpose-built to help you tackle long-distance road rides in all types of conditions. It’s smooth, it’s efficient, and it’s fast.
Ride farther and faster with an all-new composite frameset that’s engineered with endurance geometry and built-in compliance. Handcrafted with Advanced-grade composite material, it’s engineered with tube shapes that are optimized to absorb road shocks and vibrations. And the frame is still stiff in all the ways that matter—for pedaling efficiency as well as steering and cornering precision. It’s made with a specific carbon layup to give it just the right feel. And for added control, it features integrated disc brakes with flat mounts and 12mm thru-axles. The D-Fuse Seatpost and handlebar system also help reduce road vibrations, adding to its smooth, compliant feel on the road.
Components: Giant Conduct disc brakes, Shimano Tiagra groupset, 50/34 cranks, 11 x 34 cassette, Giant S-R2 tubeless wheelset 700x28c

Hybrid / flat Bar Road bike

The perfect balance of road bike speed and city bike versatility. Built on a lightweight ALUXX SL aluminum frameset, this new flat-bar road bike puts the rider in a comfortable position that’s smooth and efficient. The fast-rolling 700c wheels and vibration-absorbing composite D-Fuse seatpost help smooth out rough roads. The fast-rolling 700c wheels can accommodate large tires up to 32c, perfect for tackling rough roads with confidence and control, while integrated ergo bar ends keep your hands comfortable on longer adventures. Powerful disc brakes give you added control in all types of weather, and easy-to-use rack mounts make FastRoad SL a smart choice for commuting, fitness riding and weekend adventures.
E-Bike Thrive E+ EX PRO
With THRIVE E+ EX PRO, you get an all-access pass to speed no mater what your fitness level
Designed with Liv’s 3F Design Philosophy, Thrive E+ EX Pro is the first road E-bike built specifically for women. Get up to speed fast with the new SyncDrive Pro motor that provides a natural, yet powerful, E-bike experience. The new motor also features a Smart support mode that automatically adjusts the support level based on your ride. PedalPlus 6-Sensor Technology translates six measurements about your riding and adds the perfect amount of power at just the right time for a fast and fluid ride quality. The EnergyPak Smart 375 battery is so sleek, you’ll have your friends looking twice to know it’s an E-bike.