If you can’t get a ride to the start, your next best option is a series of busses.Both ends of the route are remote and getting to the start line or from the finish line can be challenging.The route is best ridden West to East and starts on First Beach in the small town of La Push.Eastern Washington starts to get hot in June. Mission ridge could still have snow as late as July. The best time to ride the Cross-washington is late May to early October.
Also, find additional information and updates at the official XWA website. As such, other existing dirt roads and trails were combined to make a true cross-state trail. Many people call the John Wayne Trail a “cross-state” trail even though it covers just over half the state. Driving more usage is the best hope for ensuring the trail’s future. The eastern portions of the John Wayne trail have been and continue to be at risk. Route Development: The primary reason for the route’s existence is to promote more usage on some of the more remote sections of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. All singletrack is rated as intermediate but there are a few steep rocky descents that have caught riders off guard. The majority of the route is rated pretty easy from a technical perspective, but there are a few very challenging sections.
While the last 300 miles offer much less climbing, the effort is constant as the trail conditions can be fairly rough and overgrown at times. The Olympic Discovery Adventure Route and the Tolt Pipeline Trail feature some extremely steep grades that are extra challenging on a loaded bike. The route includes almost 50,000 feet of climbing and most of it occurs in the first 400 miles. The route features a collection of popular mountain bike trails, historic rail trails, and scenic dirt roads all combined with a heavy dose of creativity to make Washington’s only cross-state trail.Įach year in late May, bikepackers from around the world converge in La Push for a grand depart as they all take on the route together.ĭifficulty is all relative, but this can certainly has its challenges – the biggest being the climbs. There are long climbs and grin-inducing descents, as well as epic mellow rail trails with ancient trestles… all accompanied by spectacular vistas at every corner.
From one of the largest temperate rainforests full of moss-covered trees, to harsh landscapes from the glacial aftermath in the desert scablands, to urban route-finding at its best, the XWA has a little bit of everything. Travelers along the route experience a variety of diverse landscapes and ecosystems. The route travels through scenic remote areas, however, there are many resupply opportunities available. The Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route traverses some of Washington’s most interesting geography on double track, gravel roads, singletrack and some pavement. *On Quileute, Coast Salish, S’Klallam, Suquamish, Skokomish, Tulalip, Stillaguamish, Snoqualmie, Yakama, Colville, Spokane, Schitsu’umsh, & Ktunaxa Land