Iron Horse Gravel: WA's Best New Off-Road Ride

18 Aug 2025

163 people joined us on the inaugural Iron Horse Gravel Ride, a two-day overnight adventure on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.
Enjoy our photos of happy riders, mountain lakes, and rail-trail bridges.
Get inspired for Iron Horse Gravel 2026.

Paul Tolmé

The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail is one of Washington state's greatest recreational cycling assets and best long-distance gravel routes.

On Aug. 11 and 12, Cascade held the Iron Horse Gravel Ride on the westernmost segment of the Palouse to Cascades trail--historically known as the Iron Horse Trail. About 160 people joined us for this two-day ride up and over Snoqualmie Pass and down to Cle Elum for a campout and cookout along the Yakima River.

The ride covered approximately 60 miles each day, and participants had the option of camping with Cascade staff at Whispering Pines RV Park or getting a hotel room in Cle Elum. On Day Two, we pedaled back up and over Snoqualmie Pass and back to the start.

If you missed out on Iron Horse Gravel, there's good news: Cascade plans to bring the event back in 2026--and also add a potential one-day gravel ride to our 2026 calendar as well. These gravel rides are in addition to our Winthrop Gravel Tour.

"Our members asked for more gravel rides and we listened," says Events Director Liz Lunderman. "People want to get off the roads and into nature, and we are excited to expand our rides calendar to include more opportunities to ride on car-free gravel routes and trails."

Please enjoy our photos of the smiling participants, scenic vistas, shadowy bridges and dark tunnels of Iron Horse Gravel 2025.

Pausing for a photo at the historic railroad depot in Cle Elum

Happy to be on the Iron Horse Gravel ride — The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail includes many bridges that provided stunning views for Iron Horse Gravel riders.

Keechelus Lake provided a beautiful blue backdrop for riders.

One of the tunnels on Iron Horse Gravel — In addition to multiple bridges and former railroad trestles, the Iron Horse Gravel ride brought riders through multiple tunnels on the Palouse to Cascades trail--including the pitch black and two-mile long Snoqualmie Tunnel atop Snoqualmie Pass. In the photo above, Brittany heads into one of the shorter tunnels that provided a blast of cool air and shade for Iron Horse riders.

Lee with BMC — Executive Director Lee Lambert and several Cascade staff members rode BMC URS gravel bikes thanks to a partnership with BMC, which is offering discounts to Cascade members through our Member Benefits Portal.

Claire was elated to be participating in Iron Horse Gravel as a Cascade Outrider.

Andy is a medical outrider — Andy is a Medical Outrider.

Dayna rode on her Tern — Dayna rode her electric cargo bike, showing that any bike can be a gravel bike.

BMC URS gravel bike — I also had the pleasure of riding a BMC URS during Iron Horse Gravel.

See you on Iron Horse Gravel 2026!

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