Walla Walla Tour Lite
Event date:
Friday, September 30, 2022 - 7:00am to Sunday, October 2, 2022 - 3:00pm
Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 , 2022
Registration
Online Registration Pricing
REGISTRATION ENTRY DATE PREMIUM MEMBER Member June 7 - September 25, 2022 $150 Non-member June 7 - September 25, 2022 $170 Youth -- $40
- Registration opens at 10 a.m. on June 7 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 25.
- No day-of-event registration. Register online.
Rider limit: 150
Tour leader: Cascade Bicycle Club
Note: Accommodations organized by participants
Overview
Come join us for a weekend of riding around beautiful Walla Walla. Experience farm country like never before! You will love the diversity of scenery -- from wheat to wine, Walla Walla is one of the friendliest small towns in America. This will be a fun way to end your cycling season and enjoy nice weather after it turns rainy west of the Cascades. We do a group start in the morning, but riders will ride at their prefered pace and may select long or short routes each day.
Rides each day will start near the town of Walla Walla. You are not required to ride each day. The charge per rider for the weekend is for three days of ride support and festivities - choose to participate as convenient for you. Accommodations, breakfast, and dinner are for riders to organize themselves, but post-ride activities will be planned Friday and Saturday. Lunch is provided on the route. Stay a while and socialize and enjoy the Walla Walla sun.
Biking in Walla Walla
There are several things riders should keep in mind and prepare for before departing for Walla Walla.
- Goat's head seeds are present. Like a tiny caltrops, these seeds can puncture tires. Consider these preventative measure from Bike Wenatchee.
- Cell service may be spotty or non-existent along some parts of the route. Learn how to fix a flat, carry a flat kit, and know that there may be some wait time before the SAG vehicle reaches you.
- Signage for some streets, roads, or highways may be non-existent on some stretches. Watch your mileage and have a back-up plan if you're using GPS navigation.
Itinerary
Ride with GPS maps
Long Routes: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Short Routes: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Cue Sheets
Available at the morning meeting at the start location.
All routes are marked with "Dan Henry" navigational markings in bright neon pink on the road.
Morning Debrief
Each day begins with a morning debrief at 8:30 a.m., where riders will get full details about the route, potential hazards or detours, and more.
Day 1: Walla Walla – Milton-Freewater – Touchet Loop / 60 miles / 1960’ (short route: 39 miles / 1450’)
Course hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Briefing at 8:30 a.m.
We will start from Feliciana winery and head south to Milton-Freewater, skirting downtown Walla Walla. We’ll have lunch stops in Umapine and in Touchet before heading back to the winery for beverages and refreshments. There is no food to purchase after the ride but we will have snacks to share. This route will feature a nice mix of vineyards, orchards, and wheat fields.
Lunch will be provided. There are plenty of food options in Milton-Freewater as well.
Day 2: Walla Walla - Waitsburg - Dayton Loop / 85 miles / 4060’ (short route: 55 miles / 2440’)
Course hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Briefing at 8:30 a.m.
This is a classic Walla Walla favorite. We’ll start at Quirk Brewing and head to Waitsburg, where lunch is served. Riders can continue on to Dayton if the conditions are favorable. For those who want fewer miles, turning around in Waitsburg makes for a nice mid-point to the ride. We will enjoy brews and refreshments at Quirk when we return.
Day 3: Walla Walla East Loop / 32 miles / 1500’
Course hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Briefing at 8:30 a.m.
This ride will start from Tietan Park and do a nice jaunt around the wheat fields south of Walla Walla proper. This is our last day in beautiful wine country. Riders hoping to cut mileage can skip the out and back on this route. Lunch is served at the start of the out-and-back climb.
Support
SAG Vehicles
Two or more support-and-gear (SAG) vehicles will be present on the course. These vehicles are staffed with drivers who may be able to help with standard mechanical issues or flat tires and can help transport you and your bike to a local shop for more technical fixes. SAG vehicle drivers will respond to support calls during course hours.
Mechanical Support
Fix-a-flat kits are available at all lunch stops. SAG drivers can assist with minor repairs, but will transport riders to local bike shops for larger issues.
Rest Stops
All routes will have a staffed lunch stop, with sandwiches, snacks, and fresh fruit available. Bathrooms are marked on the RWGPS maps. Additional unstaffed water stops with a small selection of snacks will be made available for longer routes.
What to Expect
WEATHER
Days are likely be mild, but you should also be prepared for both rain and cooler temperatures. Layers are best as mornings will be crisp but days are likely to be warm. Average highs for October are in the 60s, with average lows in the 40s (Fahrenheit).
MEALS
Meals are on your own. Lunch and drinks will be provided at the mid point of the ride on Friday and Saturday and post-ride snacks will be provided Friday and Saturday.
LODGING
There are many options for accommodations in Walla Walla and surrounding towns.
TRANSPORTATION
If you can safely carpool, we encourage it. The start point for this tour is approximately 4.5 to 5 hours from Seattle.
Additional Resources
Wineries
Wineries along Friday routes:
- Ducleaux Winery
- Los Rocosos Winery
- Tero Estates Winery
- Valdemar Estates
- Balboa Winery
- Saviah Cellars
- Va Piano Vineyards
- Castillo de Feliciana
Wineries along Sunday routes:
- Valdemar Estates Winery
- Balboa Winery
- Saviah Cellars
- Va Piano Vineyards
- Northstar Winery
- Solemn Cellars
Attractions
Local Bike Resources