Ride West Sound: Tour de Dabob (Moderate)

We'll meet at the Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitors Center parking lot (free parking), located off SR 19 (Beaver Valley Rd) near SR 104. Look for my white Sprinter van—your beacon for the ride. Be there, ready to go, at the time listed above. We will begin with a required safety briefing and roll out once that's complete. All riders must attend the safety briefing to participate.

Leave the bustle behind and explore one of West Puget Sound’s most scenic and tranquil corners. This 48-mile grinder on the Toandos Peninsula rolls between Dabob Bay and Hood Canal, stacking up 3,900 feet of gain on quiet, forested backroads with barely a car in sight. 

Starting from the Olympic Gateway Visitor Center, we’ll follow quiet stretches of Larson Lake, Center, Dabob, and Coyle Roads—known for their smooth pavement, long rolling hills, and peaceful beauty. With kind permission from Thane Grooms, we’ll enjoy a mid-ride lunch break at mile 28 at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center in Coyle (BYOL—there are no services along the route). After lunch, we return via Thorndyke and South Point Roads, finishing with a short stretch on Hwy 104 back to the start. A hidden gem west of Hood Canal—steady climbs, forest solitude, and a workout worth the ride.

Bonus Fun Fact
On the west side, Dabob Bay—at 600 feet, the deepest part of Hood Canal—serves as a proving ground where Navy submarines test their sea legs. The Toandos Peninsula stretches from Hazel Point to Tskutsko Point, home to a torpedo tracking station monitoring underwater tech. On rare occasions, naval operations briefly pause—not for storms or system failures, but because an enthusiastic chorus of frogs gets loud enough to confuse the sonar.

We will climb and descend hills at our own pace, regroup frequently, and limit our speeds on multi-use paths to the legal maximum (usually 15 MPH, occasionally 10 MPH), ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride for all.

This 48-mile loop will take approximately five hours, though the duration may be shorter. Please note that restroom access is limited. We will stop at all available locations: the ride start, Quilcene Fire Rescue Station 22 (mile 26), the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center (mile 28), and again at the finish (mile 48)

Due to the remote nature of this route, services are minimal. Come prepared with ample water, snacks, lunch, a spare tube, and the tools to fix a flat. Bring your phone, ID, and either cash or a credit card. If roads are wet, full fenders with buddy flaps are required—or you may be asked to ride at the back. Plan ahead and ride ready!

Note: If weather conditions meet the weather cancellation criterion listed in the Weather Status or if there are unforeseen hazardous riding conditions or other unexpected events, the Ride Leader will cancel the ride, and all registered riders will be sent a notification email. If the ride is canceled at least two hours before the start, the Ride Leader(s) will not be at the start location. Please check before leaving for the ride.

We hope you can join us!