Northwest in Motion

Inspiring, informing, and connecting cyclists, runners, hikers, and skiers

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Destinations

Places we love to ride, run, hike, and ski

  • Early Season Mountain Biking at Horse Butte
    With Central Oregon’s high elevation trails still under snow, Horse Butte has miles of trails for mountain bikers willing to brave a little weather to get back in the saddle. Located ...
  • Ellen Lavoie OKTs the JWT
    Ellen Lavoie has always been a “body in motion.” Growing up in rural New England she loved to play in the woods. She has also always been a free spirit ...
  • Flirting with the Yangtze: Video
    During March I spent about two weeks cycling in Yunnan Province, China. The first part of that adventure felt like we were flirting with the Yangtze. To capture the experience ...
  • Freshly Paved Colman Park
    I’m not going to claim that cycling fresh asphalt gives anywhere near the sensory pleasure of skiing fresh snow, but it is pleasurable nonetheless. Most of my rides finish with ...
  • High Pass Challenge 2010: Cycling the Mt. St. Helens Blast Zone
    The Cascade Bicycle Club’s High Pass Challenge has been on my hit list for quite a while, and I was finally able to fit it in my calendar this year. ...
  • Hiking Summerland & Panhandle Gap
    Whether you like to move fast and light or slow and deliberate, notice what you sense as you move through wilderness ecological zones.
  • Hwy 20 Roadkill
    At the start of this year’s cycling season, I had a long hit list of objectives–a four-day tour in Oregon, Hurricane Ridge, the Mt. Baker Hwy, all of the climbs ...
  • Larch Season Hike: Maple Pass Loop
    Among the most popular fall hikes in the Cascades are those with abundant larch trees. The Maple Pass Loop near Rainy Pass on Highway 20 (aka “The North Cascades Highway”) ...
  • Marblemount to Mazama with the RCC
    During the weekend of June 27-28 I joined the Redmond Cycling Club (RCC) for their annual Mazama Ride over Hwy 20.
  • Meet the Bend Bella Cycling Club
    Central Oregon’s largest women’s cycling club emphasizes fun, skills, and confidence building — on the road and on mountain trails. When I lived in Vancouver, WA the local cycling club (Vancouver Bicycle Club) ...
  • Mt. Baker Backcountry in Grayscale
    Trip report about a commonly done ski tour around Table Mt in the Mt. Baker Backcountry.
  • North Cascades Highway: Let’s Do it Again
    With the weather window closing, a small group of us snuck out on Friday to cycle the North Cascades Highway. The crew included High Performance Cycling teammates John Pottle and ...
  • Oregon Cycling Project 2012
    Last year I reposted a ride report from cycling buddy Thomas Shafer about a self-guided 4-day tour he organized in Oregon’s Wallowa region. I was invited to join this year’s ...
  • Oregon Destination: The Old McKenzie Pass Hwy
    Read about cycling the Old McKenzie Pass Hwy, one of the best cycling objectives in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Out and Back: Sequim to Hurricane Ridge
    Although I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1994, I’d never been to Hurricane Ridge via any mode of transport let alone on a bike. It had been on my ...
  • Owens Valley Climbing Project
    The Owens Valley is a remarkable place in what feels like the middle of nowhere–east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and west of the White Mountains, about 200 miles south ...
  • Paddling Sucia Island
    Sucia Island is a premier kayaking destination, and is also becoming a trail running destination. Read about paddling this gorgeous island.
  • Politics on the Trail
    I hastily deleted several incriminating emails before my husband and I grabbed our trusty mountain bikes and headed for the trail. Skies were blue and temps unseasonably warm for November ...
  • Poo Poo Point Power Hike
    After a record cold and snowy February, the sudden switch to summertime temperatures the past few days has been just the prescription to get over our collective cabin fever. Saturday afternoon ...
  • Profile: Cyclos Montagnards
    Seattle has a fantastic diversity of cycling clubs and teams that can satisfy the cycling ambitions of any rider. When I settled in Seattle in 2007, I was particularly intrigued ...

Resources

Washington

Visit Walla Walla
Beloved for the rural farm roads that meander through rolling wheat fields, Walla Walla is celebrated as Washington’s top road cycling destination. The nearby Blue Mountains offer experienced riders steep climbs and sharp turns to attack, while the flat lands and paved trails that run through Walla Walla’s historic neighborhoods and farmlands are perfect for when you just want to cruise. Start planning your route by downloading the Walla Walla Valley Cycling Map or City of Walla Walla Cycling Routes and Lanes. For more information you can also visit the Wheatland Wheelers Bicycle Club website. This local club provides riders with information and guidance on cycling in the Walla Walla Valley.

Wenatchee Outdoors
Learn about the wide spectrum of things to do in the Wenatchee area: Mountain Biking, Road Biking, Mountaineering, Rock climbing, Backpacking, Paddling, Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Trail running.

Oregon

Visit Bend
A warm, inviting mountain getaway with a cosmopolitan appeal is what you’ll find when you arrive in the friendly town of Bend, Oregon. Majestic, snow-capped peaks adorn the high-desert skyline, making for some of the best weather in Oregon — think sun-drenched days and cool nights — along with endless options for plenty of play time. Playing in the Cascades, hiking, mountain biking, or skiing at Mt. Bachelor are just a few of the outdoor adventures you can tackle in a weekend or a week.

Visit Central Oregon
Central Oregon is home to the cities of Bend, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Prineville, and Madras and the resort community of Sunriver. Start your vacation planning with a place to stay. In Central Oregon you will find some of the finest outdoor adventure with places for paddling, hiking, cycling, golfing and dining al fresco in the summer. In winter, areas of the High Desert turn into a snowy playground with skiing, snowboarding, sledding and ice skating. It doesn’t hurt that, whatever the season, we are home to some of the country’s top craft breweries, unique boutiques for tax-free shopping, and world-class restaurants to please every lifestyle and budget.