Itinerary

Day 1: Head to the entrance of North Cascades National Park for an impressive start to your week exploring.

Meet your guides in Seattle Sunday morning. Shuttle to the entrance of the North Cascades National Park (the “Gateway to the American Alps”) and start the week with a nice warm-up ride along the banks of Diablo Lake.
Contemplate Desolation Peak, where famed beat-generation author, Jack Kerouac, scanned the surrounding mountains for forest fires during the summer before On the Road was published. Pedal past cascading waterfalls on your way to Ross Lake and hop in the van for a boost to the top of Washington Pass.
Enjoy jaw-dropping views of high alpine peaks while dining on a gourmet lunch spread. Nothing aids digestion like a freewheeling descent on a bicycle. Coast down the eastern slopes of the Cascades to the lovely Freestone Inn for a 3-night stay. It’s easy to see why it received a “Top 25 Lodges in America” – award from Travel and Leisure magazine and attracts guests from all over the world.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner. Lodging: Freestone Inn
Distance: 27 miles Elevation: approx.+1000 ft / – 4000 ft. (most folks jump in the van for the big climb!)

Day 2: Ride from the tiny settlement of Mazama through the beautiful Methow Valley

Ride from the tiny settlement of Mazama through the beautiful Methow Valley – one of Washington’s most popular recreation destinations.
Here in the remote Okanagan region, golden eagles ply the skies and nest high in the cliffs above the rivers. White-tailed deer and elk, along with the occasional moose, graze in the forests and meadows. Stop for lunch at Pearrygin Lake State Park before heading to the historic “Old West” town of Winthrop (did you bring your 10-gallon hat?). From here, hop on a saddle at the ice cream shop, or hop on your bike and pedal back up the valley to Freestone.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Lodging: Freestone Inn
Distance: 46 miles Elevation: approx.+2024 ft / – 2024 ft.

Day 3: Mountain bike in the morning then strap on your hiking boots to catch some amazing views!

Today we will leave the skinny tires to rest and hop on some mountain bikes. We ride right from our Inn, taking a tour of some of the easy trails in the area on our way to the Mazama Store – a local favorite – for a delicious lunch.
After lunch, hand over the fat tires and lace up your hiking boots, we are going on a hike in the North Cascades to catch some amazing mountain views!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Lodging: Freestone Inn
Distance: 10 miles easy mountain biking, and 4 miles hiking with 1700 ft gain

Day 4: Ride along fjord-like Lake Chelan to the banks of the mighty Columbia River and practice your yodeling on the way to Bavarian-themed Leavenworth.

This morning we leave the Methow Valley and shuttle to fjord like Lake Chelan, the deepest lake in Washington State! Ride along the shores of this deep blue gem before heading into the surrounding open forests and meadows and then along the mighty Columbia River.
After checking in at the Bavarian Lodge, there is plenty of time for you to enjoy the afternoon exploring the charming Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth. Or to do some more riding.
Tonight’s dinner is on your own (lederhosen are optional). Your challenge will be picking from the long list of recommended restaurants!
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch. Lodging: Bavarian Lodge
Distance: 27 miles Elevation: approx.+1257 ft / – 1641 ft.

Day 5: The Lake Wenatchee Area has it all – pine scented forests, nesting raptors, whitewater rivers, vineyards, and orchards.

Take a drive through a whitewater canyon whose surrounding cliffs are famous for nesting raptors to a beautiful state park on the shores of Lake Wenatchee to begin cycling today.
Cruise from scented pine forests to vineyards and orchards. Enjoy some time in town or head out on another ride before we gather for a celebratory dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner. Lodging: Bavarian Lodge
Distance: 36 miles (or more or less)
Elevation: approx. +1841 ft / – 2557 ft.

Day 6: Ride through the world’s longest bike tunnel on the Palouse to Cascades Park Trail to watch the waters thunder over Snoqualmie Falls

Ride through the world’s longest bike/pedestrian tunnel: a 2.3-mile long historic train tunnel on the Palouse to Cascades Trail. We’ll provide the lights!
Cycle downhill through evergreen forests all the way to Rattlesnake Lake for lunch. You’ll be relieved to know there are no rattlesnakes here; the lake got its name from late-summer seed pods rattling in the wind.
More downhill after lunch: pedal all the way to gorgeous Snoqualmie Falls, which you may recognize from the popular TV series, Twin Peaks. For the native Snoqualmie people, the falls are the place “where prayers were carried up to the Creator by the great mists that rise from the powerful flow.” After more photos, hugs and a few rituals that are part of every tour, your guides will drop you off at your hotel in Seattle or near the airport.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Distance: 36 miles Elevation: approx. +425 ft / – 2957 ft.

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

The American Alps

Freestone Inn
Located just 15 miles West of Winthrop in Mazama, Washington, the Freestone Inn & Early Winter Cabins both offer a quiet setting in casual atmosphere. Surrounded by the North Cascades Forest and just steps away from our lake and creeks, enjoy the peaceful solitude while warming up by the fire in your accommodations.

Bavarian Hotel

The hotels, Inns, and B&B’s we use are always among the finest the area has to offer. Our smaller group sizes(max. 13) allow us to stay at some award-winning places that can’t handle groups of 25 or more. We work closely with the innkeepers to make sure they understand your needs and ours, whether that is having a place to store your bike, an early morning breakfast or a convenient place to park the van, they are as committed to your vacation experience as we are.
Lodging is based upon two people to a room with a private bath. If you’re traveling solo on any of our trips, we’ll assign you a roommate of the same gender and often of the same age bracket.
There is no extra charge if we can’t find you a roommate, even if you sign up the day before the trip starts. You can guarantee yourself a private room and bath if you pay the Single Room Fee.

Included:

• Lodging and dining.
• All meals except 1 dinner on your own. Snacks and beverages between meals
• Park and other entry fees
• Road /hybrid bike, (E-bike rent possible)
• Helmet and Wahoo GPS device
• Luggage transfer.

Not included:

• Night before and after the tour.
• Flights to and from the tour
• Alcoholic beverages at meals
• Gratuities guides

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2024: $ 3327.- pp. Single fee: $ 899.- This is not required. It is an optional fee to allow a solo traveler to guarantee a private room for the duration of the tour. You can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider
Tour dates 2024:

Conditions

Deposit 25%
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

Meals and dining:
We know how important breakfast is to make sure your day starts off right. Most breakfasts are served at the inn where we spend the night and are either a set menu or a continental breakfast buffet. But if there is a local restaurant with a reputation for a great breakfast, we can guarantee we will find it and you will be treated to a nutritious meal to start the day.
Lunch is provided at a state park or similar scenic setting midway during the day’s ride. Guests are always surprised at the variety and quality of lunches we prepare.
Besides sandwich fixings and cold drinks, we offer fresh fruits and vegetables and hot lunches such as tortellini with pesto or veggie burritos. If you prefer a certain item of food or drink, just let your tour guide know and we will be sure to prepare just the right lunch to keep your energy up for the rest of the day.
During the day water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy bars, fruit, and snacks are available from the van. A cold beer from our cooler waits at the end of the day, and you can relive the day’s highlights at our wine and cheese party before dinner.
Dinner is eaten together at the best restaurant in the area. At most restaurants, you order what you want from the menu. Except for alcohol, everything is included, even appetizers, salad, soup, and dessert. If we have to shuttle everyone a short distance to get to that special place, we do it. We like to eat well.

If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance. We regularly accommodate vegetarians and other restricted diets. All of our meals are carefully selected to provide you with the unusually high nutritional and caloric needs of your body on an outdoor adventure.