Always looking for a big adventure on my birthday, I took advantage of the beautiful weather in the Big Bottom Valley for a spring bike ride to Ohanapecosh.
It was probably a bigger thing than I should’ve attempted this early in the season, but I had a great time. Parking along the Falls Rd near the Cowlitz Falls dam, I set out around 9:15 AM, biking along Falls Rd to Peters Rd, and then on to Hwy 12. From there I stuck to the old hiway route following the length of Silverbrook Rd back to Hiway 12, and took a break under Cora Bridge. I then continued along Hiway 12, stopping at Johnson Creek for lunch.
After food, and plenty of sitting around, I got back on my bike and followed the hiway thru Packwood up to Lake Creek Rd, where I took another break. The stretch of hiway from there up to the Y at Hiway 123 was kinda tough, with all the gear I was carrying that first grade was not easy. After taking another break at the Y, I found Hiway 123 to be quite the nice ride. I arrived at the Ohanapecosh camp ground around 7:00 PM.
The evening was lovely, even tho the light fails early this time of year. My night was quite as I would have expected – lots of leg cramps. Regardless, with the campground abandoned and closed up for the season, the quiet was stunning and I had a very restful night.
I spent the next day doing nothing. All day. I poked about the meadows, and wandered about in the woods upriver of the hot springs. I walked the Silver Falls loop. There was even a nap. And another night of blissfully quiet solitude.
In the morning, I packed my gear back up and rode back. This time, however, I turned off the hiway at Bennett Rd and followed Cline Rd out to the Cispus Rd, looping back into Randle at Hwy 131. And instead of turning back down into the valley at Peters Rd, I continued up Hwy 12 to Savio Rd.
What a great way to enjoy the Big Bottom Valley!
Images taken in the Big Bottom Valley, Lewis County, WA, and at Ohanapecosh, MRNP, March 16-18, 2024.
85.7 miles biked with 4,322′ elev. gain.
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