Bikepack - Ancient Lake

Leader Permission Required: Email leader noting your singletrack experience and make and model of bike. A rigid bike is OK but needs to have mountain bike geometry. This trip is rated MTB I, and you don't need a lot of experience.  Priority is given to 2024 and 2025 Bikepacking Course graduates.

RWGPS Ancient Lakes Day 1
RWGPS Ancient Lakes Day 2

This trip is a great entry ride for bikepacking on singletrack trails, but some prior mountain bike skills and a mountain bike are required for the trip. Riding will be on singletrack trails with mountain bike difficulty gradings of green (11-1/2 miles) to blue (1/2 mile). This trip is rated with the Mountaineer rating system as MTB 1. For details on what that means, see here.  

Pack water for two days as there is no access to usable water during the trip. 2 liters is likely not enough. 3 liters might be a good minimum.

The Ancient Lakes area is  a beautiful location for early season riding as snow is unlikely and sunshine is probable (but not guaranteed). However, in this desert like area, the nights can still be cold in  April. Prepare to pack for cold weather camping.

Meet at Ancient Lakes Lower Trailhead parking lot, 47.160050, -119.980650. Paste the coordinates into your navigation app, and it will take youto the correct lot. Meet at 9:30 AM and be ready to roll at 10:30 AM. 

There is is a sign to turn left to Ancient Lakes on the flat, straight, paved, road on the way to the lower trailhead parking lot. Do not turn at the sign. It is for the upper trailhead. Keep driving straight, and you will eventually wind down a paved road to the lower parking lot. 

The ride to camp is less than 2 miles. Once we unload our gear, we will ride 11-13 miles on green and blue single track. Find the parking lot and meeting location on Google Maps or Apple Maps by searching for "Ancient Lakes Lower Trailhead" or use the coordinates above and paste into the destination field.  We may have a short ride on Sunday morning or else just head back to the cars to beat traffic home.

Consult WSDOT for construction delays, travel closures, cautions, etc. Plan accordingly and give extra time.