Walla Walla Tour Lite

Event Description

Come join us for a weekend of riding around beautiful Walla Walla. Experience farm country like never before! You will love the diversity of scenery -- from wheat to wine to whey, experience this unique southeast Washington community, teetering on the boundary of Oregon, which you'll also experience! This will be a fun way to end your cycling season and enjoy nice weather after it turns rainy west of the Cascades. We do a group start in the morning, but riders will ride at their preferred pace and may select long or short routes each day.

Accommodations, breakfast, and dinner are for riders to organize themselves, but post-ride activities will be planned Friday and Saturday. Lunch is provided on the route. Stay a while and socialize and enjoy the Walla Walla sun.

Each day's ride will start at a different winery or brewery around the outskirts of Walla Walla. You are not required to ride each day, but please check in each morning that you do ride.

Registration

Registration opens: March 1 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific.

Registration closes: Sunday, September 24 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. 

Route

Each day has a long or short option. 

We encourage you to wait until the day before the event to download these maps to your preferred device for easy access on the day of the event. 

Printed cue sheets are available at the start line. The route is marked with navigational markings on the road surface.

Event Schedule

Friday	Opens	Closes
Rider Check-In	8:30 a.m.	9 a.m.
Course Support	9 a.m.	3 p.m.
El Sombrero Social	5 p.m.	7 p.m.
Saturday
Rider Check-In	8:30 a.m.	9 a.m.
Course Support	9 a.m	3 p.m.
Quirk Social	--	--
Sunday
Rider Check-In	8:30 a.m.	9 a.m.
Course Support	9 a.m	3 p.m. (or last rider off road)

Friday | Frenchtown through Milton-Freewater

We will start from Cougar Crest Estate Winery in Frenchtown, west of downtown Walla Walla. After a quick visit to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site, we work our way south through several small communities to Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Skirting through downtown we climb our 1000’ hill for the day, then swoop back down and north to lunch stop in Umapine and then to another winery or two on the way back to Cougar Crest. 

Saturday | Waitsburg - Sudbury Loop

This is a classic Walla Walla favorite. We’ll start at Quirk Brewing and head to Waitsburg, where lunch is served before the big climb back out Lower Waitsburg Road. Riders can cruise on to Sudbury if the conditions are favorable. For those who want fewer miles, continuing south on Lower Waitsburg makes for a nice 13-mile shortcut to the ride. Long-loopers wend their way from the west end clear through downtown Walla Walla and Whitman College before picking up the Mill Race Trail.

We will enjoy brews and refreshments at Quirk when we return. 

Sunday | Walla Walla East Loop

Today’s ride will start from Castillo de Feliciana just on the Oregon side of the state line. We slip a little farther south before turning east for a nice jaunt around the wheat fields southeast of Walla Walla proper. Riders needing a vigorous challenge can climb up and over Scenic Loop Rd (another locals’ favorite, but 2.5 miles of less-paved hardpack and gravel at the top) to meet Mill Creek (and full pavement) at Thomas for a beautiful downhill cruise. Less adventuresome pedalers can cut mileage (and rough road) by meeting Mill Creek below Tracy.

Everyone enjoys lunch at Rooks Park before cruising along the Mill Creek Trail back into Walla Walla. Skirting the east edge of town returns us to the beautiful wine country for our last day’s final miles back to Castillo de Feliciana.

Inclusion

Everyone is welcome at Cascade events. We are committed to celebrating and promoting diversity in the bicycling community. We aim to provide safe spaces at start lines, finish lines, and official rest stops. Read our commitment to anti-racism and our participant code of conduct and grievance policy.

We would like to acknowledge that our rides take place on native land. Our offices are located on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present.

Food & Breaks

Lunches are provided. You can refill your water and electrolyte bottles and enjoy light snacks that will power you for the second half of the ride. Fare includes energy bars, chips, nuts, fruit, and sandwiches from local caterers.

Gluten free and vegan snacks and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are available.

We'll organize social events at local wineries and breweries on Friday and Saturday evening, but you'll pick up your own tab.

Where to Stay

Preferred Partners

• Holiday Inn Express Walla Walla. 10 rooms are available at a discount to riders. Please book early; offer ends August 29, 2023. Discount instructions sent to registered riders.
• The Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center 10 double rooms available to book at a group rate. July 28,2023 is the cut off date to book these rooms. Discount and booking instructions sent to registered riders.

Hotels

• Best Western Plus Walla Walla Suites Inn

Support During the Ride

This ride is supported by Cascade staff and volunteers.

Support and gear (SAG) vehicles are present on the route and dispatched when you call the ride support hotline. SAG vehicles can transport you and most models of bikes in the event of a mechanical or minor medical event. You should always call 911 in a life-threatening emergency.

Goatheads are thorny seed pods common in the Walla Walla area. Bring inner tubes that fit your tires and a flat kit. Read more on how to reduce the chance of a flat tire.

Weather

Don't leave home without your rain gear. Weather is typically dry and sunny, but early morning starts and downhills warrant extra layers.

Get your bike tuned up and in shape to ride in slick, rainy, low-visibility conditions. Bring front and rear lights, install fenders, service your brakes, and clean your chain.

E-Bikes

Class 1 and class 2 e-bikes are permitted on this ride, which makes use of a multi-use trail on Day 2 and Day 3.

Training

To help you prepare for this ride, you can check out our extensive schedule of Free Group Rides in the Puget Sound area. Find rides that fit your schedule and desired pace and distance.