• The inaugural Winthrop Gravel Tour Lite was a dirty good time!

• Scenic beauty, car-free gravel roads, and small-town charm.

More than 100 people joined us in Washington state’s beautiful Methow Valley from June 23 to 25 for the inaugural Winthrop Gravel Tour Lite. Smiles abounded, and everyone was treated to three days of riding on the valley’s abundant dirt roads and community trails.

Gravel riding is exploding in popularity as an alternative to traditional road riding because it allows riders to get away from traffic and explore the backcountry on roads less traveled. 

Cascade partnered with local bike advocates and Winthop’s Methow Cycle and Sport bike shop to create short and long loops for each day of riding, with lunch and water and rest stops staffed by generous volunteers and Cascade staff members. 

Based on the positive feedback from both riders and the local business community, Cascade will return to Winthrop next year for another three-day Tour Lite. 

Never done a Tour Lite? They are fully supported and affordable small group events with about 100 participants who enjoy three days of unique bike routes in some of Washington state’s most scenic locations. In the evenings, we gather at local microbreweries or wineries to socialize and make new friends. Some people camp, others book hotel rooms. 

People of all abilities are welcomed on our Tour Lites, and some folks ride electric bikes. Cascade has five Tour Lites remaining in 2023, and there is still space available. Sign up now for our Grays Harbor, Long Beach, Port Townsend, Ellensburg, or Walla Walla tours before registration closes. 

Thanks to our sponsor Grayl for donating a bunch of stainless steel camp cups and UltraPress water filters and purifiers to Winthrop participants. And a big thank you to all the residents and businesses of Winthrop and the Methow Valley for sharing their beautiful community with us. Enjoy the photos below of the smiling faces, epic rides, and scenic vistas from Winthrop. 

Brief rain showers in the afternoons made for dramatic cloud formations.

 

Cascade Executive Lee Lambert (below right) rode all three days and spoke on Saturday evening during our social time at the Methow Valley Ciderhouse. 

Cascade Outriders provided support during the rides, while our volunteers handed out sandwiches, cookies, and snacks during our lunch and rest stops. This event would not have been possible without them.

 

The smiles were wider than the Methow Valley!

Sarah, above, is one of Cascade's Seattle Sounders Free Bike Parking attendants.

The Day Three lunch stop was spectacular.

Mmmm cookies.

The Honda Ridgeline (below) from our sponsor Western Washington Honda Dealers Association proved invaluable for hauling lunches and supplies on the backcountry roads.

Can't wait to return to Winthrop!