The way points of this bicycle route:
It would be a VERY good idea to know the wind forecast before you head out on this route. A brutal NW wind, a not uncommon feature of the valley, can turn a return trip from Whiskey Dick into an epic battle. Proceed east on University Way.
The Vantage Highway, with smooth and wide shoulders for at least part of the stretch looks like an inviting E/W route between Ellensburg and Kittitas, but I almost always try to avoid it(and it's sister, the Kittitas Highway a mile south). These two highways are the most dangerous in the Kittitas valley and account for more than their fair share of traffic fatalities. There are plenty of other E/W options.
Turn left.
Turn right.
Turn left.
Turn right.
There's a ranch on this stretch of road (and on Game Farm Road 1/2 mile south) where an occasional buffalo (or perhaps beefalo) can be spotted.
Follow the pavement around to the right.
Turn left.
Turn right.
Turn left.
Stop here and look back southwest across the valley for a nice vista of Mount Rainier. The ridges stretching north from here are home to the Wild Horse Wind Farm, more than 100 wind turbines, turning the wind, that you may find yourself cussing on your trip back, into clean energy. There's a visitor center for the wind farm 3 miles and 850 feet up - and I do mean up - a rough paved road that's worth a visit - the views are great and there's water and bathrooms. There are also outdoor spigots if you're desperate for H2O on the service building that is just 1/4 mile from Vantage Highway. Think very carefully about your legs and lungs while you consider the 12 mile 2000 foot descent to (and more important, return from) Vantage. It's definitely worth it if you have the glycogen stores. Otherwise turn tail and head back toward Ellensburg.
Turn left.
Turn left. Cross I-90 on overpass.
Turn right.
Turn right.
If you're dying for a couple of Twinkies you can take a short detour here to one or two shops at the I-90 interchange or the small grocery store in Kittitas. To continue on this route turn left.
Turn right.
Number 6 Road is the only "official" North/South route across I-90 between Ellensburg and Kittitas. But there are agricultural tunnels under I-90 at Bull Road and Denmark Road. These are narrow and dark (after coming out of full sun), occasionally have debris or standing water in the bottoms, and suffer the occasional teenage driver plowing through them at a reckless speed. I use them, but with caution. Turn right.
Turn left.
Turn left.
Turn right.
That was a wee dram, indeed!
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
Whiskey or Whisky? I don't know, but this ride is better than a wee dram! The Whisky Dick Triathalon, held every July, starts with a swim in the Columbia river at Vantage, followed by the bike leg over Whiskey Dick crest into Kittitas, and a running leg into Ellensburg. This ride takes you to the Whiskey Dick crest from the Ellensburg side. If you have enough oomph left you can continue on to Vantage and your return ride will give you the full Whisky Dick bike leg experience and then some! This Kittitas Valley loop ride starts and ends in Ellensburg at the corner of University Way and Walnut and passes near Kittitas.
Tagged with: Low traffic, Rural, Scenic
