Deep in the Douglas County Hinterlands

September 29th, 2022 Douglas County, WA
HEADS UP: this one is little longer than my recent uploads. I’m working on changing my “format” during the off season.

Way back in September I needed to get out and do a drive. I took a day off from work and headed North East into the smoke hazed hinterlands. I had read a great old article about places in eastern Washington for drivers, and bicyclists. I had found another old motorcycle enthusiast website that was a great resource that I used for inspiration. With my new mapping software, I crafted a route, using those as a reference.

Head East on I-90, take a left up towards Leavenworth then right on the 2 towards Wenatchee. Turn left at Wenatchee (after getting some donuts) then head up US HWY 97 A like I did, or more smartly head north on the 2 (and continue as it turns into the 97). Get on McNeil Canyon Rd then look out for the gravel Road E NW on your left, and begin your winding gravel journey. I know I’ve been complaining about gravel, and I have been trying to avoid it, but at least the gravel out here was not off-road gravel but old agriculture road gravel.

Out here you’ll find relatively well-groomed gravel roads that see regular traffic, 2 lane highways with few cars, and slight curves and undulating levels. You may also find a stretch or two of pavement that no one else is on. You're surrounded by a rolling landscape strewn with huge boulders called Haystack rocks. You're definitely in farm country. End your drive at Crown Vista Point and look at Grand Coulee Dam and the town of Grand Coulee.

The actual route GPX (I ran into some dead ends): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U3gV... Hot tip: Use Google Earth and Google Maps Street View as much as possible!

Software:
Inroute
Gaigps

Thanks for watching!
-s