Why this ride
Out of Snoqualmie, one way: 198 km, roughly 3 h 19 in the saddle.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
North Cascades Highway · part 1
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 198 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 19
- Journey
- One way; return travel is separate
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Fuel stop near Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie sits in the foothills of the Cascades, about half an hour east of Seattle along Interstate 90. The town is best known for Snoqualmie Falls, where the Snoqualmie River drops about 270 feet into a misty gorge. The falls have long been sacred to the Snoqualmie Tribe, and today they draw visitors from around the world. Fans of the television series Twin Peaks will also recognise the area, as much of the show was filmed in and around Snoqualmie and North Bend.
Read the complete Fuel stop near Snoqualmie write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
North Cascades Highway is where the day begins. Next is Seattle / Pacific Northwest return.
2. Near Arlington Heights, on the way back
The North Fork of the Stillaguamish River flows west out of the Cascades here, through a wide valley of farmland and forests, past the small communities of Arlington Heights, Oso and Darrington, on its way to Puget Sound. You are in the hills above the valley, east of Arlington, and on a hot day on the way back from the North Cascades, the river and the small lakes in the area offer a chance to cool off.
Read the complete Near Arlington Heights, on the way back write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Seattle / Pacific Northwest return comes up about 137 km into the recorded legs. Next is Food stop near Stanwood.
3. Food stop near Stanwood
Stanwood sits at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River, where it spreads into a delta of farmland and tidal marshes before reaching Puget Sound. The town was settled largely by Norwegian immigrants in the late nineteenth century, and the Scandinavian heritage still shows in local names and festivals. It is the gateway to Camano Island, connected to the mainland by a short bridge, and a pleasant stop on the way north.
Read the complete Food stop near Stanwood write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
The route ends here after 198 km.
Leg by leg
Fuel stop near Snoqualmie to Near Arlington Heights, on the way back
Fuel stop near Snoqualmie → Near Arlington Heights, on the way back is 137 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.