San Juan - Ferry to Friday Harbor, begin our cycling adventure!
We will greet everyone this morning at Memorial Circle in Friday Harbor, WA, a short walk from the Washington State Ferry terminal. Luggage and guests will be loaded into the van and trailer for a short transport to Jackson's Beach for our orientation. While enjoying our first lunch together, our guides will brief the group on local island knowledge, safety and bike fit. The start of our ride will meander through open pastures and prairie land before encountering the first of the rolling hills we will experience over the next few days. Continuing along todays route, we crest a hill only to be greeted with the first epic view of the Straight of Juan De Fuca and Olympic Peninsula. The day continues with a visit to Lime Kiln State Park, the Alpaca farm, English Camp National Historical Park, and into the village of Roche Harbor. Enjoy a stroll around the sculpture park, the formal gardens, or a coffee and donut from the café. We finish the ride at our accommodations for the next 3 nights; the lavish Yurts at Lakedale Resort; complete with spacious accommodations and hot tubs at each yurt. Lunch and dinner included.
Cycling: 26.8 miles; elevation gain/loss: +2035’/-1654'.
San Juan - Meander a prairie ecosystem along the Salish sea to a lighthouse
Our guides will prepare a hearty breakfast before we start our day riding south through the open meadows of Beaverton and San Juan Valleys towards False Bay. With our first views of snow-covered Mount Baker we make our way further south into the prairie ecosystem rarely found in western Washington. Riding through American Camp we ride the peninsula with expansive views of the Salish sea and the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges on each side. We will eat lunch at the southernmost point of San Juan Island known as Cattle Point Lighthouse. Returning home to clean-up, we will soon head back to Friday Harbor for a meal at one of the local's favorite restaurant. All meals included.
Cycling: 30.6 miles; elevation gain/loss: +1775'/-1777’.
San Juan - Spot local island treasures from shops to whales and wildlife
We start the day with an early breakfast before embarking on a scenic 5-mile pedal to Friday Harbor. From here, we board our boat and enjoy a morning marine wildlife cruise, followed by a delightful lunch near Friday Harbor with time to explore the shops. Giving our cycling muscles a rest, we’ll hike to the top of Young Hill, where you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the islands. Our day concludes with a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. This low-mileage day is packed with exploration and discovery of island treasures. All meals included.
Cycling: 5 miles; elevation gain/loss: +211’/-413': Hiking 2.2 miles; elevation gain/loss 587'.
Lopez/Orcas - Explore Lopez island's expansive beaches then ferry to Orcas
Up early this morning, we have a ferry to catch. After a guide prepared breakfast, we shuttle to Friday Harbor to catch the early morning ferry to our day on Lopez Island. From the ferry terminal we will ride down the west coast of the island to Lopez Village where we can explore the shops before a guide prepared lunch at Shark Reef. The afternoon brings a visit to Agate Beach Country Park for eastward views of the North Cascades. The interisland ferry leaving mid-afternoon will bring us to Orcas Island. We transfer from the ferry terminal to our lodging in Eastsound for the next 2 nights. All meals included.
Orcas - Summit San Juan's highest peak then descend to a crystalline lake
After a filling breakfast we load up in the van for a quick shuttle to Cascade Lake in Moran State Park. After a brief warmup, we start our climb up Mt. Constitution, 5.2 miles, 2000 feet of elevation gain. We will have a picnic lunch at the top of the Mount Constitution summit with views of Bellingham, Mount Baker, and Rosario Strait. An exhilarating downhill back to Cascade Lake and a gentle downhill ride to Eastsound awaits us. We have time to explore the shops in Eastsound or a stroll along the beach before dinner. All meals included.
Cycling: 15.8 miles; elevation gain/loss: +2269'/-2620’.
Orcas - Cycle through enchanted forests and lunch al fresco then bid farewell
We begin our final ride of our time together after breakfast. Heading back west, we leave Eastsound via the aptly named Enchanted Forest Road. As we meander through the forest, we ride past open pastures to our lunch stop along the way. We will ride to picturesque Deer Harbor before turning back for our final miles to the Orcas ferry terminal. We bid farewell as guests board a late afternoon ferry to Friday Harbor or back to Anacortes. Breakfast and lunch included.
Cycling: 19.5 miles; elevation gain/loss: +1534'/-1506’.
