Recreation destinations and outdoor highlights are paired with select wineries and estate vineyards, notable for their scenic locations and on-site amenities. Look for future guides covering other wine grape growing regions throughout the Northwest in future issues of “Out There.” Load up your bikes and boots or pack your paddling gear for a vine-to-wine road-trip adventure with wine-tasting rest stops.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars

The Cliff House and tasting room at Arbor Crest’s winery in Spokane Valley not only boasts scenic views of the Spokane River below, it’s also a great cycling destination close to the Centennial Trail. You can depart the trail at the East Moringo Drive Trailhead, to the west of the winery, or Islands trailhead to the east—which is closest to Upriver Road’s intersection with Fruit Hill Road and the one-mile climb to the winery.

Winemaker Jim van Loben Sels says, “We own the land all the way to the trailhead, so someday I want to connect to the Centennial Trail so people can ride or hike right up to our winery.” The winery hosts outdoor summer concerts from May through the end of September, starting with TulipFest to showcase the more than 7,000 tulips on its spacious grounds. Arbor Crest’s tasting room in downtown Spokane’s Cork District is now located inside the Davenport Hotel.

Latah Creek Wine Cellars

Located less than a mile from the Centennial Trail in Spokane Valley, instead of driving to the tasting room, pedal or power-walk your way there. Leave the trail near Mirabeau Point Park—consult a trail map to choose your trailhead exit and proceed south on city streets to the winery.

Townshend Cellars

Located in Green Bluff, enjoy a view of Mt. Spokane at the tasting room after cycling along the country roads of this farming community. Or stop here after hiking or mountain biking at Mt. Spokane State Park.

Downtown Cork District

With 14 tasting rooms, it’s easy to pair wine tasting with urban recreation, whether it’s cycling on the Centennial Trail or paddling the Spokane River. (See article about biking the Cork District)

COLUMBIA VALLEY

This “macro” AVA region is the largest one in Washington and encompasses all the other smaller, regional AVAs, including the Ancient Lakes AVA—a newer wine-growing region that includes Quincy, Moses Lake, and Lake Roosevelt.

QUINCY & GRAND COULEE—Outdoor Recreation Highlights

This channeled scabland area, with fascinating geographical and historical sites, is ideal for rock climbing, hiking, paddling, and mountain biking. Popular destinations are Frenchman Coulee near Vantage; Lake Lenore Caves; Beezley Hills Preserve and Monument Hill, near Ephrata; and Drumheller Channels National Natural Landmark, near Othello (IAFI.org). The Washington Trails Association’s website, WTA.org, is the best resource for trailhead driving directions and hike descriptions. For local paddling, boating, and fishing, visit Crescent Bar Recreation Area or Wanapum Recreational Area along the Columbia River.

Cave B Estate Winery

Neighboring the Gorge Amphitheater, this winery and vineyard boasts panoramic views of the Columbia River. In fact, the Bryan family originally conceived of music concerts in the “little gorge” bowl—what was once called the Champs de Brionne Summer Music Theater. Today, Cave B’s tasting room hosts “Music & Wine in the Vines” during the summer. Cave B Inn & Spa Resort (no longer owned by the winery) has rooms, “glamping” yurts, hiking and mountain biking trails down to the riverbank, and an outdoor pool. 

White Heron Cellars & Mariposa Vineyards

Overlooking the Columbia River and Crescent Bar Resort, visitors are welcome to picnic on the grounds and play outdoor chess and petanque (a French game similar to Italian bocce) after their tasting room visit.

Chris Daniel Winery

Namesake winemaker for the Stewart family business is son (and WSU alumni) Chris Daniel Stewart, whose winemaking sensibilities were influenced by time spent with grape growers and winemakers in Chile and France. The winery and tasting room is located close to I-90, east of George.

Camas Cove Cellars

Located on the west shore of Moses Lake, south of I-90, you can kayak, powerboat, or even jet-ski to this boutique winery’s dock, when the tasting room is open. Add this stop to the Moses Lake Water Trail, which includes eight shoreline parks and points of interest (information and maps at cityofml.com). There are six public boat launches around the lake, including at Blue Heron Park. At the lake’s south end, there is an outlet to Potholes Reservoir and Potholes State Park.

Whitestone Vineyard & Winery

At Whitestone Ranch, this red-only estate winery and its Lake Roosevelt Shores Vineyard is located along the lower part of the lake, less than 30 miles behind Grand Coulee Dam. Visitors are welcome to arrive by kayak or boat. Anchor on the beach near Whitestone Rock and hike ¾-mile on the road to the winery facilities. For boat launch locations, visit the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area website, nps.gov/laro.

TRI-CITIES & YAKIMA VALLEY—Outdoor Highlights

Hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers can explore Chamna Natural Preserve in Richland, along the Yakima River; Badger Mountain and Candy Mountain (friendsofbadger.org); Rattlesnake Mountain; and Hanford Reach National Monument.

For boating, fishing, and watersports, visit Sacajawea Historical State Park, a day-use park at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia, where there is also a trailhead for Sacagawea Heritage Trail—a 23-mile paved walking and cycling path along the Columbia River.

Columbia Park in Kennewick has a disc golf course, Audubon Nature Trail, and trailheads for both the Sacajawea Heritage Trail and Tri-Cities Riverfront Trail (20 miles, round-trip). Hiketricities.com has a comprehensive list of 40+ hikes and trails around the Columbia Basin.

Powers Winery & Badger Mountain Vineyard

Located on the southern slope of Badger Mountain, near Kennewick, this winery and certified-organic estate vineyard welcomes visitors to stay and enjoy the gazebo, picnic area, and rose garden. The winery hosts special events throughout the summer, including evenings with live music and food trucks.

Terra Blanca

Enjoy a tasting and tour of the winery and certified salmon-safe estate vineyard at Red Mountain. Afterwards, hang out at the dog-friendly courtyard or picnic area, or dine on brick-oven pizzas and salads at the Vineyard Grill, with a panoramic view of the vineyards and lower Yakima Valley. Spokane’s Cork District also has a Terra Blanca tasting room.

Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery

This 2,500-vineyard in Richland has a tasting room that also offers a small food menu and outdoor seating (no picnicking allowed).

COLUMBIA CASCADES

This AVA region boasts more than 50 wineries and tasting rooms, mostly near Lake Chelan but also in Leavenworth, Wenatchee, and at Lake Roosevelt.

LAKE CHELAN—Outdoor Highlights

This wine region has more than 25 wineries, estate vineyards, and tasting rooms, located at either the lake’s south side, near downtown Chelan, or in the small town of Manson, near Wapato Point. There are six public boat launches at Lake Chelan, the third-deepest lake in North America. Anglers can fish on the lake or head to the Stehekin River for fly-fishing. Stehekin Fishing Adventures fly shop provides guide services.

Both Lake Chelan State Park and 25-Mile Creek State Park can be base camps for hiking and boating. Head to the Upper Lake Chelan to visit Stehekin Village—the east side gateway to North Cascades National Park—which is only accessible by boat or paddle-craft or the Lady of the Lake ferry. You can also stay and play at Lake Chelan National Recreation Area or Holden Village. Washington Trails Association describes the Chelan Lakeshore Trail as good for an early-season backpacking trip—a 17-mile one-way thru-hike from Prince Creek, via ferry ride, to Stehekin.

Vin Du Lac Winery

In addition to a tasting room and farm-to-table bistro that hosts live music, this winery sponsors local biking and running events, including the Echo Valley 14/30/60 mile Mountain Bike Race on June 8; Echo Valley 10k, Half Marathon, 50k, and 100k on June 15; and Cycle de Vine and Century Challenge on June 22. (More information at vindulac.com and its “Outdoor Sports Series” webpage.)

Benson Vineyards Estate Winery

Tasting room and on-site Bistro with al fresco patio seating provides Lake Chelan and vineyard views. Summer concert series begins May 18.

Four Lakes Winery

From the town of Manson, drive the backroads to the winery’s tasting room and vineyard property to enjoy your wine from the spacious deck, with panoramic views of the surrounding lakes.

WENATCHEE & LEAVENWORTH—Outdoor Highlights: One of the best ways to enjoy central Washington’s hot sunny weather is on the water. Launch your kayak or power boat on the Columbia River at Rock Island State Park or Rock Island Hydro Park. Camping is available at Wenatchee Confluence State Park and Lincoln Rock State Park at Lake Entiat. For rock climbing, visit Peshastin Pinnacles State Park. (Learn more at visitchelancounty.com.)

Leavenworth tasting rooms are clustered in the downtown Bavarian Village, at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Outside of town, the Icicle Creek area has rustic campgrounds and hiking trails. Venture into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the Enchantments in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. West of town off Highway 2 is Lake Wenatchee State Park.

Martin Scott Winery

Located close to the Columbia River in East Wenatchee, the winery and vineyard offers tours, tastings, and hand-tossed, wood-fired pizza on Saturdays. In the summer, they host a patio dinner series.

Chateau Faire le Pont

Enjoy a tour and farm-to-table Northwest cuisine at this Wenatchee winery and its Chateau Grill Restaurant. Visitors are also welcome to picnic in the vineyard.

Icicle Ridge Winery

Known for its unique ice wines, this destination winery in Peshastin has a log-home tasting room and hosts outdoor concerts and Wine Hikes.

Editor’s Note: For current tasting room hours, be sure to contact each winery, or visit its website before you go (hours of operation change seasonally). Please drink responsibly and designate a driver for your wine tasting tour. //

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The Palouse: Kamiak Butte, Moscow Mountain, and Merry Cellars

The Hike: The Palouse is beautiful any time of year, but it shines in autumn when the fields have been cut and the rolling hills go for miles under a late-summer sun. Throughout these hills are stands of pine trees, and in those pines there are often trails, as with Kamiak Butte just outside of Pullman, Wash. Named after Chief Kamiakin of the Yakama tribe, this area is recognized as a National Natural Landmark and is worth the trek. It’s an easy walk to the top, as the main trail is a well-maintained path with a few switchbacks. When you reach the butte, you’ll be able to choose from several trails, such as Pine Ridge Trail, to weave your way along open vistas.

You can visit whitmancounty.org for a self-guiding nature walk brochure to learn about how this seemingly random group of pines came about. For a more challenging hike, trail run, or mountain bike session, drive 25 miles west and hit Headwaters Trail on Moscow Mountain. This hike will have fewer Palouse peek-a-boo viewpoints, but you’ll get a breath of fresh autumn air in the old growth cedars and soft singletrack trail making a 3.7-mile loop. Moose, bear, and cougar can be spotted here, so take appropriate precautions.

The Wine: Merry Cellars Winery is tucked up behind the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman, Wash. Housed in similar warehouse-style digs, the tasting room is a warmly-lit place with an expansive deck. Enjoy a glass of syrah, malbec, or Crimson, the winery’s Coug-themed red wine blend consisting primarily of Cabernet Franc. With a variety of red and white wines on tap and in bottles, you’ll be able to sample the gamut for a $10 tasting fee. From the tasting room, head to the outdoor patio to sip your glass among a small row of grapes tucked into the rolling hills.

Columbia Valley: Ancient Lakes Trail System and Chris Daniel Winery

The Hike: In central Washington, you can bank on sagebrush, basalt, and open, breezy views of the clouds rolling across the horizon. This primarily treeless location still has brush that flushes with the colors of fall, and the open expanse makes it easy to spot groups of white-tailed deer. The Missoula floods carved this area, so you can enjoy poking along basins and plateaus, and hunting for quartz, flint, jasper, or agates. While there are a small series of lakes and a desert waterfall, you should carry your own drinking water on this hike. The Ancient Lakes Loop connects with Potholes Trail, Dusty Lake Trail, and the Gorge Amphitheatre Trail, which offer stunning views of the Columbia River. Also in the area: rock climbing or hiking in the Frenchman Coulee near Vantage, mountain biking on Beezley Hill, and hiking on Monument Hill or in the Lenore Caves area.

The Wine: Chris Daniel Winery is kid- and dog-friendly. With a dry, French-style viognier, a rosé blend of Bordeaux grapes, and other beautifully bold Columbia Valley wines like a petit sirah/syrah, Chris Daniel will continue the adventure via your taste buds. There’s indoor and outdoor seating at this rural winery that abuts the flat farmland of central Washington. You’ll want to bring your own picnic-style foods to wineries in this area. There’s a network of great wineries here, including Beaumont Cellars (another rural gem tucked along an apple orchard), Cave B, Jones Winery, and wineries to the south of Vantage bridge that lead toward the Wahluke Slope.

Central Cascades: Mission Ridge, Palisades, and Chateau Faire le Pont

The Hike: A well-known ski area in winter, Mission Ridge has some great fall hiking options. You’ll find plenty of singletrack and elevation through the pines, made special this time of year when the western larch turn gold. You can clock miles on Devil’s Gulch trail, which includes various creek crossings and switchbacks up the side of Mission Ridge, or make a four-mile loop on Squilchuck Trail #1200 and stopover at Clara Lake. Visit Pybus Public Market before your hike to snag some fresh apples and artisan meats and cheeses to take on the trail. Consider walking through the public spaces of the nearby Palisades canyon for an away-from-it-all feeling among towering basalt plateaus.

The Wine: Chateau Faire le Pont has full-varietal grenache, carménère, and petit verdot, along with some tantalizing white wines and red wine blends. The quaint tasting room houses a restaurant with full lunch and dinner menus, making it a great post-hike stop. You can find anything from a locally-sourced tenderloin salad to a Columbia River steelhead entrée. After a chilly fall hike, try a cup of the French Onion soup with a glass of tempranillo. Make it a day by visiting nearby Martin Scott Winery, which has a great view of the surrounding Wenatchee hills and river.

North Cascades: Chelan Butte, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, and Local Wineries

The Hike: For a hike that’s close to town and looks over Lake Chelan, check out Chelan Butte. It’s a little over 7 miles round-trip, and you’ll gain 2,500 feet over this exposed terrain. If you’re searching for trees and alpine lakes, there’s plenty of neighboring backcountry options to explore in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness. You can even ride the Lady of the Lake passenger ferry up Lake Chelan, where it will drop you off at various hike-in trails, like Prince Creek; or, visit Stehekin, a community accessible only by water, float plane, or mountain trails. Hike the backcountry, then catch the ferry back and explore the wineries. Take note that the high-elevation destinations (think 7,000 feet plus) will feel more like winter than fall this time of year. Check Ladyofthelake.com for ferry schedules in the off-season.

The Wine: You’ll have many wineries and tasting rooms to choose from in the Lake Chelan area. Visit Karma Vineyards, Nefarious Cellars, and Fielding Hills Winery tasting rooms for lakeside views. Lakechelanwinevalley.com will have a full list. Near Manson, a small town along Lake Chelan with eight tasting rooms, there is the fun and notable Winegirl Wines.

Central Washington: Richland, Red Mountain, and Horse Heaven Hills

The Hike: If you know your Washington wines, you’ll know that Horse Heaven Hills is a popular AVA (American Viticultural Area). Turns out, it’s also a nice place to hike. You can go nearly seven miles on this open-vista plateau just south of Benton city. It’s only one of several hikes in the expansive scrub brush around the greater Tri-Cities area. Check out the Rattlesnake Slope Wildlife Area, Badger Mountain, or the Juniper Dunes Wilderness for hiking with a view of local wine country.

The Wine: If you’re in western Richland, be sure to visit Tulip Lane—it’s home to three wineries within walking distance, including the award-winning Barnard Griffin Winery (try their rosé of sangiovese). If you hike on Badger Mountain, you’ll have easy access to Badger Mountain Vineyard & Powers Winery, with a chill tasting room that will let you peruse the vineyard rows. Goose Ridge Estate is another must-try with its notable wines, seasonal ciders, and rural-feeling outdoor seating area. Be sure to spend an afternoon exploring the many wineries on nearby Red Mountain to sample wines from one of the most unique AVAs in the state. //

Lisa Laughlin is a runner and backpacker. She grew up on a wheat farm in central Washington and loves Washington wines. She wrote about rollerblading in the August issue of Out There.

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Last September, early enough in the month that summer was still full-on, we headed north for a few days of hiking, biking, touring wineries and checking out the interior B.C. city of Kelowna and the more mountain-town-sized Vernon. The number one takeaway from the trip was how shocking it is that more of us Americans who live so close to the border don’t make regular pilgrimages to British Columbia’s third largest city (with 127,000 residents) that is picturesquely situated along the shores of one of the largest lakes in southern British Columbia. Kelowna, which takes its name from an Okanagan First Nation’s word for grizzly bear, is an exceptional lake-and-outdoor-recreation-based tourist destination with all of the best urban amenities you’d expect from a small Pacific Northwest city.

Day 1: Kelowna

We rolled into town—after taking the faster, scenic backroad route to the border through remote northeast Washington’s Ferry County—and made our way to our downtown hotel where we immediately ditched our bags to set off exploring the area by bike. Situated right on Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is like a bigger, more cosmopolitan and urban-feeling Coeur d’Alene with more access to paved lakeside paths, hiking and biking trails, and renowned wineries. Our first taste of the town and lake was along the city’s 2.2k lakefront boardwalk. Families and friends gathered for picnics in the beautifully manicured ribbon of parkland. Dreadlocked millennials balanced on slacklines between giant trees. A mix of languages drifted off the tongues of tourists strolling past street musicians. Sail boats, motorboats, and paddleboards plied the wide expanse of blue water abutting the city’s well-developed and lively strip of resort towers, marinas, restaurants and bars.

On the north end of downtown, the boardwalk trail system eventually peters out where the resort strip transitions into a mix of residential and industrial development including a lake-side sawmill, but if you keep pedaling or walking north towards the mountain in the distance, you eventually reach Knox Mountain Park, Kelowna’s largest natural park that has a system of 15 hiking, biking and running trails accessible from several different trailheads near downtown. With dwindling daylight, we opted to save Knox Mountain for later on in the trip. We cruised on back to our room at Hotel Zed, an old downtown motel turned refurbished and revitalized hipster boutique hotel that comes with free use of bikes and roller skates, a ping pong lounge, pool and hot tub, classic rotary phones and comic books in every room, and, best of all, an unbeatable location dead-downtown and across the street from the lake, park, and boardwalk.

All cleaned up and on foot, we hoofed it a few blocks north to scope out the downtown Kelowna nightlife and hunt down some drinks and quality eats, which we found in abundance thanks to Kelowna’s sophisticated culinary and craft brew, spirits, and wine scene. We opted for a more casual evening and eventually settled in at a patio table at Fernando’s Pub, a few blocks from our hotel, where we chowed down on happy hour poutine, fish and chips, and tacos.

Day 2: Vernon, B.C., and Okanagan Lake Country
It’s a short and scenic 40 minute drive from Kelowna north to Vernon, B.C., and on the way, travelers on Highway 97 pass through the northern reaches of the province’s lake-studded, arid Okanagan wine region known as the Lakes Country. On the way to Vernon, we again took the scenic route, this time detouring off the main drag to check out several recommended wineries. Our first stop was for lunch and a tour of the Gray Monk Estate Winery. Our meal at Gray Monk’s Grapevine Restaurant and Patio was pretty much worth the drive from Spokane all on its own. We toasted a glass of bubbles surrounded by vineyards overlooking the stunning blue waters of Okanagan Lake. Of course we also sampled some of Gray Monk’s award-winning wine with our lunch before joining one of the tours of the wine making facility followed by a tasting and then a cheese and wine shopping spree in the gift shop.

Departing Gray Monk en route to Vernon, we made pit-stops at several more roadside wineries for tastings, encountering more of the usual relaxed and friendly conversations with staff and other patrons that are typical throughout much of interior British Columbia. And, after sampling more amazing wines, we added a few more bottles to the pile of hiking and biking gear and luggage in the car. Almost to Vernon, we made one final stop at Davison Orchards, a family-farm enterprise offering fresh fruit, vegetables, and other unique local products that reminded us of Green Bluff back at home.

After checking in at the Best Western Pacific Inn near downtown Vernon, we had dinner at the Midtown Bistro in the heart of town which was recommended for its fresh, local ingredients and inviting atmosphere. The menu included a huge and diverse selection of locally-sourced and house-made sandwiches, sliders and entrees. The owner brought out an epic charcuterie plate as a teaser for the OMG-this-is-amazing butter chicken and stuffed cabbage rolls to come. Midtown Bistro is the place to stop to fill your belly after a day of riding (bikes or boards) at nearby Silver Star Mountain Resort. You’re sure to find something to be stoked about on the vast and diverse menu.

Day 3: Ellison Provincial Park and Back to Kelowna

We were back on our bikes for a ride on the mellow cross-country mountain bike trails at Ellison Provincial Park near Vernon before breakfast. We took our time on the mostly single-track climb up through mixed conifer forest to the reward: expansive views of Okanagan Lake in the distance. After a fun, squirrely decent back to our rig, we continued on to Kelowna for our final night north of the border. Not wanting to miss a major local hiking attraction, later that afternoon we squeezed in a hike to the top of Knox Mountain, Kelowna’s version of Coeur d’Alene’s Tubb’s Hill, but with more acreage, trails, and elevation. The viewpoints on the way up and on top of Knox Mountain make for great Lake Okanagan gazing and photo ops of the beautiful city of Kelowna below.

After resting for a few minutes at the top with other hikers and trail runners, we hurried back down the trail to get cleaned up for our final night on the town, which for Shallan meant a pre-dinner yoga class at Hot Box Yoga a few blocks away, and for me, a few pints at my new favorite Kelowna eating and drinking establishment, Fernando’s Pub. We rallied later that evening for the wait-list worthy RauDZ Regional Table. Given how highly it was recommended by several locals we randomly polled, the small, jam-packed restaurant was surprisingly laid-back and comfortable and, not surprisingly, the dishes we tried, a huge plate of sautéed mushrooms, tomato salad with fresh herbs and local cheese, and melt-in-your mouth risotto, were simply prepared and totally delicious. Thankfully after an extended happy hour and a late dinner, it was only a few block walk to our room. Despite the energetic, Friday-night scene back at Hotel Zed, our last night in Kelowna delivered sweet dreams on soft pillows.

On our way out of town and back to the U.S., we wanted to weave in one more casual, leg-stretching bike ride. The Mission Creek Regional Park a few miles south of downtown Kelowna sounded about right. The trail system is 16.5 k in length; however, we only had time to pedal an out-and-back on the first 8k or so of the flat, wide pathway tucked in the trees along Mission Creek. Since it was September, the spawning kokanee were thick, and we stopped at every interpretive sign and creek viewing spot along the way to watch the brightly colored fish swim upstream toward their final days. While we weren’t able to pull it off on this trip, riding the entire trail system, including the Phase 2 from Ziprick Road to KLO Creek, would make for an adventurous day’s ride. The upper part of the trail features a canyon environment with a narrower trail, several bridges, and some steep hills with switchbacks.

Plan Your Own Trip to B.C.’s Okanagan Region

The two major tourism promotion agencies in the Kelowna and Vernon area provide invaluable information online (and in print at various visitor centers) covering things to do—from outdoor recreation opportunities to cultural and culinary options—places to stay and eat, events, and travel tips. Visit Tourismkelowna.com and Tourismvernon.com to help wade through the options and plan your perfect trip.

More Outdoor Adventures in the B.C. Okanagan

• Knox Mountain Park (easy to difficult)
  Trails of varying difficulty offer relatively easy-grade walking to some awesome views of the lake, city and mountains. The hike up to the Lower Crown Lookout (approximately 40 minutes to an hour roundtrip) or all the way up to the Upper Apex Lookout (about an hour and a half roundtrip). Some trails are open to mountain bikes too.
• Kettle Valley Railway—Myra Canyon (easy)
  This section of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) is highly lauded for its spectacular scenery, including 18 trestle bridges and two tunnels. The railroad line was originally built at the turn of the last century and was rebuilt again after wildfire damage between 2003 and 2008 when the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire claimed 12 of the trestle bridges. Bike or hike as far as you care to go before turning around and returning the way you came.
• Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park (easy to difficult)
  The centerpiece of this stunning park is the distinctively blue-green Kalamalka Lake, which gets its unique and beautiful color from dissolved limestone that crystalizes when the lake heats up in the summer. A network of hiking and biking trails traverse the park, with some leading to swimming beaches (try Jade Bay and Cosens Bay). Juniper Bay is the most developed and easily accessible area in the park and has a playground, picnic tables, toilets, water, and a swimming area.

• Silver Star Mountain Resort (easy to difficult)
  20 minutes from Vernon, Silver Star is Canada’s second largest bike park, featuring 125 kilometers of cross-country and downhill trails for every level of rider. A high-speed bike chairlift offers riders and hikers quick and easy access to the top where the trail choices include 18 downhill trails, 21 cross-country trails, four hiking-only trails, and two multi-use trails. //

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We had our sights set on the small town of Echo, Oregon, 20 miles west of Pendleton, and a great midway stop on our way to Bend. Word had it that there was some great single-track on a local winery’s property just off the highway. The thought of a nice, flowing ride to loosen up our legs and get some fresh wind in our lungs had us pretty psyched.

After working our way through the charming town of Echo, expansive pastures, plus a few gravel roads that had us questioning our directions, we arrived at the trailhead. A kiosk with a map of the trails was there to greet us along with a sizable and completely empty parking area. Stepping out into the sun and stretching our stiff, seat-shaped bodies to the sound of songbirds and the soft rustling of prairie grass was invigorating. We eagerly off-loaded our bikes, geared up, and pointed our tires north toward the Umatilla River.

Rolling shrub steppe and open prairie laid out before us. This trail network is best suited for early or late season riding because once the summer sun rears its head, dirt conditions degrade to a fine powder and finding solid traction can pose a problem, not to mention the dust inhalation and sunburn. Lucky for us, it was early March, perfect timing for comfortably cool air and dirt ideal for confident, higher cornering speeds. The annual “Red to Red” XC mountain bike race was held there the weekend before, so trails were well-worn and broken-in nicely.

Winding our way through a smooth, undulating meadow, we reached an open gate at the entrance to the Echo West Vineyard for the Sno Road Winery. These are the kind folks that have generously decided to share their land with mountain bikers and hikers, and allow us to enjoy these thrilling trails. We were excited to stop by the winery in Echo after our ride to sample its creations and give our thanks.

Skirting the perimeter of their vineyard, overlooking the river and Alkali Canyon, we traversed down a few switchbacks, making our way to a double-track along the river. Though the soil was gummy and rooted here, the trail was well established through a jungle of recently cleared brush. Dozens of songbirds gave us surround-sound acoustics as we climbed back up and through the vineyard, making our way back toward the parking area. Shedding our outer layers at the car, we ventured into the more prominent southern trail section.

We rolled onto the “A Trail Loop,” which begins and ends at the parking area. This main loop is what connects all other smaller loops together. Picture a necklace with several loops as beads. The necklace is “A Trail Loop,” and the loop beads are marked “Shane’s Trail,” “B Trail,” “C Trail,” “D Trail,” “Shelley’s Trail,” and “Ivan’s Trail.” All intersections are well marked so navigation is a piece of cake, especially since trees are virtually nonexistent, making visibility expansive.

The remainder of our sun-drenched ride was filled with nothing but good old-fashioned fun. We snaked our way around countless buffed-out corners, berms, and rolling fields of silky single-track. Fervor-filled, we made our way around a series of loops, across a couple of manmade boardwalks, and up and over a wooden bridge overpass before finding ourselves on the eastern side of the trail system. Here the trails throw some entertaining, more technical maneuvering at you in the form of loose shale, bumpy rocks and mild exposure. If this doesn’t excite you, staying on “A Trail Loop” and bypassing C, D, Ivan’s and Shelly’s Trails would alleviate any concerns.

After two hours of exploring the myriad of trails, turns and sweeping grasslands, we coasted back to our car fully gratified. This small chunk of riding off the beaten path had just given us everything we craved; an invigorating pedal through new land, solitude, and a place to get our legs and lungs pumping with fresh energy. On our way back through Echo, we were bummed to find the winery closed and had no choice other than to tip our helmets and carry on down the road. We will certainly be back to this corner of the world.

Getting There: South from Tri-Cities, take I-84 east to Exit 193. Make your way to Echo and drive through Main Street towards Lexington. Turn left onto Snow Road (gravel). After 1.6 miles, you will see a windmill on your left. Turn left onto the unnamed road just past the windmill and follow 0.7 miles to the parking area on your right. For more info, check out Mtbproject.com/trail/704197. // (Erik K.)

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