This circuit includes Seattle’s own volcano, Mount Rainier, climbs over the 5,430-foot Chinook Pass, goes through Mount Rainier National Park (entry fee is $25 for motorcycles), and returns via the Puyallup River valley. Stop in charming Elbe and take a two-hour steam train ride on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. The best time to visit […]

Spanning two states and some of the most beautiful real estate in the nation, this Spokane, WA, City Escape is truly memorable. Best ridden in spring through fall, the route flanks the banks of miles of pristine lakes and rivers. Evergreens, water, curves, and views rule the day on this loop ride.

“Of all the fire mountains which, like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest …” —John Muir Mount Rainier is the fifth highest peak in the contiguous United States, and America’s fifth oldest national park. But for my family, we simply called this park home. When my tour ended with […]

I won the lottery—and I didn’t even know I was playing. Growing up in Europe where there is usually another town every couple of miles, I wasn’t aware that I could ride for 75 miles without seeing a single gas station. In Washington, I don’t need the additional excitement. Two beautiful passes offer enough adrenaline […]

Although State Route 14 begins as a continuation of the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway in downtown Vancouver, WA, we prefer starting a little farther east, where it is less trafficked, at the junction of State Route 14 and Interstate 82. This route hugs the northern shore of the Columbia River, offering travelers unparalleled vistas […]

California’s lane splitting bill went into effect January 1. Now, lane splitting bills have been introduced in Washington, Oregon, and Montana, and the AMA is urging motorcyclists in those states to take action. Read the AMA’s lane splitting position statement here. Motorcycle Legal Foundation compiled a good resource of what exactly lane splitting is, and the laws in each […]

A Pacific Northwest Ride to Remember – This series of state and U.S. routes in California and Oregon take riders through a dramatic Pacific Northwest landscape, punctuated with towering volcanic peaks. Riders will see the result of massive geologic forces, which have been actively shaping the West since ancient times. Scenery: Dramatic volcanic landscape, sparkling […]

Like other types of motorcyclists, adventure riders tend to enjoy gathering together to share their passion for off-road riding, camping, and exploring the great outdoors. One such opportunity for this sort of camaraderie will come June 25–28 in the mountain town of Plain, WA, at the 2015 Touratech Rally. Touratech, for those who don’t know, […]

The country’s upper left-hand corner is home to some of the most beautiful and interesting geography anywhere in the world. Frank Covucci Motorcycle Tours is planning an expedition to take in this stunning area by motorcycle. The tour will take place August 11-21, 2015 and will travel through Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. The route […]

Each week RoadRUNNER Magazine will be releasing a “Tour of the Week” from our extensive archives. The tour article, along with downloadable maps and GPS files, will be available for free, but only for a week! This week’s Longview, WA Shamrock Tour comes from RoadRUNNER‘s May/June 2013 issue.

Sarah and I took the opportunity to ride along the Spirit Lake Highway to view Mount St. Helens. On the way we passed the visitor center. So we decided to stop, pay $5 each, and have a quick look, which ended up being a two-hour stay. Besides the artifacts, newspaper clippings, and geology lessons, they […]

What is it? SR-20 is the northernmost paved route through the Cascade Mountains. From the west it follows the Skagit River into the high elevations of North Cascades National Park and beyond. The scenery includes lush old growth forests, numerous waterfalls, stunning mountain vistas, and emerald green lakes as the route continues east through a […]

We awake to cool, pine-scented mountain breezes in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho, a far different climate than the early snow that Lewis, Clark, and their Corps of Discovery experienced in the fall of 1805. They didn’t have a cell signal then and neither do we now in this still remote area. Although the thickly […]