This is a photo of my son and other bicyclists on the Ride Around Washington a few years ago heading up to Washington Pass on Highway 20.
Believe me, to discover the North Cascades for the first time on a bicycle is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. I'd say it's one of the best rides around.
The editors of Adventure Cyclist magazine, the official publication of the Adventure Cycling Association, think so too. They chose the North Cascades and Okanogan region of northcentral Washington as one of the top 10 cyclotouring destinations in North America.
Deputy editor Aaron Teasdale explains that with interest in bicycle touring at an all time high, “We wanted to spotlight the best places for people to head out for a week and ride.”
Normally, you'd have to be a member of Adventure Cycling to see the magazine article. However, the association has posted the article “Top Ten Touring Areas” online (.pdf file).
As you're perusing through it, you may note that Aaron gave me the opportunity to write about two of the regions: the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal towpath corridor and the Cascade and Okanogan region here in Washington.
Authors of other sections were bike travel writers Marty Basch, Harvey Botzman and Elizabeth Skinner, Good Rides tour company owner Geno “JavaGeno” Masuda, and Aaron. Their bios are at the end of the online article.
Here are the top 10 touring areas:
1. GAP and C&O Canal towpath
2. The Canol Road, Yukon
3. White Mountains, New Hampshire and Maine
4. North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
5. Lake Superior
6. Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive
7. Cascades and Okanogan Valley, Washington state
8. Big Sur and California coast
9. Montana's Great Divide
10. Nova Scotia's Cape Breton and Cabot Trai
If you want to see more of the magazine, you can join Adventure Cycling and receive nine issues a year. Until then, choose one of these areas for your summer vacation plans.
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