Anyone for a casual bike ride?
Walla Walla is a scenic place to take to two wheels. With long and clear rolling roads through wheat fields, the area draws serious road cyclists for 15- 30- and 70- mile loops. But there are bike paths and options for all-ages and levels!
Here are my top 4 recommendations for a casual bike ride in Walla Walla.
#1 - Mill Creek River Path, (1.5 miles) for Young Family Beginners
Families will love to ride this easy smooth path along the Mill Creek Trail. You depart from a lush city park with room for kids to run. A picnic area and group picnic shelter hide the true treasures of the park. Walk past all the brush and you are greeted with a playground, volleyball court, sand pit and creek area which invites all to discover!
Terrain: Smooth flat bike path
Variations: Loop through WEC to Klicker’s Farm Store for ice cream and the farmers pick of the season.
“Depart from a lush city park with room for kids to run.”
#2 - Leonetti - Tranche Loop, (5.8 miles, 180’ elevation change) for Beginners
Any one for a bike ride and wine tasting? Look no further than the Leonetti - Tranche Loop. While you won’t get into the gates at Leonetti Cellars, you can see their rows whiz by as you roll down a great Walla Walla dale.
What goes down must come up!
As you make your way back through historic Walla Walla neighborhoods, you will feel the gentle sloping of the valley.
At Tranche Cellars, fresh, contemporary wines and cool shade await you. The grassy field is surrounded by an estate vineyard, pasture and sheep herd—and if you’re there on a Friday evening, live music.
Terrain: Smooth paved roads
Route: Exit left from Tranche Cellars onto Berney Drive. You’ll see the Upland Vineyards of Leonetti Cellars on your tight. Turn right onto Russell Creek Rd then a quick left on to Depping Lane. Turn right on Reser Road and then turn right on to Fern Avenue, in front of the blue sports track at Walla Walla High School. From there, follow the bike lanes, completing the circuit by taking your final turn to the right on Pleasant Avenue.
Variations: Make this loop shorter by returning back on School Ave. Make it longer by connecting with 2nd Avenue through downtown and back up Alder Street.
#3 - Southside Glide, (13 miles, 160’ elevation change) for Beginning to Moderate
If you’d like to make a day of wine tasting by bike, Walla Walla offers you an incredible experience in its south side winery district. Choose your own adventure: with over 20 different wineries and food trucks making regular Saturday appearances, you can have fun, sun and yum! Welcome Table Farms is also an awesome stop for local produce and for an opportunity to feed the pigs.
Terrain: Paved county roads
Route: The low traffic on 3rd Avenue makes it the ideal downtown to vineyard route. Turn right onto Langdon Road and then a very cautious left onto Plaza Way. You can either curve to the right to stay on the Old Milton Highway or turn left onto Braden Road, following it out to Stateline Road.
Variations: This is all about where you want to go tasting and how many stops. Remember, even though you are on bike, you must follow the same rules as if you are driving a car! I recommend no more than one stop per hour and lots of water!
“Choose your own adventure: with over 20 different wineries . . . you can have fun, sun and yum! ”
#4 - Russell Creek Loop (18 Miles, 760’ elevation change)
This scenic loop (a local favorite) has several long and scenic downhill miles through farmland. Restored barns dot the landscape and tree lines tell of creeks. Several steep inclines boast big downhill payoffs for speed junkies!
Terrain: Paved county roads.
Route: Starting from Walla Walla Community College, head east on Mill Creek Road. At the V in the road stay right on to 5-mile Road. Around a few bends is your steep climb of the day. Cruise back down until you turn left on to Foster Road. Foster Road doglegs until you hit Cottonwood Road. Head right down the exciting road, cooling your breaks before you hit Kendall Road. Head right, then right again onto Reser Road. Snake your way past Tranche Cellars, which eventually spills out onto Tausick Way
Variations: Try doing it backwards, but after 5-mile hill, head on up Mill Creek until you find a cool shady tree (or an open tasting room).
Now that you know any beginner can enjoy Walla Walla by bike, get out there and explore!