Experience some of the Northwest’s most stunning, low-traffic road biking on scenic routes through the Snake River canyon country and the Palouse at the annual Rivers & Ridges Ride Saturday, October 1, at Granite Lake Park in Clarkston, Washington. This family-friendly cycling event includes five distances ranging from a 100-mile century to a 7-mile family fun ride. The ride is a Rotary Club of Clarkston fundraiser that culminates at Riverfest, a community festival with live music, craft and food vendors, a beer and wine garden, kids’ activities and other festivities.
“The unique opportunities with our rides is the interaction with the rivers and the views are fantastic,” says Wanda Keefer, one of the event organizers. “In addition, the 100-mile ride is a bi-state ride where you get to enjoy not just the rivers and ridges, but the rolling hills of the Palouse. There’s something available for everyone in these rides.”
New routes this year promise “more rivers and fewer ridges” and will make for more scenic, less hilly riding, while still offering plenty of challenge for those who wish to push themselves on some of the areas notorious hills or on longer rides like the 100-mile “century.” Read more about the routes and other ride details at riversandridgesride.org.
The Rivers & Ridges ride raises funds to support Rotary Club of Clarkston projects. This year organizers are hoping to use funds raised to invest in the local community by rebuilding a picnic shelter at a local park, to help pay costs associated with an on-going international exchange student program, and to support medical relief efforts in Cambodia.
On-site registration and packet pick-up for the Rivers & Ridges Ride is set for Friday, September 30, from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, October 1, starting at 6:30 a.m. Ride start times are 8 a.m. for the century and 50-miler, 10 a.m. for the 25 mile route, and 10:30 a.m. for the 15 mile and 7-mile rides. Register for the ride at Riversandridgesride.org.
