Day
#2 Skykomish to Lincoln Rock State Park
83 Miles
click picture for a map of this day
Riders awaken to
the sound of the Skykomish River and nearby trains. Then
it is on to one of the longer climbs of the tour,Stevens
Pass.At the summit of the Cascade Range is the second sag stop
of the day in the parking lot of the ski area. East of the pass
you enter the drainage basin of the Columbia River. As
you lose elevation Ponderosa Pine gradually replaces Douglas Fir,
indicating an increasingly arid climate. Just before Leavenworth
the ride follows the Wenatchee River through Tumwater Canyon. Snow-fed
waterfalls grace canyon walls and spill from high peaks. Leavenworth
is the lunch stop. Modeled after a Bavarian village, it is filled
with shops, galleries, boutiques and cafes facing a grassy plaza.
You may want to spend a few extra minutes window shopping. Traveling
farther east the route passes orchards of apples, pears, apricots,
and peaches. Fruit stands along the highway make a good rest stop
for munching on fresh produce. The road turns north at Wenatchee
and after just a few more miles of following the Columbia river
you arrive at Lincoln Rock State Park where a mouth watering Salmon
BBQ dinner provided by the Wenatchee Kiwanis Club awaits you!