.png)
 |
|---|
Biking
The Palouse is a great place for biking! You'll find 38-miles of paved trails, single-track mountain biking opportunities, hilly road biking and more! For your safety, helmets are always recommended and please use hand signals for stops and turns.
Pullman to Moscow
7-miles, easy, often busy
This trail connects Pullman and Moscow with seven miles of smooth pathway ideal for walking, running, biking and skating. Open from dawn to dusk year-round, the Chipman Trail connects with Moscow's Paradise Path. From Moscow, users may continue onto the Latah Trail to Troy, ID.
Distance varies, urban routes
The Chipman Trail also connects to a growing system of trails running throughout Pullman, including paths alongside Grand Avenue and Terre View Street.
Rod Schwartz, palousepics.com
Moderate traffic, moderate to very hilly
flat areas and two steep inclines. Head north from Pullman on State Route 27 for 14 miles, and turn left onto Clear Creek Road. You will bear right near the Kamiak Butte turnoff and continue straight, focused on the curves and climbs of this paved country road. Turn right at the stop sign and pedal up a 1.5-mile hill that is steep at first, with stair-stepping climbs near the top. Watch the railroad track as you cross them going into and out of Palouse, and head south on State Route 27 back to Pullman.
Light traffic, steep hills
This scenic loop has classic Palouse views of fields and forested valleys. Start in Palouse, head south on State Route 27, turn right on Clear Creek Road and right again on 272, and back to Palouse.
There is an annual event on this 50-mile course, with rolling climbs and fast descents, as well as
Light traffic, scenic, one killer hill
This ride begins in Moscow on the Latah Trail at the corner of Mountain View and the Troy Highway. Head toward Troy on the path for about a mile, then turn right onto Lenville Road, follow Lenville Road up and over a big climb, and then flatter through the countryside. Turn left on the Genesee-Troy Road with another, somewhat easier climb and then down a big descent to the hamlet of Joel where you will reconnect with the Latah Trail, turn left and follow it back to town.
Light to moderate traffic, for the athletic rider
This ride is gaining recognition, as it is a fairly athletic route to the top of 3,612 foot butte, which is a favorite viewpoint for area visitors and photographers. Riders need to be prepared for a steep climb and descent near the base of the
butte, it is a paved ride all the way to the top. From Pullman, head north to Palouse on State Route 27, and continue through Garfield. Turn left onto Hume Road, then follow signs to Steptoe Butte State Park. You could also start at the bottom of the hill off of Hume Road. Watch for grain trucks in the summer on this ride.
Various length rides, single/double track, moderately technical
For real mountain biking, Moscow Mountain is the crown jewel, as there are miles and miles of lovingly handcrafted single track covering the mountain, most of which are open to hikers and bikers and closed to motorized use, thanks to the generosity of landowners (Bennett Lumber in particular).
See MAMBA website www.bikemoscow.org for current trail conditions and directions. Headwaters Loop is a good place to start, with rolling single track, moderate technical features and enough climbing to work up a good appetite as you sit on a promontory and enjoy the view.
_JPG.jpg)
Plummer to Mullan, ID
Mostly flat with steady, gentle climbing on eastern end
Cyclists come from around the country to experience this stunning rail-to-trail. See lakes, bridges and miles of wilderness-quality scenery as well as a peek into Idaho industrial past from this beautiful smooth path finished in 2004.
For more information visit www.friendsofcdatrails.org
Idaho-Montana Border
15-miles, all downhill if you shuttle
With 10 tunnels- including the 1.66 mile-long Taft Tunnel- and seven high trestles, this is a tell-the-folks-back-home bike ride. Great for families. It's recommended you bring a good light to see in the tunnels. A shuttle service is available.
For more information visit www.ridethehiawatha.com
Various length rides, all quite steep and challenging, but fun
Begin your ride at the Giant White Pine Campground for your own adventure through the old-growth forest. There is a network of dirt trails in the area ranging form a 1-mile to an 18-mile loop, beginning and ending at the campground. A Forest Service map is recommended. Drive north out of Moscow on Highway 95, turn right onto State Highway 6, proceeding through Potlatch to the Giant White Pine Campground, which is about 36 driving miles from Moscow.
Various length rides, moderate to quite technical
Hell's Gate State Park near Lewiston, ID has good mountain biking with an easy-to-navigate loop of single and double track. There are challenging climbs and descents, as well as easy rolling trails in this open, dry park. Although hot in the summer, this is another good winter destination. Bring slime tubes or be prepared to fix some flats.
County Roads
There are endless possibilities for loops on gravel roads in the Palouse. If gravel riding is your cup of tea, grab a county map or Gazeteer and head out for your own adventure. Bring tools, food, water and fat tires for washboards. Make sure to watch out for working farm vehicles and others that may be traveling the roads.