Orcas Island Bike Ride
Eastsound, WA 98245
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Editorial Review for Orcas Island Bike Ride – by Citysearch Staff
The Scene
Shaped like a jagged horseshoe, Orcas, the largest of the San Juan Islands, is quite a challenge for touring bicyclist.
The Ride
Along the 8.5-mile ride from Orcas to East Sound, several flat, paved roads invite investigation. Definitely ride to the beach on the North Beach Road. Continuing on the Horseshoe Highway past East Sound, a long, steady uphill grade leads to Moran State Park, where at a 350-foot elevation, Cascade Lake shimmers in a forest setting. The nine-mile ride from Orcas to Deer Harbor winds through forested hills and valleys, skirts the waterfront at West Sound and contours its rocky cliffs before climbing a forested hillside and descending to Deer Harbor. For a big payoff, continue south toward West Sound along the edge of Crow Valley, where the road runs along a ridge as the valley panorama passes beneath.
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User Reviews for Orcas Island Bike Ride
07/07/2005 Posted by eastlight
Actually, you get two islands in one when you visit Orcas Island - the west dominated by sun spirit - and the east dominated by tree spirit. The sun drenched west side is awash in wildflowers all spring and summer. Ditches gone daisy crazy and tangles of pink sweet framing salt water views are your reward for selecting Westsound or Deer Harbor as your destination. The opposite direction offers dramatic terrain draped in evergreen splendor. Thousands of acres of fir and pine stretch from ridgeline to shoreline punctuated only by pristine fresh water lakes. Take a dip in Cascade Lake as you pass through Moran State Park on your way to Doe Bay or Olga. Whichever way you go, there is plenty of "wow" factor everywhere you turn. This trip is also good by classic convertible!
Pros: eastside, westside, inbetween
Cons: steep terrain, restromos, summer crowds
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