Welcome to the Gravel Grinding Boys Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail Day Three

Bikepacking the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (also known as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail) in Washington State, USA.

This is Day Three of Six (Day 3 of 6). This is a longer video (too). I didn't "manage" my "memory" (my Micro SD cards) all that well; there was just so much to see on this Day 3.

I’d said that subsequent days may be shorter videos…but this one still worked out to almost an hour.

On Day Three, I am traveling from Cle Elum, WA to the Columbia River.

My Bike: Salsa Mukluk Fat Tire Bike.

Day 1: Seattle to North Bend, Washington - Watch it here:    • Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail ...  

Day 2: North Bend to Cle Elum, Washington – Watch it here:    • Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail ...  

Day 3 (THIS VIDEO): Cle Elum to the Columbia River / Wanapum State Park Campground - Watch it here:    • Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail ...  .

Day 4: Wanapum State Park Campground to Othello, Washington - Watch it here:    • Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail ...  

Day 5: Othello, Washington to Ralston, Washington - Watch it here:    • Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail ...  

Day 6: In Process Now as of 10/05/2024

We’re waking up in Cle Elum, Washinton at the Whispering Pines RV Park off the Yakima River.

We’ll be leaving Cle Elum today and Heading to Wanapum State Park Campground on the Columbia River fed Wanapum Lake. This is just before Beverly Junction and before crossing the Columbia River on Day 4.

Disclaimer: This video was filmed on a GoPro 8 and an iPhone 13. It was very windy today; expect wind noise, lens glares, and fluctuations in sound and sound quality. Just doing the best with what I got. And expect me to mispronounce words; some of these town and area names play trick on my southern tongue (though giggling is allowed and corrections appreciated).

I wanted to try to give a sense of not only the sights along the trail but also the sounds along the trail. Sometimes I would just stop and “listen.”

There are moments where all you will hear is the gravel under my bicycle tires and moments with a background tune to break up that gravel-ly monotony (and during especially windy moments when the wind noise was a bit too abrasive to leave in the video).
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Added: 10/05/2024
DO NOT TAKE DORIS ROAD. THIS IS NOT A ROAD. At the time of the recording (June 2023), there are no signs or gates across the area that will (very much so) look like a road. Continue straight on the trail. You will eventually reach the pavement and can turn left to the Wanapum State Park Campground. Though there are no trespassing signs as of June 2023, you will be inadvertently trespassing if you take this route.

Seems I am getting a lot of less-than-okay feedback on the Doris Road scene: "Unfortunately, he rode down the "Doris" road to get to the campground easier." I'm not sure that was the motivation.
Note clip #42:51...seems there was a question as to “how to get to the campground” rather than it being a convenience.

Clip #43:22: "And, since there was no warning signs or other indications that this was not okay, well, I proceeded."

Clip #45:40 summarizes this whole section of the video: "DON'T TAKE DORIS ROAD."

This is a wonderful trail. It’s very remote and…at many times…leaves a rider guessing as to direction. – Here are some other examples:

Clip #12:30: dirt road. There’s no sign…no gate…and assuming it’s okay to turn down in order to get to another point in the community.

Clip #14:51: there’s a gate across the road. How does a rider of the trail know that it’s okay to go around this gate? It’s a logical assumption…but…of the many gates across the trail…how do we know for sure?

Clip #31:35: there is a clear warning not to venture off trail.

Clip #33:59: “Road Closed.” But, two whom is this sign (there’s a sign) talking to?

Clip #36:41: Clear and no-guessing signage. Wonderful.

Everyone keeps referring to “Doris Road” as a “Road.” A “Road” or other path without indications or direction leaves the rider guessing.

I guess the bottom line is this: folks are quick to use terms such as “trespassing” and “illegal,” regardless of the summarizing message at Clip #45:58.

Here are some helpful suggestions to reduced the number of “accidental trespassers” on Doris Road:
1. Remove all indications that is a “road.”
2. Contact Google, Komoot, Ride with GPS, and others removed it as a “road” and have them eliminate the “road” as the path to take to the campground.
3. Have the Washington Parks put up a sign at the “road.”
4. Have the US Army put up the same gate, barbed wire, and yellow sign at BOTH ends of the “Road.”

You all enjoy this video, and I hope it gives you a better idea of what to expect so your adventure will be more enjoyable.

I’m just a guy on a bicycle out for a bicycle ride. I’m not a professional so, don’t try this at home…better yet…leave home and get out there and enjoy this trail in person.