Twin Lakes Mountain Bike Tour
(From Field Reports, Sunday, June 9, 1996): Errors cropped up in a recent edition of “Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest.” Twin Lakes Mountain Bike Tour (May 19): Access directions should read, “From Davenport, Wash., drive 13 miles south on State Highway 28 to Harrington. At milepost 118, turn west onto Coffee Pot Road. Drive 1-3/4 miles and bear left at Y in paved road. Continue another 12 miles (to milepost 13) and turn right onto dirt road…”
CHECK IT OUT
Distance: 8 miles
Difficulty: Moderately difficult
Riding time: 1-2 hours
Season: Mid-April through mid-Oct.
Maps: USGS Swanson Lakes, Rocklyn SW
Info: U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Spokane, 536-1200
MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIP NOTES
Access: From Davenport, Wash., drive 13 miles south on State Highway 23 to Harrington. At milepost 118, turn west onto Coffee Pot Road. Drive 1-3/4 miles and bear left at Y in paved road. Continue another 2 miles (to milepost 13) and turn right onto dirt road. Go 1-1/2 miles to gate and public access road to Twin Lakes.
Attractions: Route follows old ranching roads through public land in and out of scenic scabrock lakes basin. Possible wildlife sightings include coyotes, meadowlarks, hawks, mule deer, geese and ducks, great blue herons, red-winged blackbirds. Sage-country wildflowers abundant April through May. Area offers several shorter out-and-back options that do not require fording Lake Creek. Fishing for panfish in lakes.
Comments: Gate at start/finish is locked in winter and early spring, blocking all motor vehicles. Even when open, motor vehicles are allowed only for 1-7/8 miles to Twin Lakes picnic area.
Area can be muddy and inappropriate for bicycling for days after rain. Avoid biking here after mid-October opening of hunting season.
Bikers who don’t want to get feet wet fording Lake Creek can still ride out-and-back routes on northwest side of lakes.
Trails are rough with cattle tracks in some places, but remarkably unrutted by vehicles. Mountain bikers should try to keep it that way. WALK bikes through the several short wet areas encountered on this route.
From start, ride about 1 mile, passing through yellow gate. A short way farther, turn right, continuing on road open to motor vehicles. Route soon heads through basalt into windy descent (through seasonally locked gate) to picnic area and boat launch between two lakes.
To continue, carry bike across stream that connects lakes (can be dry during drought) and ride to yet another yellow gate (this one’s routinely locked). Proceed up into aspens and hawthornes and past spring. WALK bike around short wet area as route gradually rises to sage plateau.
From rusty cattle guard, ride 1/2 mile and look for faint track that takes off to left (north) in flat area of sparse sage. Double-track trail becomes more obvious after 200 feet.
Turn left at road junction and begin scenic, winding ride through gate and back down toward Lake Creek. Pay attention, however, as you enter flat, open section below rocky ledges: Road continues straight down to end of Upper Twin Lake. But featured route makes hairpin right turn to follow double track down to another ford of Lake Creek. Listen for rock wrens.
Route heads steeply for short way up to rock rim. Springs can make route muddy. WALK bikes here to prevent rutting.
Route become gentle for rest of way, past old farm building. At gate, turn right for few feet, then turn left, winding around northwest end of shallow pond (often bustling with waterfowl in spring) to another gate. From here, continue 1-3/4 miles back to start.
Area managed by U.S. Bureau of Land Management. No camping, fires or off-road riding allowed.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of bike tour
The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest