ワシントンの湖・トップ20

A quiet place in September

Tommy Thompson Parkway is a great car-free route out to March Point, with nice water views along the trestle. But heads up—seagulls drop shells here to crack them open, leaving sharp debris that’s notorious for causing flats. Ride with caution, and if you’re on skinny tires, consider walking your bike across the worst sections.

Round Lake Upper Dam in Camas holds back Round Lake and Lacamas Lake in Lacamas Park. It was built in 1883 for a paper mill; the wooden dam was replaced by a concrete and steel structure in 1935, which raised the lake level by about 12 feet. Today, this area is popular for fishing rainbow and brown trout, bluegill, and bass, while hikers and picnickers have access to benches, grills, and restrooms.

99% of my bike rides utilize this route out of Anacortes. Beware the flying clams!

The trestle provides a car-free route to March's Point, BUT there is a downside. Sea gulls use the trestle to crack open clams, dropped from above, and the pointy shards litter the trestle until the sweeping angels come. I've punctured many times here, and ruined a couple of expensive bike tires. I wish there was some kind of "Shell Report" or webcam or some way of knowing the condition of the trestle before you head out on your bike. And if I wanted to walk my bike across the trestle, I wouldn't have ridden a bike.

Faraway Rock is an accessible overlook on the Mazama Ridge Trail in Mount Rainier National Park. From the top of Faraway Rock, you get panoramic views of Lake Louise and the Tatoosh Ridge, which includes Tatoosh, Stevens, Plummer, Unicorn, Foss, and Pinnacle Peaks. From here you can keep going on the Mazama Ridge Trail to a tarn and the intersection of the High Lakes Trail, or you can loop back to the trailhead and parking area at Reflection Lakes via the Lower Lakes Trail.

Round Lakes Upper Dam is an old dam that was built to provide power for a paper mill. There is currently a project in the works to create a fish passage.

Fantastic ride now that the trail is finally complete!