Text and photos by shiggy Person
I (shiggy) have been riding on the Plateau for more than 12 years, traversing the area on the grid work of farm roads, many of which were established in the 1880s. I picked some of my favorites, and the best surfaces, for this first Waterville Gravel Populaire route.
The 134km route is 70% unpaved. Surfaces range from wide smooth gravel to fine dirt. Few chunky rock sections. May be some loose sandy stretches. Paved sections are dispersed fairly evenly providing regular breaks. Minimal traffic on the gravel and little on the paved roads. Of course, farm equipment ALWAYS has the right of way.
Starting from Pioneer Park take a 134km ride through the greening wheat fields and shrub steppe of the Waterville Plateau, on some of the same roads ridden by the Waterville Bicycle Club 128 years ago.
We will pass through the small communities of Douglas and Alstown, both at the top of the Douglas Creek Canyon. Turning back north and east through sage and wheat on ever rolling hills.
At Withrow we reach the edge of the last ice sheet advancement and roll into the Withrow Moraine. Fewer fields. More rock formations, erratics, eskers, and older basalt flows.
Resupply comes in Mansfield at 74km, with a small grocery, cafe, bar and a pleasant city park, the only shade on the route outside of Waterville.
Here we turn west. More moraine, and back into the wheat fields.
The Fletcher pioneer cemetery, one of many on the plateau, is at 110km. Worth a stop.
The neverending open sky carries us on west and south. Views of the Cascades in the distance over the rolling hills.
We mostly stay on gravel clear to the Waterville city limits, 1km from the finish back in Pioneer Park.
Recommend minimum 38mm tires. Slicks are fine. I usually ride 42-48mm semi slicks.
There is only one resupply point in Mansfield at 74km. Water, small grocery, cafe, bar, city park. Be sure you are carrying enough food and water to get there, and then get back.
It may be very hot, and there is ZERO shade on route.
Restrooms in Pioneer Park in Waterville. Grocery nearby. Knemeyers Eatery & Spirits is friendly and does a good pizza.
RV camping available at the NCW Fairgrounds.
Parking: near the tennis courts in the park or at the high school on S Chelan Ave.
Waterville Plateau history: https://www.historylink.org/file/9357
Withrow Moraine geology video: https://youtu.be/uhz-7EsYRik?si=Odxua0hBEULSphbI
