White Bluffs Mountain Bike Ride

Mount Adams and Mount Rainier from Trailhead

I had a desire to ride the White Bluffs area again the other day so I decided I’d try to find the north entrance to the area I’ve hiked in several times before. I searched it out on Google Earth and got the coordinates for the turnoff from Highway 24. I drove right to the north trailhead and unloaded my mountain bike. I saw some ranger types coming up the road and they warned about puncture weeds on the old, abandoned paved road. I had planned to come back along that road so I decided I’d ride in the middle and hope for the best knowing I had a patch kit in my fanny pack and a pump if I needed it. I got on the trail along the edge of the bluffs and headed south. I didn’t realize it would be a little precarious because I had only hiked this trail before and the steep drop-off down the bluff was a little scary but I took it at a cautious pace and it went fine. It was a great ride, the trail was about perfect with some recent rains it wasn’t too soft or too muddy.

Trailhead

I got to a point where I had to transition from the White Bluffs to a bluff across a valley so I had to dismount and walk down a very steep section to get to the valley floor then I rode to the other bluff. I rode up a trail that was quite steep and let out a yell as I powered up the trail to the top without loosing traction! My heart was pounding and it felt so good. I continued along the bluff to a path that led down the bluff to the abandoned, paved road that was near the south trailhead where I had parked for my past hikes. I pedaled along the road which is near the river. It was a beautiful morning with beautiful views. I saw large birds, the famous Hanford Reach National Monument rock formation and the amazing geological history with layers of dirt along the road. I looked across to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.