The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

You're never too old to ride a bike. It is not about a race; it's about the journey, the places you can go, and the scenery you will see! Easy rides such as pedaling around the streets of Waitsburg or riding the backroad to Huntsville are a good way to start easing into bicycling. On those rides, you will be on relatively flat surfaces, and in Waitsburg, you will get the occasional rest as you stop to visit people that are out and about.

Places outside of Waitsburg that are easy jaunts are Dayton, starting at the Flour Mill Park, or in Walla Walla, starting at the Walla Walla Community College sports complex parking lot. In Dayton, you can ride alongside the Touchet River. Watch out for deer crossing the trail, and at times you can see beaver in the pond. In Walla Walla, the trail follows Mill Creek, and you can ride east on the paved path to Rooks Park or west towards Lion's Park. On both rides, you will encounter birds, ducks, and other people enjoying the outdoors.  

Going further out of the 'Burg are two popular trails in Idaho. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes is a 73-mile paved route between Mullan and Plummer, Idaho. You don't have to ride the entire seventy-three miles as there are twenty developed trailheads where you can start or end. You can stop to rest or enjoy a picnic lunch in numerous spots along the way.

Riding the Hiawatha Trail operated by the Lookout Pass Ski Area will cost about thirty-six dollars per person if you start at the top and ride to the bottom. The cost includes the right to ride the mostly gravel/dirt surface trail and to ride a shuttle back to the top. It is about fifteen miles one way, and if you are so inclined, you can ride down and back up and save the shuttle fee!

Helmets are recommended, and lights are required on the trail as you will travel through ten tunnels, with the first tunnel being over one and a half miles long. You will enjoy the sites as you cross seven trestles, and there is time to rest as you stop and read about forty informational signs. Pack a lunch and water and picnic along the way where you will see deer and hungry chipmunks!

Bicycling is a low-impact exercise, with reduced strain on your joints. It is good for your heart and builds body strength. Riding for ten minutes or ten miles outdoors will benefit you mentally and spiritually. Wherever you may go, enjoy the ride!