Palouse Pavé
509/ATBL
Farm roads lattice through the hills surrounding Pullman, Washington. Dirt, gravel, sky. Barley, wheat, legumes. Rusting ag equipment and onlooking cattle more numerous than motor vehicles. The Palouse, a region described as the Tuscany of North America 🧐️, is an un-storied cycling destination with legit potential.
Run What Ya Brung
Take into consideration that the Palouse is hilly, generally remote and exposed. Gearing preference will depend on your level of climbing enjoyment. I’d say min width for gravel would be 33mm. These are my setups:
Road ︎︎︎
48/35 ︎ 10-33
700x30
700x30
Gravel ︎
42 ︎ 11-42
700x42 or 650x47
700x42 or 650x47
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The Singer Not The Song
︎ RPGS 37241524
DISTANCE: 30 Mi
ELEVATION: +1,193
MAX GRADE: 7.4%
PAVED/NON: 25/75
ELEVATION: +1,193
MAX GRADE: 7.4%
PAVED/NON: 25/75
North of the little town of Albion, this is a pleasant cruise through mixed scenic opportunities. The escape from Pullman is via Brayton Road, well-maintained gravel access to a number of residents (be mindful of traffic). Brayton will spit you out onto Albion Road where you’ll enjoy a speedy descent into the township of Abion.
Albion was first settled in 1871 by Levi Reynolds. It has a bustling population of about 600 residents; There are no stores or services, but there’s a nice shade tree with a park bench and a water spigot, should you want to fill up before the real venturing starts.
Back onto dirt, climb out of Albion and continue along the South Fork of the Palouse River before eventually turning East. This may be the most scenic stretch of the ride. In late June–early July, the fields would be flowering with an incredible yellow. You’ll also get a glimpse of the endangered Palouse meadow steppe ecosystem as you pass by the Rose Creek Nature Preserve.
Continue on where you’ll eventually cross Highway 27. You can take the pavement back to Pullman (traffic can be fun) or skirt along side with a little more dirt and one last climb.
Albion was first settled in 1871 by Levi Reynolds. It has a bustling population of about 600 residents; There are no stores or services, but there’s a nice shade tree with a park bench and a water spigot, should you want to fill up before the real venturing starts.
Back onto dirt, climb out of Albion and continue along the South Fork of the Palouse River before eventually turning East. This may be the most scenic stretch of the ride. In late June–early July, the fields would be flowering with an incredible yellow. You’ll also get a glimpse of the endangered Palouse meadow steppe ecosystem as you pass by the Rose Creek Nature Preserve.
Continue on where you’ll eventually cross Highway 27. You can take the pavement back to Pullman (traffic can be fun) or skirt along side with a little more dirt and one last climb.