An Olympic Back Country Motorcycle Adventure (A BDR Type Ride)
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- One of the perks of life in the Pacific North West is having access to large amounts of public land. Those of us who live here are incredibly fortunate to live in a place where the outdoors and public lands are respected by so many. One of the gems here in Washington State is the Washington Olympic Peninsula.
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle, and contains Olympic National Park. Bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Hood Canal. Visitors and explorers alike can experience a unique eco-system of glaciated peaks within the interior that have carpeted slopes of amazing rain forests that literally spill out on to Ocean coast. Among the places to visit is Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, and Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point. Comprising about 3600 square miles, the Olympic Peninsula contained many of the last unexplored places in the Contiguous United States. It remained largely un-mapped until 1900. To this day, not a lot is published about its back country bounty… and that’s a good thing. It has long been rumored that there is a route for ADVRiders to circumnavigate around the Olympic National Park to taste remote roads, and experience wild coastlines on a mostly off road trail. I set out to research this rumor and am happy to report that it is true.
This video represents my experience from two extended weekend exploratory trips starting from Seattle. Good friends, great views and good times were had by all.
Thanks for Riding along, ~GrizzLee
A couple of guys from ADVPulse were out there the same time as us. They posted some tracks and a nice article. www.advpulse.c...
Thank you for a wonderful route. We just used your routing for a wonder tour of the Olympic Peninsula after being smoked out on the WABDR. Not only a variety of fire roads, but plenty of twisty asphalt we could carve! What a wonderful trip. Good selection of campgrounds. From landing at Kingston overnighting in Sequim. Then Port Townsend, Cape Flattery, and on to Hoh River Valley and rainforest. We got to stay in Satsop Center. Too bad that the Forest Service is closing this wonderful camp. Then your great routing over the logging roads working our way to Shelton and Olympia.
Really well done route and video. Thanks for the inspiration.
I will soon be in possession of a Honda CT125 Hunter Cub, and I plan on doing this trip on it. I’m all about big adventures on little bikes. I just became an inmate and the site is wonderful, I don’t know how I missed it after all these years of trail riding. After this trip I want to shoot for the cascades trip.
I'm from here and have been to a number of the places you went (the High steel Bridge is among my favorites) but I've not seen it as you've shown it! My Yamaha 1300 is unsuited for some of those roads, but not ALL of them! excellent work editing and scoring this piece!
Thank you! Gives me an idea of what adventure and beauty lies ahead!!
Great video! I cant wait for the border to open up again. This ride is now on my list!
You'll love it. Ride safe my friend. ~ Grizz
Just completed section 5 day it was awesome had to overcome a rock slide.
An outstanding video! Well done. The Olympics = My backyard as well. A+
I grew up in Olalla, right next door. I so miss that place, I can’t wait to get back.
Thanks guys. An enjoyable journey.
wonderfull places , beautifull views thanks a lot for let us be part of your experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are most welcome. Thanks again for joining me on another ride. ~Grizz
Nice video Griz looking forward to more.
Thanks ... ride safe ~GrizzLee
This is a great ride. Thanks for sharing
Enjoyed the video. Did the 101 up from Cannon Beach, OR around to the ferry at Kingston with the kids summer of 2019. Jaw dropping beautiful country. Would love to do your route some day on a dual sport.
You won't be disappointed. Beautiful Country in the Olympics. Thanks for riding along. ~GrizzLee
I watch all this at least once a week.
Wow that's an endorsement. Or... do you need therapy :-) I've started another one in the works. Slow going as I just got a new computer with new software. Been a busy summer without much riding. Fires and heat has really put a damper on travel. If you ever in Seattle area... 'GrizzLee' on AdvRider. Thanks for riding along. ~GrizzLee
Great Video. Thanks for taking the time
Thanks so much for a great video and letting us tag along. FANTASTIC 🍻
You betcha. It's a fun route. Thanks for riding along. ~GrizzLee
I'm in area & rode a version of this. Very cool! Its a fun weekend overnight camping loop. Well done ;)
You always hear about the rain and gloom there. You had great weather. Thank you for sharing your adventures
Yes, you have to pick your days. Fun ride for sure. Thanks for riding with us. ~GrizzLee
Nice video. I worked for Rayonier for a long while. They own a good portion of the WA coast as well as land in the Southeast US. They actually provided an alternative road when public road washed out, but yes you should be getting a pass otherwise. There are also 2 campgrounds on the coast they provide (and a park in Hoquiam). Maintaining those roads to manage the private forest is a big expense. They actually make some serious $ in the southeast by leasing hunting rights to hunting clubs. Private land owners sometimes do play nice with people to use their lands and looks like you had a good ride there. It's a great area around the Olympics.
Thanks for the reply. I love to hear from you folks in the “know”. I’m never sure if I’ll get in trouble. I try and have little to no impact and respect the areas I I have access to. Thanks for providing some background. Much appreciated. Thanks for riding with me. ~Grizz
brought a lot of memories of when i logged on the peninsula. thanks for the ride
Awesome working out there I bet. ~Grizz
After decades of long distance riding across this great country, this winter (in NH) I saw the unveiling of the NEBDR. I sold one bike and bought a (used) BMW F800 GS. Have it in my shop getting to know it and adding lighting etc. 2020 is a big year, I am retiring from full time work and headed to UTAH on my HD then up to the northwest to Glacier the Badlands and home. Then I will begin to explore dual sport riding. I am motivated by You Tube creators such as yourself! I am in awe of your countryside ….. hope to be in Oregon and Washington late June. Thanks for the ride along - keep posting!!!
Right on !
*
Well done, need to make this run. The Makha tribe at Neah Bay should open a section of roads from the Forks area out to the Cape Flattery, connect with or cross the Ozette lake road, would make a good alternate route. Plus there is good beach camping at Hobuck beach.
Oh yes, that would be nice. I'd even pay them for the privilege. Hope you find the time and weather to do this. Ride safe my friend. ~Grizz
I live near the Olympics and this video has inspired me to buy a dual sport so I can do this ride.
Glad to inspire. ~GrizzLee
Thanks for putting the time and effort into another great moto vid of your journey. I lived in the Bella Coola valley for 9 years and traveled through many of the places with my truck that you took on your motorcycle. So glad you found similar solitude and beauty in this part of the world that I did. I live now on Vancouver Island and have taken two trips to the Olympic Peninsula on my motorcycle. Itching now to take more...when the borders open and this virus is beaten into the dust. Thanks again my friend. I'll have to view your Idaho trip now!
Nice ride.. 👌
Thank you again for taking us along in your travels. GREAT job as always!!!
Great camera and editing work makes it like watching a REALLY good documentary travel by bike. Simply AMAZING!!!
I cant wait to get out that way again. It has been 30+ years but I still remember it like yesterday. So, fingers crossed when I can really set about on travels again. I definitely want to follow your path my friend. Thank you again and be safe out there (wherever you are now!!!)
Excellent. Planning a week this summer for this very trip!
Hello Grizzlee!
Thanks allot!
That is so much better !!...
and it gives a sooo much better feeling of this fantastic journey!
I realy enjoy your videos for so long time!
You have the feeling to report every adventure or your own feelings
in every differnt situation!
I love your style to cut and comment and also your background music!
Thanks allot agian for all your videos so far !
Best wishes from Germany
Well thanks. My fault. Enjoy the ride. ~GriizLee
Nice ride guy. I have spent a lot of time but never knew it was possible to ride all the way around on back road. Looks like a few took some small lumps but no big ouches. Around Bend Oregon out!
GrizzLee, just finished watching this trip again. Like most Americans I find myself inside much more past several days and having this, as well as your previous videos to watch makes for excellent escapes from confinement. Thanks again for sharing with all of us. 👍👍
p.s. Stay safe and well!
This is much better! Thanks..! :-)
Excellent! Thank you for sharing. I went the opposite way around a few years back and the whole route is just great! Can't wait to do it again!
Hi, Cody just sent me this to watch. @randomlytrees
@@pacopetepnw3434 It's a fun ride with lots to come back to explore more thoroughly (like our dead-end road a few weeks ago).
As we are all under increasing life restrictions, thanks to COVID-19, I trust all viewers are well and sx-free. And now these wonderful recordings, which I've enjoyed for years during the winter months, take on renewed value, enjoyment and appreciation! Thank you once more!
Looks better!!
Thanks for riding again with me. ~Grizz
Enjoyed your vid Grizlee. Great to see other places in the world we will probably never get to (I live "Down Under").
I was so looking forward to watching this, But i will have to watch bits of it at a time. found it was Distorted in places :-( Love your trip's.
Distorted? Please let me know. I will try and fix in subsequent productions. Sometimes I noticed that with slower internet speeds that lower resolutions can cause distortion between scenes and video clips (might have to do with the transition effects I use). Thanks for the feedback and the kind workds ~GrizzLee
I don't know BDR's stated goal, but it sure seems like loops of this nature would be a perfect fit for their customers.
This would make a perfect BDR-X.
@@MrHamish54 I emailed them about it. Got a shrug back. Who knows.
much clearer!!!
Thanks.. ~Grizz
Very well done. Really enjoyed watching This trip. Do you have tracks or map/directions for this trip?
No tracks, but here is a link to 2 Gents we met from advpulse while riding the route.
www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ride-washington-olympic-peninsula/
Enjoy. ~GrizzLee
Hi guys, great video. Can anyone advise what the time frame is to make this trip? Thank you,
I tired this route again last may and ran into snow.
I suspect that it can be run anytime from June -November. Hope this helps. ~GrizzLee
This is awesome, wondering if you could share a link to the gps routes you took?
In the description.... A couple of guys from ADVPulse were out there the same time as us. They posted some tracks and a nice article. www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ri...
This is essentially the route I took. They add couple of things and skipped a couple of the places I went.
Good Luck. ~GrizzLee
Well done Griz-do you have a map or tracks of your route? I would like to do this loop.
Look in the description (www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ri...). These guys were out there when we were. Not exactly the same route. But close.
Take care, ~GrizzLee
Great video, loved all scenery and beauty of the Olympic peninsula. Great camera work. I look forward to doing it one day. Do you have a place to get the route from? thank you.
Similar route from ADVPulse posted in description. Enjoy. ~Grizz
Hey Grizz. You and I met at a campground south of Tillamook. At the time I was preparing for a ride to the Arctic Ocean, but ended up not going. I live in Port Angeles and have been wanting to find a less paved loop around the peninsula, which this video provides. Would you be willing and able to share route details?
There is a route with tracks in the description from ADVpulse. Interestingly enough, I met them on this route while I was doing the loop.
If you have any questions, look me up on ADVRider (GrizzLee).I’ll get back to you. Will be going out that way when it gets a bit warmer. Got a new bike to break in 😀
Stay safe out there,
~Grizz
I see that now. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
Question, was the Arai Helmet worth the money for long rides?
The Arai XD4s are good helmets.
All depends on the shape oh head I still use and it very much for offroad. I also have a shoei hornet ds. Much lighter and a dream value for the price I paid.
Thank you for the video! I ran into your video while pre-scouting an overland route from Cushman across to Wynochee. I wonder if Rayonier would grant permission to go across that one road with what looks like an old rail road bridge!
You are welcome. The bridge is accessible from the other side. No worries there. There is a gate at both ends. Fortunately for us, it was open on both ends. I've read that the north side, by the bridge is closed sometines. Bike have very little trouble going around in the ditch, but cars and jeeps might be an issue. Good luck. It's a fantastic ride... or overland trip as well. Thanks, ~GrizzLee
Folks, I messed up the first video I posted. I failed to upload the HD version. So here it is in HD glory. Enjoy.
RubiKon Adventures GREAT Video and idea. Is there a way/location I can use your GPS tracks? I have a traveling gypsy ADV family and we live in the PNW but your tracks look AWESOME.
My tracks are a mess and disorganized. Try the tracks found at ADVPulse. I met these guys out there while I was exploring. . www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ride-washington-olympic-peninsula/
RubiKon Adventures thank you tons!!!! I’m not sure how that story snuck by me on ADVPulse.
I did it in my cruiser
Man I’ve been waiting for your videos. Any word?
Working on them. Patience. I have a full time job, house and family :-) but, now that summer's over.... Thanks for your enthusiasm in m asking. Take care, ~Grizz
@@RubiKonAdventures I know buddy! Can’t wait man.
Great video! Curious if you had any of the river crossings to deal with as seen in other CZcams videos? Any other issues you could advise about with the track? Any work arounds you would advise?
Hello guys, its beautiful video. I am probably not first to ask if map of this rout is available? I live in Olympia and member of NW dual sport riders. This is ride i wanted to do for so long but its hard to obtain any map of route you just did. Thanks.
Awesome video, music, art, commentary, views, editing. How many days did this ride take you? I am thinking 3 days.
We did it in 3 days. Didn't finish the last bits shown on the map. I would recommend 5 days and relaxing a bit more (Leaving from Seattle area) and add in some of the ADVPulse routes. Good luck. It's that time of year to go. ~GrizzLee
How can I get a down loadable route for this amazing adventure
Adv Pulse happened to out there when we were. They posted a slightly different route. We crossed some private native lands. www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ride-washington-olympic-peninsula/
Enjoy, ~GrizzLee
Any chance we could get the GPX files for this trip? Thank you!
YES GPX Track PLEASE!!!
Me too!
Is this route available? I would love try this ride. Thanks.
I live in Belfair not far from this route, i would love a map of the roads or route as well.
Hello Michael, were you able to obtain this map?
See a link to the route advpulse published in my description. They were out there when we were.
What kind of bike was that blue one... nice ride
You may be referring to my buddy's F650GS Dakar?!?
@@RubiKonAdventures Thanks! Looking at building a lighter bike maybe a KTM350 or 500. But, I'll check this one out, thanks!
I just want to specify that I am talking of Olympic Back Country route
Could all this be driven with a stock 4x4 SUV? Thanks for the video! Great trip
I believe you could save for a couple of sections. After leaving the High Steel Bridge, you will want to take the easier route to Satsop Center. The way up around and over to Lake Wynoochee might be a bit much as the FOrest Service has cut "big" water bars at an angle across the road. It discourages most from driving up there. There a few roads that have heavy overgrowth and they narrow, so your vehicle may get scratched. Thanks for riding along ~GrizzLee
could you tell me what time of the year was best to visit Olympic Park? My wife and I came over from Colorado and road the bike up from Sacramento up to Seattle in late May and it turned really cold. Low 40’s and constant rain. We were going to do Olympic Park but were told it would be in the 30’s and rain the entire trip. We decided to turn south. Even with heated jackets it just was not any fun. Thanks.
June through September. It is a really wet area though. A rain forest. As such, the rain can really keep you a bit chilly. It is rare to get more than a couple of sunny days out there. Good luck next time. ~Grizz
Great video. Do you have GPX files to share?
No gox tracks. But advpulse was out there the same time as us. They posted some tracks www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ride-washington-olympic-peninsula/
Good luck . ~Grizz
Is there a map or way points that show the loop?
See the description and the link to the ADVpulse route. Not my route, but close.
Where can I get a detailed map of the route?
See the description for a map.
Great video! Do you have a copy of the route you took? I'm in Allyn and would love to do this trip.
See the description. Have fun.. ~GrizzLee
Myabe I missed where you said it, how many miles is the loop that you did?
Plan on 500+ miles. Take at least 4 days.
How can I get Olympic peninsula loop to download
Read the description. Enjoy. ~GrizzLee
amazing! gps or route info available? thxxx
Hey - is there a GPX file for this ride somewhere?
See description
Nice video Lee. Did you "design" this route?
No I didn't. I took bits and pieces off of ADVRIDER over the years. Interestingly, a couple of guys we met out there published a route on ADVPulse. Very similar. I want to go back this year explore other bits. Thanks for riding along, Grizz
Beautiful places there! Do you have any GPS file? I'm planning to ride there coming down from Vancouver island this summer
No GPS files to share. They are a mismatch of several routes. However, Advpulse did a nice write up and published tracks. They added stuff I missed. Between my trip and theirs, you should have a great time . Just remember, it rains a lot out there. ~GrizzLee
@@RubiKonAdventures Here's the URL to ADV Pulse article: "8 Great Reasons to Ride Washington's Olympic Peninsula" (page 2 has Maps and GPS Tracks).
Which GPS unit are you using? Do you like it?
I use an etrex and a BMW nav 5. My etrex has all the elevations and trails etc.. the nav 5 has memory for several stored tracks. I've heard that I can get the usgs maps, but I'm cheap and haven't done that yet. The nav 5 is nice as it integrates with my r1200gs computer when I use it on that bike.
Is there some way you can put that on the BDR website as a downloadable gps route?
Its not an official route blessed and maintained by the BDR organization. So until that happens, it won't appear on their site. It also crosses some private native lands. A similar route posted here. We ran into these guys on one if our trips. www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ride-washington-olympic-peninsula/
Take care, GrizzLee
@@RubiKonAdventures Thank you for your quick response. I'll check out the route. What part of Puget Sound are you located? I'm down in Orting. New to dual sport riding on 2010 KLR650. Trying to find people to ride with.
@@insptrjf I hail from Arlington... almost the north side of state from you... especially if you count traffic ... ugghhh. I am on AdvRider (GrizzLee). Send me a note, stop by if you are in my neck of the woods.
@@RubiKonAdventures I kinda thought you were in Arlington, from the North Cascades loop ride video you posted. I do get up that way on occasion. Will let you know when I plan on being up your way.
How many miles to do the loop?
I belive it is just over 400.... from my house in Arlington.
Would you be willing to send my the GPS tracks for this?
In the description...
www.advpulse.com/adv-rides/ride-washington-olympic-peninsula/
Not my exact route, but close.
Thanks for riding along. ~Grizz
No more hoot owl music please..
Example. I'm not sure what hoot owl music is? Thanks, ~GrizzLee