Between The Snow And The Sun - Just Plain Good Riding

Washington State’s Cascade Mountains present a fearsome face to the Pacific Ocean, soaring Canada: Between the Snow and Sun to 14,411 feet at Mount Rainier’s peak. East of the range, in the rain shadow of these giants, the Columbia Plateau simmers under the summer sun, with temperatures climbing in excess of 100°F.

- Kevin Kroeker

But between the snow and the sun is a landscape made for adventure. Lying little more than 100 miles from downtown Seattle, this region of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest hides a vast network of forestry roads and trails suitable for adventure riders of all skill levels and any motorcycle displacement.

The town of Plain, Washington, occupies a sweet spot just 14 miles north of its famous faux-Bavarian cousin, Leavenworth. Plain is just that, plain, with no pretensions to being anything other than the tiny, hospitable hamlet it is. I can’t tell you the population, and neither can the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s that small... but it has everything a rider needs: fuel, groceries, a couple restaurants, and even a few lodging options.