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Truck Supported Washington Backcountry Discovery Route

Truck Supported | RIDER Supported, Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Group Ride

Truck Supported | RIDER Supported, Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Group Ride

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The Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR) is a legendary, multi-day off-pavement ride designed for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles. RIDE Adventures is proud to launch our expedition based on the newly updated WABDR route, which includes fresh GPX tracks and years of refined exploration.

This 688-mile route begins at the Oregon border and carves north through the dramatic South Cascade Range, explores the arid eastern foothills, and eventually delivers riders to the pristine North Cascades near Canada. The terrain is highly diverse, featuring everything from steep, rocky climbs and rutted mountain roads to deep silt and sweeping forest trails.

Join our premium Truck-Supported WABDR Expedition for 10 days of adventure. We handle the hotel booking, luggage shuttle, mechanical support, and logistics—you focus on the epic riding and photography.

Important Note: The WABDR is a challenging route. The BDR organization updated the route to improve the experience, but it remains a test of skill and endurance. The best time to ride the full route is July–September.

The terrain and difficulty of this tour is such that only experienced and confident intermediate and expert ADV riders should attempt it. It is not for beginner or novice riders.

Not quite ready to tackle the WABDR? Sign up for one of our Training Expeditions to build your off-road adventure skills and confidence.

Visit the Backcountry Discovery Route website for more details about the route.

Read Our Blog: 15 tips to Help You Conquer The WABDR

Not quite ready to tackle the WABDR?

Sign up for one of our Training Expeditions to build your off-road adventure skills and confidence

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival, Bike Check-In & Welcome Dinner (Portland, OR)

Arrive at Portland International Airport (PDX). Transfer to the hotel in Portland. This day is dedicated to the Bike Check-In (for BYOB) or Bike Handoff (for rentals). We will finalize all gear and logistics, followed by our Welcome Dinner.

DAY 2 – WABDR Section 1: Portland to Packwood (WABDR Start)

The expedition begins! We ride directly from our Portland hotel, navigating east toward the Columbia River Gorge. We cross the Bridge of the Gods into Washington and quickly hit the dirt roads, ascending into Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We ride Section 1 over Triangle Pass and Trail Peak, offering potential views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. The day includes a short detour to the unique Guler Ice Caves before concluding in Packwood for our hotel stay.

DAY 3 – WABDR Section 2: Packwood to Ellensburg (128 miles - mixed terrain)

Today, we traverse the rugged Gifford Pinchot area. After a short paved section over White Pass, we hit dirt roads south of Rimrock Lake. The challenging section up to Bethel Ridge features washboards and switchbacks. We ride the ridge for excellent views before dropping into the Naches River valley and concluding the day in the college town of Ellensburg.

DAY 4 – WABDR Section 3: Ellensburg to Cashmere (79 miles - mostly off-pavement)

A shorter, highly scenic day focusing on high-elevation riding. We ride toward Table Mountain and the Lion Rock Lookout in Wenatchee National Forest, reaching elevations of 6,000 feet. The route offers stunning and rugged trails with panoramic views of the Central Cascades before descending via an entertaining dirt road section into the town of Cashmere.

DAY 5 – WABDR Section 4: Cashmere to Chelan (119 miles - mixed terrain)

We head north up Nahahum Canyon to Chumstick Peak (5,810 ft). The route winds up and over Roaring Ridge in the Entiat Mountains, providing thrilling riding and descending steep switchbacks toward the Entiat River. After traversing McKenzie Ridge and the Chelan Mountains, we enjoy first glimpses of Lake Chelan before descending to the full-service resort town of Chelan for the night.

DAY 6 – WABDR Section 5 (Part 1): Chelan to Twisp/Loup Loup (Splitting the long section)

Leaving the lake, we ascend north past the Echo Valley Ski Area toward Cooper Mountain. We follow the ridgecrest of the Methow Mountains, navigating through remote terrain. This is the first half of the original Section 5, ending near the Twisp/Loup Loup area for a strategic hotel stop before the final push north.

DAY 7 – WABDR Section 5 (Part 2): Twisp/Loup Loup to Conconully (Mixed terrain)

We tackle the second half of this long section, riding a wide variety of roads—from wide dirt and narrow pavement to deep silt—as we meander into the scenic Loup Loup area. We look for the massive China Wall before the final steep, loose descent on Ruby Grade takes us to the small town of Conconully for the night.

DAY 8 – WABDR Section 6: Conconully to Canada Border & Transfer South (80 miles - mostly off-pavement)

The triumphant final section. We climb to Baldy Pass and follow the remote trails wrapping around Tiffany Mountain. The route enters Loomis State Forest and leads us up the notorious Skull and Crossbones Road before culminating at the official Nighthawk border crossing into Canada. Congratulations!

Hotels are sparse in this region, and we'll have a little slab before calling it a day.  

DAY 9 – Final Transfer Ride to Seattle, WA

Today is dedicated to the final scenic pavement ride. We'll drive south and West before arriving near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). We'll have our farewell dinner tonight and recap the days.

DAY 10 – Departure Day

After breakfast, riders depart from Sea-Tac airport. We hope you had a fantastic ride. 

Minimum Essential Gear for RIDE Training

If you're planning to jump on a guided tour or training with RIDE Adventures, it's essential that you have the right gear. This helps to ensure your safety and the safety of others while on the road.

Not being properly prepared can lead to injuires that could have been avoided. Our guides have created a Minimum Essential Gear Guide if you plan to book a RIDE Adventures. If you don't come minimally prepared there is a chance our guides will prevent you from hopping on a bike. Make sure you're prepared for the adventure. 

Bikes Available

2024 Yamaha XT250

2024 Yamaha XT250

The Yamaha XT250 is a reliable and versatile dual-sport bike, perfect for both on- and off-road adventures.

Its air-cooled 249cc single-cylinder engine provides a broad powerband and excellent fuel efficiency, while the compact chassis and long-travel suspension ensure agile handling and comfort on various terrain.

With features like a 21-inch front wheel, wide-ratio five-speed transmission, and electric start, the XT250 is ideal for exploring dirt trails, commuting, or simply enjoying the thrill of the ride.

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Seat Height:
32.7 in
Curb Weight:
291 lbs
Fuel Capacity:
2.5 gal
Displacement:
249cc
CFMOTO 450MT

CFMOTO 450MT

The CFMOTO 450MT is built extra tough to take you beyond where the road ends. This adventure bike brings multi-terrain capability and versatility to CFMOTO's adventure touring category. Now lighter in weight, it boasts responsive power and torque from its acclaimed engine, making it perfect for the adventurous rider.

Smartly equipped for dirt, the 450MT is designed to handle a variety of terrains with ease. Whether you're exploring rugged trails or enjoying long-distance touring, the 450MT is perfectly crafted to meet the needs of those who seek adventure.

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Seat Height:
31.4 in/32.2 in | 800 mm/820 mm
Curb Weight:
386 lbs | 175 kg
Fuel Capacity:
4.6 gal | 17.6 liter
Displacement:
449.5 cc
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100

Honda Africa Twin CRF1100

Just a few years after this legendary bike was reintroduced as a 1000cc world traveler in 2016, Honda made the Africa Twin CRF 1100 just a little bit better starting the 2020 model year. With four-valve Unicam® cylinder heads atop a 22.5degree parallel-twin engine, more power than an adventure rider could ever need is available along with suspension travel and ground clearance to handle the most remote and rugged terrains and pathways. An upgraded electronics package vs. the previous version includes cruise control, a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit,) and a 6.5 inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth integration. Pack it up for a long trip, or take the bags off for a day on the trails, nothing but fun lies ahead!

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Seat Height:
33.5/34.3 in
Curb Weight:
505 lb
Fuel Capacity:
5.0 gal
Displacement:
1084 cc
Honda CRF300LS (Low Seat)

Honda CRF300LS (Low Seat)

The Honda CRF300L is a benchmark in the lightweight dual-sport category, offering a highly reliable and accessible platform for off-road-focused adventure travel.

This motorcycle is engineered for riders who prioritize maneuverability and simplicity over raw power, providing confidence on demanding trails where larger adventure bikes often struggle. The platform successfully blends long-travel suspension and robust construction with commuter-friendly ergonomics and excellent fuel economy.

Powered by a smooth 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, the CRF300L delivers predictable, tractable power necessary for technical terrain and provides reliable performance for long-distance touring and multi-day BDR-style expeditions. Its design makes maintenance straightforward, reinforcing its reputation for legendary Honda durability and making it a strategic choice for self-supported travel.


 

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Seat Height:
32.7 in | 830.5 mm
Curb Weight:
311 lbs | 141 kg
Fuel Capacity:
2.1 gal | 7.9 liter
Displacement:
286 cc
Yamaha Ténéré 700

Yamaha Ténéré 700

This highly-anticipated "masterpiece of value" has finally been released, giving dual sport adventure riders around the world one more incredible middle-weight adventure bike to choose from. With 73+ smooth, linear horsepower pouring through one of most beautiful exhaust notes out there, the Ténéré 700's unique anti-squat design puts that power into the ground, instead of into the rear shock. The result is one of the best handling, adventure bikes on the market, all backed by typical Yamaha-reliability. Take this agile machine on short trips or long, paved twisties or dirt roads, and know that this may be as close to the "perfect" adventure bike as we have seen in a while. With an attractive entry price, and corresponding rental rate, we expect the number of Ténéré 700's in our fleet operations to grow steadily and remain a factor for a long time. 

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Seat Height:
34.4 in / 874mm
Curb Weight:
452 lb / 205kg
Fuel Capacity:
4.2 gal
Displacement:
689 cc