Trip Report
Bikepack - Haney Meadow
A scenic one-night bikepacking trip in the beautiful Haney Meadows/Tronsen Ridge area. Chilly but mostly sunny and dry escape to the Eastside.
Emma Agosta
- Sat, Jun 17, 2023 — Sun, Jun 18, 2023
- Bikepack - Haney Meadow
- Haney Meadow
- Bikepacking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The route followed the High Route of the Cross-Washington Mountain Bike Route from Hwy97 to the Ken Wilcox Horse Camp at Haney Meadows on FR 9705 and 9712 and looped back on FR 9711. All clear of snow and in great shape. Water was available on several running streams on the ascent and at the creek in the Meadow by the campground.
This was not an easy trip despite the relatively low mileage. We totaled 35.5 miles and 4538 ft of gain over the two days but is was a great early summer trip with a great crew of strong ladies and one lone but strong dude. 9712 was busy with ATVs on Saturday which was a bit annoying although they were all curteous and safe around bikes.
The weather forecast called for cold (freezing temps) and strong winds (up tp 30 mph) and the following morning was supposed to bring snow showers. None of this happened and we had mostly sunny skies both days. Temperatures at night were indeed on the chilly side for mid-June but we enjoyed the cooler conditions on the long climb (17 miles and 3700 feet of gain on Saturday.
The campground was mostly empty and we stayed at the nicest spot (first to the right) with meadow view and the great firepit and 4 big benches. We even found an abandones stack of wood and made a small fire.
On Sunday morning before descending back to the cars, we did a little fantastic detour to the the upper trailhead of Tronsen Ridge and returned via a 4WD road that run the spine of the ridge. We pushed bikes up a rocky point which had incredible views into the Enchantements, Mission Gulch and all the way west. Wildflowers were in full bloom and rocky sandstone formations made this a very worthwhile 3.5 miles morning excursion.
Back at camp, we packed up and quickly descended 11 miles back via Hurley Creek Road (9711).