Winthrop to Manson day trip?

[T.Low]

Hey all,

Fiancee's family is renting a house in Manson (west Chelan) for 7 days, Sat. July 12 to Sat. July 19.

The second Saturday, the 19th, we are probably going to join up with the Backroad Driver's Slide Ridge trip.

For the first weekend, however, we are thinking about leaving Bellingham Friday afternoon, driving over the pass toward Winthrop and poaching some camping in one of a few areas we know. Wake up Saturday morning and "backroad" it into Manson.

Looking at The Benchmark Map, and the Thomas Guide, there seems to be a lot of options.

Our rig is an AWD Astro van, that we've modified to bring it up to basic SUV capabilities: 4" lift, 4:10 gears w/ an Eaton posi in rear, 30" Kelly AT's. So far, its a one couple, one rig trip. Looking to get more than groceries, but to stay well away from the Rubicon.

Objective is for good views, fun but forgiving road/off-road conditions, and to get to Manson Saturday, anytime.


1. Any good tips on a complete route, or partial routes? "Can't miss" areas? Routes to definitely avoid given the rig description?


2. Anyone want to join us for the day?


Any suggestions and/or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom


Warning: click on thumbnails before saying yes to anything.

[Jerry]

Here's a route from Winthrop to Manson without ever hitting a highway:

From Winthrop go west on the Patterson Lake Road

Pass the lake and turn south (left) on FR4410

Turn west (right) on the Twisp River Road (paved) for approx 3 mi

Turn south (left) on FR43 and continue past Black Pine Lake for approx 4 mi

Turn west (right) on FR4340 and continue for approx 10 mi+/- to asphalt?

(At this point you will be about 1 mile from Hwy 153)

Immediately after asphalt turn south (right) on FR4330 (S Fk Gold Cr Rd) for approx 6 mi

Turn west (right) on FR600 and continue to intersection on top of Sawtooth Ridge

Turn west (right) on FR8200, dropping to Coyote Ridge and South Nevarre Camp

Continue on FR8200 as it drops in elevation into a mix of forest and shrub-steppe allowing for great views of Lk Chelan

The 8200 passes Antilon Lake, scoots around Wapato Lake and ends up in Manson.

The Benchmark Atlas shows all of the above roads in excellent detail so you shouldn't have any problems. Don't forget to gas up in Winthrop!!!

Hope you guys have fun on your vacation, Tom, and we are looking forward to seeing you on the 19th!
Jerry

[T.Low]

Thanks , Jerry. Thats an enormous help.

We're sitting out on the deck watching the sun set over the Strait of Georgia, Vancouver's Coastal Range and the mountains of Vancouver Island silhouetted by a reddening sky. Eating a late dinner, with laptop and maps, trying to organize for this coming weekend. We've come to the conclusion that we need bigger deck furniture (sometime after bumpers for the van!) On the west side of the pass, we wait all year for this kind of weather.


Thanks again for the route, and we look forward to seeing you guys on the Slide Ridge trip.


Offer is still open if anyone wants to join up.

Cheers

paddlemaster@gmail.com

[T.Low]

Based on your route, Jerry, here's what we came up with.

We're expecting almost 5 hrs to do the drive from Winthrop. May take longer as I might feel the need to take a bike off the rack and ride for an hour or two. Incase we arrive in Winthrop Friday nite after hours, we can still refuel with a credit card even if the Texaco is closed.


Thanks again, Jerry.

T & J

Driving Directions
Link: <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=7287061035313978743,48.4689 92,-120.205786%3B13642531508977643395,48.467044,-120.251511%3B167004156857127869,48.312008,-120.296956%3B16053613920548217922,48.212026,-120.202220%3B10283781637199183555,48.064164,-120.321374%3B14052125324467847738,47.874324,-120.158755%3B7538389680278705127,47.989692,-120.000000&saddr=1101+Toledo+St,+Bellingham,+WA+98 229&daddr=Twin+Lakes+Rd+%4048.468992,+-120.205786+to:Patterson+Lake+Rd+%4048.467044,+-120.251511+to:NF-4300000+%4048.312008,+-120.296956+to:Gold+Creek+Rd%2FNF-4340000+%4048.212026,+-120.202220+to:Grade+Creek+Rd+%4048.064164,+-120.321374+to:Chelan+View+%4047.874324,+-120.158755+to:47.873526,-120.159187&mra=dme&mrcr=4&mrsp=7&sz=12&via=2,6&sll =47.943717,-120.076103&sspn=0.167424,0.299377&ie=UTF8&ll=48.01 9783,-120.164337&spn=0.334355,0.598755&t=p&z=11>

[94xj]

It might be too late, but head up the Balky Hill Rd east of Twisp, up the hill a ways take left into the wildlife area and follow both forks of the road till they dead end. Head back out to Balky Hill Rd and work your way over to the lake on the other side of the canyon you were in (sorry, my maps aren't handy). From there you can take back roads all the way to Lake Perrygin. Do hit the bakery in Twisp.

[T.Low]

Originally Posted by 94xj

It might be too late, but head up the Balky Hill Rd east of Twisp, up the hill a ways take left into the wildlife area and follow both forks of the road till they dead end. Head back out to Balky Hill Rd and work your way over to the lake on the other side of the canyon you were in (sorry, my maps aren't handy). From there you can take back roads all the way to Lake Perrygin. Do hit the bakery in Twisp.

Thanks for the input. We go to Winthrop often,and will try that route sooner rather than later. Thanks.


Thanks again Jerry, we had a terrific time. Spectacular route. Will have to wait for a trip report as Jen is still in Manson for the week, and she has the camera and the log.

The van did well. Even had a few extra curricular hill climbs that I could'nt resist (those rain swills can really sneak up on ya during a hill climb!).

One thing I can tell you is that somewhere around Nelson Butte, I think, there was a descent that was a little steeper than what we'd previously seen. With the rocks and minor washouts on the road, I thought I could go down it twice as fast if I were on my mountain bike. We stopped, I got on the bike and ended up riding the rest of the way, 25 miles or so, to Manson, while Jen drove the van. It was a nice ride. A little warm, and certainly not all down hill, but nice.

Won't be able to post pics until after the Slide Ridge trip.

[Jerry]

I am pretty sure I can picture the spot you are talking about. It's been a long time ago since I drove that route, but I recall a short rough section near the treeline, just before the South Nevarre Campground. When I drove it we started at Manson and I was driving our new-to-us Jeep Grand Cherokee up-hill through the rough part. I would think that section would have been repaired by now. As I recall there was a hill climb to the side of the main road between the big intersection and South Nevarre that had two lines up the hill. I took my wife's pretty little white (with gold trim) GC Limited up the left-hand side because I thought the rocks were smaller than those on the right side!?! I shouldn't mock the GC because it was a great backroads vehicle. I swear it was more at home off pavement than on the freeway.

You rode your bike through the most scenic part of the drive, overlooking Lake Chelan a good deal of the way down the hill. I would like to make that drive again and go the same direction you went. Just for the view.

Sounds like you had fun and I would like to hear more about your trip this Saturday on the Slide Ridge Tour.
Jerry