ROOTS: Backcountry Trails - Part 1 ft. Bead Lake
Founded in 1989 as the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is rooted in the backcountry trails of Washington State.
Join us as we travel around the state, and pay homage to our origins, helping continue to provide access to these beloved trails through our partnerships with the USDA Forest Service, and other land managers and partner organizations.
Bead Lake, Colville National Forest, Newport-Sullivan Lake District
Our backcountry crew, along with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance East Chapter worked on Bead Lake Trail, brushing out the entirety of the 6.75 mile corridor, clearing drains, and providing tread work on a recently rerouted section of the trail above the new boat launch trailer parking lot.
If you ever find yourself in NE Washington passing through Newport itching for a scenic ride or hike along a lake shore, Bead Lake offers some beautiful views that may just make you fall in love with the surrounding area.
Located within the Selkirk International Loop, Bead Lake is a 10 mile drive from the heart of Newport, which takes you crossing the Pend Oreille River into Idaho before turning right on to Le Clerc road and traveling a few miles before right onto Bead Lake Rd for an additional 6 miles.
The trailhead to trail #127 Bead Lake Trail is about a half mile up Bead Lake Ridge Road, and offers ample parking for day and overnight use.
From the trailhead, one can choose their adventure for the day. Some locals like to continue up Bead Lake Ridge Rd on their mountain bikes, providing panoramic views as you cross over Bead Ridge Peak, choosing to descend from the northern trailhead to ride along Lodge Creek, before joining the shoreline to continue back to the southern trailhead.
Others may choose to ride it in a clockwise fashion, or an out and back from Trailhead to Trailhead, testing their grit against the Lodge Creek Switchbacks.
Or, you can just do an out and back to Lodge Creek, saving the switchbacks for another day, which provides a mostly mellow, but sometimes challenging ridge along the shores of Bead Lake.
However you choose to ride or hike your way, make sure to take a lunch, and spend some time in the serenity of the outdoors, or if you’re in the packing mood, several dispersed campsites line the lake with ample space to pitch a tent, and have provided fire-rings for safe lakeshore campfires.
So if you ever find yourself in this corner of the state, itching for an adventure, take a moment to check out Bead Lake.
If you would like to get involved in helping our backcountry efforts in NE Washington, please reach out to Michael McLane , and keep an eye out on our calendar for future educational work parties and weekend events such as Kettle Fest and Larch Fest.
