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Bucolic Mosquito Lake Road off Highway 9

October 4th, 2011 |

Skagit and Whatcom counties border Canada to the north, North Cascade Mountains to the east, and Puget Sound with the San Juan Islands— viewable from coastal roads — to the west. This makes the area particularly scenic.

The corners are inviting on Mosquito Lake Road. This corner had a sharp decreasing radius with and "S" hidden behind the trees.

There are several roads that every motorcyclist and sports car driver know about in the region. Some of the roads are nationally renowned. The North Cascades Highway crosses the “American Alps” with fantastic views of peaks and glacial-fed lakes (some natural others created by dams). Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) connects Skagit and Whatcom counties along a very scenic coastal drive that further established the city of Bellingham as a supply point for Canada’s Fraser River Valley. State Highway 9 also passes through both counties and is well known to area motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Highway 9 is great for those seeking an escape along the rural beauty of the area with curves that reach into your soul like a good blues guitar, evoking exhilaration when well-executed and disappointment when perfection is not attained.

There are many other fantastic routes in the Northern Puget Sound region. To find them, you need to talk with locals. As a local, I’ll share one of the many hidden gems.

A simple corner on Mosquito Lake Road

Mosquito Lake Road is a short off-shoot of Washington State Highway 9. Mosquito Lake Road is on the north side of the town of Acme. It connects with Highway 9 on the north side of the bridge that crosses the South Fork of the Nooksack River. This is a popular swimming and fishing area. The crisp water slices a shallow swath making it a refreshing place to take a dip on hot summer days.

Mosquito Lake Road is 15 miles of bliss along the middle fork of the Nooksack River from Acme to Welcome. The Road has numerous technical corners that will send you wide if you’re not careful. It is the technical nature and dips in the pavement along some of these corners that makes the route so enjoyable. At least for motorcyclists who seek opportunities to test their cornering finesse. After caressing the shores of Josephine Lake and Mosquito Lake the road crosses the middle fork of the Nooksack River.

Mosquito Lake Road Nooksack River Bridge

The recently refurbished Nooksack River bridge.

The recently rehabilitated bridge is listed on the National Register of Historical Places as the longest pin-connected highway bridge in the state (according to Jared Paben in the Bellingham Herald’s April 20, 2011 article “Whatcom County receives national award for Mosquito Lake Road bridge project). The bridge was built in 1915 and in 1951 it was disassembled and moved 30 miles to its current location. It is a beautiful bridge expanse that will evoke your inner photographer. A river access point under the bridge provides a good viewing point away from traffic.

Beyond the bridge the corners widen as they meander through the mountain valley. The bucolic views of mountains and small pastures continue six miles until Mosquito Lake Road terminates at the Mt Baker Highway (State Highway 542) at the foot of Sumas Mountain. The road makes a rather abrupt turn as it approaches the railroad tracks near Hwy 542. Don’t let the views pull your attention from the road in this area.

Mosquito Lake Road is a particularly exhilarating stretch a pavement that avoids one of the boring straight stretches of State Highway 9. It is a good alternative to the larger road with less traffic. Since Mosquito Lake Road connects Highway 9 with The Mt Baker Highway (State Highway 542) it is also a fantastic route to such places as Artist Point to enjoy the incredible scenery of Mt Baker and the North Cascades Mountain Range.

Trees line FS38 creating a tunnel. One of the changing environments on the road that causes one to slow down to enjoy the sights.

If you are particularly adventurous, a jaunt down Forest Service Road (FR) 38 will satiate the dirt explorer in you. The forest service road is not marked particularly well from Mosquito Lake Road. It is the road that juts out sharply from the the main road near the gravel pit. FS38 quickly passes the rather unseemly gravel pit and rises up the canyon above the middle fork of the Nooksack River. The road travels approximately 10 miles into the Mt Baker Wilderness.

Trees line the road and sometimes even cover it as if creating a tunnel through the forest. The tall trees don’t allow much plant growth on the forest floor. This provides a fairly deep view into the surrounding woods from the road as you ride. Slowing down may allow you the opportunity to catch a glimpse of wildlife. Slowing will also allow you to catch the wheels devouring pot holes that are found throughout the length of the road. After the tunnel of trees, the road comes to a “Y” intersection. Take the high road to remain on FS38.

At times the road meets with the steep drop offs and the trees fade away to allow decent views of the river valley. To the southwest both the North Twin and South Twin of Sisters Mountain can be seen.

There are many camping spots to be found along FS38. Many are single spots that require a tight turn around down a trail if they’re already occupied. This is a good location for motorcycle camping. Fishing in the numerous creeks and Nooksack River could even provide the evenings meal.

A logging road trail for the FS38 side route. This trail connects with FS38 near the Ridley Creek trailhead. High clearance needed.

The road passes a few trickling falls. Wallace Creek provides a particularly pretty falls under a bridge. There is a good spot to pull over past the bridge. The bridge is on a “S” section of the road. Be ready for 4×4 traffic to buzz by. It is a fairly remote area, but moderately popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

The road comes to a dead end at the Ridley Creek trailhead. For riders on dual sport motorcycles, there is a trail near the deadend that shoots up the hill. The trail winds its way near Marmot Ridge. This trail is plenty wide for small 4×4 with short wheelbases and is perfect for dual sport motorcycles. My V-Strom handles the moderate “whoops” with ease. The heavy bike was a bit of a pig to turn around when I came to a couple camping on a corner of the trail figuring no one else would be able to make it up to this point. The ability of single-track vehicles can sometimes astound Jeepers.

At the bottom of each whoop is evidence of water flow. Be aware that in the spring and early summer there is likely a good amount of mud from the snow melt.

Map of Bucolic Mosquito Lake Road with FS38 dirt option

Click this map to get full route details. This is a rough guide to the route. Please use a legitimate map to reduce your own personal risk.

Posted in North Cascade Connections, Scenic Routes, Washington State |

Tags: Bellingham, best scenic drives, best scenic routes, mosquito lake, mosquito lake motorcycle, Mount Baker, Mt Baker, pnw motorcycle, Puget Sound motorcycle, scenic drives, scenic tours, sedro woolley, Skagit, washington ADV, Washington motorcycle, Whatcom |

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Nearly 40-Percent of Washington State Motorcycle Deaths are Unendorsed Riders

February 14th, 2011 |

Author: Sean McDermott

Are you riding dirty without an endorsement? You’re not alone. BestScenicRoutes.com investigated motorcycle crashes in Washington State to find out how many unendorsed motorcycle riders are being killed in crashes. The facts are astounding.

According to Washington State Patrol records, during the five-year period from 2005 to 2009 (complete 2010 data is not yet available), crashes killed 364 motorcyclists in Washington State. Those records show that during that period, nearly 40 percent (141 riders) did not have a proper motorcycle endorsement. The 141 unendorsed riders may have had a permit, but had never completed a motorcycle skills test to ensure that they had the minimal skills to operate a motorcycle on Washington roads.

A motorcycle permit is rather easy to obtain in Washington. You go to a Department of Licensing office, pay a $5 application fee, pass a basic knowledge test and upon passing the test pay $15 for an instructional permit. The permit is valid for 90 days and can be renewed as many times as you’d like.

Edit: Please note that Washington State law is now revised to limit persons to two 90-day permits, with a third possible only with proof of enrollment in a motorcycle safety course per RCW46.20.510.

Nearly 40-percent of riders killed in crashes only make it this far in the licensing process. They find it more convenient to renew a permit than to finish out the process by passing an approved motorcycle safety course or riding test at a DOL office. Many riders opt out of passing a very basic riding skills test and instead ride on the street unlicensed, sometimes for years. At the same time, these riders are opting themselves into a grave – statistically speaking.

The ability to infinitely renew a temporary motorcycle permit may be changing.

Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-Kitsap County), recently introduced 2011 Senate Bill 5141 limiting the number of times a motorcycle instructional permit can be obtained. The bill limits riders to two permit renewals and a third is possible with proof of enrollment in a motorcycle safety course. The bill passed 44 to 2 in the Senate on February 9, 2011 and was referred to the House Transportation Committee the next day. (Edit: Bill 5141 passed and is now RCW 46.20.510.)

DOL records show that more than 127,000 new motorcyclists received endorsements from 2005 to 2009. Of all newly endorsed riders, 64-percent took a motorcycle safety course. These riders took a single weekend out of their busy schedules to learn motorcycle skills. These skills are very basic, but they are the building blocks to enjoy a lifetime of motorcycling.

Motorcycling can be a high-risk activity. There are many ways to reduce that risk beginning with actually passing a motorcycle riding skills test.

The Washington State Patrol says that riding without a motorcycle learner’s permit or violating the provisions of a permit could result in a $124 ticket.

Don’t get caught riding dirty. It may not be a police officer who catches up to you. Beat the dark being with a sickle to the punch and enroll now in a motorcycle safety rider course at one of the locations listed below.