Rosalia-Thornton-Sunset-Malden Loop

Date: July 19, 2025
Ride Name: Rosalia-Thornton-Sunset-Malden Loop
Start time: Meet by 9:00 AM for 9:15 rollout.
Estimated Duration: 3.5-4 hours
Start Location: Rosalia City Park, about 33 miles from downtown Spokane. Driving South on Hwy 195, take the first exit for Rosalia. Turn left onto Rosalia Rd(AKA "old 195"), which becomes Whitman Ave thru the downtown area. Look for the Park/Pool sign at West 9th Street. Turn right, downhill, gently cross the tracks. Restroom available.
Pace: 12-15 MPH on flat sections, slower on the "Old Thornton Hwy" concrete, and on the hills.
Mileage: 41 miles basic route; post loop option UP to Steptoe monument if interest/weather allows.
Terrain: Rolling with some moderate hills; elevation gain is +1824 ft.
Description: We leave Rosalia, then onto HWY 195 for 1.8 miles, exiting to Horn Rest Area, which is last chance for restroom/water until Malden. We will have the road to ourselves on the quiet/quaint Old Thornton Hwy. Then a couple more miles of single file riding on Hwy 195 before our turn onto "Senator Eugene Prince Rd". We are rewarded with 12 miles of DOWNHILL forthcoming. Left at Sunset Rd., rolling on to Sunset, a dot on the map that many have never heard of. Cottonwood Creek bids farewell as we turn right onto Pine City/Malden Rd, the lowest point on our route. So, with 17 miles to go, we will have some hills to do. Some scars of the 2020 wildfire may start to show as we near Pine City, but a rebirth victory awaits in Malden, the new community center. Bathroom & water should be there. One more hill on the homestretch, but downhill on the other side.
Regroups: Horn Rest Area, Thornton, Sunset. Faster riders can break away after Sunset.
Eat: No lunch stop. Bring snacks and water. Grocery store in Rosalia.
Map:https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51174880
Weather cancellation: Rain, high temps, or poor air quality could cancel. Check Meetup for updates.
*Helmets required on all SBC rides.
Ride leader: Bob Bowley (509)534-5501