Friday in the Dirt (Cheney Trailhead to Amber Lake -Columbia Plateau Trail)

Details
PLEASE READ RIDE DESCRIPTION AND ALL ROUTE DETAILS
· Welcome to the Friday in the Dirt. With to the recent rain and snow in the area, we are going to do this ride again due to this tail’s excellent drainage. This will help prevent trail damage on other wet and muddy trails. Because of this tail’s mostly mild off-road features, this is a great early season ride to get the feel of the dirt under your wheels. This ride is a No-Drop ride and will be totally on the dirt.
.Friday in the Dirt is not an extreme mountain bike ride, but it will require a mountain bike or a gravel bike with larger tires. The ride leader will be riding a mountain bike. This is not a ride for beginning riders. Participants should have at least intermediate offroad cycling skills and be able to maintain a steady pace (7 to 10 MPH) for a distance of 20 + miles (Slower pacing on hills is expected). Please wear cycling related clothing. E-Bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes are all welcome, but they need to be capable of handling tougher offroad conditions.
· Helmets are required on all SBC rides.
Name of Ride: Cheney Trailhead to Amber Lake
Details
Meet: Cheney Trailhead of the Columbia Plateau. South of Cheney just off Cheney/Spangle Road. (Discovery Pass is required for Parking at the Trailhead)
Date and time: March 20, 2026. Start time 10:00
Terrain: This is mostly a gravel ride with some larger rocks and loose surface, especially in the section closer to Amber Lake. Approximately 300 feet of Climbing.
Distance: 22 to 24 miles depending on where we turn around (100 % unpaved)
Duration: 3 hours
Pace: 7- 10 MPH
Description: This is offroad out and back trail ride. It does not require significant offroad skills, but there is about 1 mile of larger rock and loose gravel surface that will require skills more related to an intermediate mountain bike ride. (The gravel trail surface is more difficult than paved roads and it will fatigue you more and faster than you might experience on the pavement). It starts at the Cheney Trailhead and proceeds up the Columbia Plateau Trail through the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge to Amber Lake. This is a beautiful trail converted from an old railroad route. 11 miles until you reach Amber Lake. The gravel is relatively easy for approximately the first 3 miles and then becomes more challenging, especially as you near Amber Lake. You will not be able to ride this ride on a standard road bike. Gravel bikes or mountain bikes with tires that perform well offroad are best. A 40 mm wide tire (or bigger) is best. You will need to be comfortable with riding some distance in dirt/gravel with medium offroad riding skills (the bike tends to float a bit in the gravel and there is a short section of deeper gravel near Amber Lake).
Re-group: This is a non-drop ride. Short re-groups as necessary (i.e., viewing scenery/ wildlife) with a longer stop at Amber Lake.
Maps/GPS information: Cheney Trailhead to Amber Lake · Ride with GPS

—Bring water (consider two bottles) and snacks
—Dress appropriately for the weather
—Eat and Socialize at the Mason Jar in Cheney after the ride - if you want.
Weather policy: Extreme temps, rain/hail/extreme wind, harmful smoke levels may cancel ride.
Ride Host: Bob Buck 775 737-3176