U.S. Bicycle Route 20 in Washington

Route character

U.S. Bicycle Route 20 in Washington is a 127.2 km asphalt cycling route with 878 m of elevation gain. That combination tells you the main story before the road even starts: this is not a pure climbing route, but it is long enough, and rolling enough, that poor pacing will show up late.

The route is not a loop, so it should be treated as a point-to-point ride rather than an out-and-back by default. That matters more than it sounds. A route of this length asks for a plan at both ends - transport, timing, and enough margin if conditions or legs are worse than expected. The riding itself is on asphalt, which keeps the focus on endurance, position, and steady power rather than surface management.

Terrain and effort

The listed elevation gain of 878 m across 127.2 km suggests a route where climbing is meaningful but not the only limiter. The key is accumulation. Even if the gradients are not defined here, the total gain is enough to make surges expensive, especially if the ride is approached like a flat endurance day.

Alpowa Summit is the notable climb on the route, so it is the natural pacing anchor. The smartest way to ride this kind of course is to avoid spending too much energy before the main ascent, then keep the effort controlled over the climb rather than chasing every change in pitch. If riding by power, this is where discipline around /glossary/ftp matters. If riding by feel, the test is simpler: keep the effort sustainable enough that the final section of the route still feels like riding, not survival.

Practical notes

Because this is a non-loop route, logistics are part of the ride design. Sort the finish plan before rolling: shuttle, pickup, or onward connection. Do not assume that finishing the distance is the same as being done for the day.

The distance also puts fueling on the critical path. This is long enough that waiting until hunger arrives is already too late. Treat food and fluids as a pacing tool, not an emergency fix.

Best suited for riders who want a substantial asphalt endurance route with enough climbing to require restraint, but not a profile defined solely by vertical gain. The route rewards steady execution more than aggression.