Unseasonably warm weather encouraged a discovery ride through the Olympic National Forest and through the trails of Miller Peninsula State Park. I had a large gap on my personal heatmap for the Miller Peninsula and sought to fill it with this ride.

The ride started from Quilcene and heads northwest into the foothills of the Olympic Mountains with a quick ride by of Lord’s Lake. The gravel roads leading to Bear Mountain (near the high point of the ride) are in great shape and were easy riding.

Sunny skies, warm temps, gravel, and mountain views... — Sunny skies, warm temps, gravel, and mountain views…

Descending out of the woods, you’re dropped onto Palo Alto Road, which no matter how many times I ride it never seems disappoint with its views.

An old barn with the Olympic Mountains the background

Olympic Discovery Trail bridge in Sequim Bay State Park

Single-track in Miller Peninsula State Park

I enjoyed seeing some new roads but this wasn’t my favorite ride. I do not enjoy single-track, particularly dark, narrow, swampy, muddy single-track such as I found in Miller Peninsula. There is no road connecting both sides of the peninsula so riding through the park enabled the traverse, a somewhat compelling venture. All said though, I’d far rather ride the forest service roads and don’t see myself redoing this ride as originally completed.