Mini Hill Ridge View
Max elevation: 285 ft
Min elevation: 60 ft
Total climbing: 646 ft
Description
The Mini Hill Ridge View Route is approximately 18 miles long, all on paved surfaces – roads and the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT). The rides begins and ends at the Dungeness Audubon Center in Railroad Bridge Park, at the end of W. Hendrickson Rd. in Sequim.
This can be an active area with cyclists, walkers, dogs, birders, and all sorts of visitors on any day. Many times, though, you’ll have it to yourself. It’s just the luck of the draw. Due to this activity, preferred parking (if you drive in), is either in the bus lot on the west side of the road just before entering the park, or in the lot on the east side of the road just at the entrance. The park is open dawn to dusk. The Olympic Discovery Trail passes through the park over Railroad Bridge.
This moderately hilly route is ideal for a brief challenge when you’re pressed for time. We follow the ODT out of the park west to Heath Rd. Turn north on Heath Rd. and continue on to the intersection with Old Olympic Highway. This road can be busy, so carefully make the turn west on to it after traffic has cleared.
At the intersection with Cays Rd., stop until traffic allows you to continue straight on to Macleay Rd. Traffic thins out and you can enjoy the mountain views to the south. If you’re a Beatles fan, intersecting street names on Wheeler Rd. include Strawberry Field (not forever, though) and Penny Lane.
Turn west at the intersection with Woodcock Rd., then north at Ridge View Dr. The roller coaster hills here are a delight. This neighborhood is home to many deer; keep an eye out for them all the way to Hogback Rd.
As Hogback Rd. meets Cays Rd., you’ll take a brief jog south, only to turn easterly on to Lamar Rd. Prepare for a short steep uphill to Lotzgesell Rd. where you’ll once again turn east until you reach Clark Rd. Turning north on Clark Rd., you see ahead of you a big white barn belonging to the Clark family, who were among the early pioneers on the Dungeness Plain.
Cross Anderson Rd. and continue on Clark Rd. until it ends at Marine Dr. Weather permitting, you’ll see beautiful views of Dungeness Bay, the Spit, and the Lighthouse.
Marine Drive curves south. At the intersection with Twin View Dr., turn east. Twin View Dr. will intersect with W. Anderson where you take a left turn toward the Dungeness River Bridge. The road becomes Sequim-Dungeness Way which you will follow south to Jamestown Rd. Turn east on Jamestown Rd.
This beautiful stretch follows the shoreline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is a lot to see here, but who could resist a stop at the Little Library?
Turn south on Serpentine Ave., taking it to Woodcock Rd. At the intersection with Sequim-Dungeness Way, turn south. This is a very busy intersection – use caution when turning.
At Evans Rd., turn west and follow it as it turns into 5th Ave. You’ll pass Evergreen Farm, where floats for the Irrigation Festival are constructed. May 2018 marks the 123rd annual fest. Continue until you reach the intersection with W. Hendrickson Rd. where you will turn west to rejoin the Olympic Discovery Trail as it carries you back to your starting point at Railroad Bridge.
