Sullivan Lake Loop

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Ione / Metaline / Metaline Falls / Sullivan Lake, WA

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Pend Oreille County, WA

Epic Backcountry Rides...and some easier and fun ones!

50 km

596 m

The Sullivan Lake loop is with out a doubt the most classic northeast Pend Oreille County road loop. This loop offers not only great riding diversity but spectacular view intermixed with a deep history of hydroelectric power in one of the state's least explored mountainous regions!

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# Route Vitals
* Discipline: **Road**
* Terrain: **Paved**
* Best Time To Ride: **Spring To Fall**
* Difficulty - Effort:  **▢**
* Difficulty - Technical:  **▢**
* Climbs:  **1 x [Category 4](http://ridewithgps.com/segments/Metaline-Falls-Highway-31-Hill-Climb)**
* Extraordinary Risks: **None**
* Permits / Passes Required:  **None**
* Parking:
     * Northeast corner of the intersection of SR31 and Sullivan Lake Road
     * Numerous appropriate spots in Ione, Metaline and Metaline Falls
     
# Route Summary
This is the 2nd longest all Road loops in POC and the locals' favorite!

Starting in Ione, you will ride north on @slice[SR31](d,0,19941.69) through Metaline and then Metaline Falls.  Just outside Metaline Falls, you will ascent a lovely @slice[snake-like hill](d,17232.59,19760.5) to the intersection of SR31 and Sullivan Lake Road.  For those competitive riders, we have taken the liberty of creating a [segment](http://ridewithgps.com/segments/Metaline-Falls-Highway-31-Hill-Climb) for this section!

After turning Right onto Sullivan Lake Road you will be in for a thrill!  After a bit more working, you will encounter some spectacular scenery...with little to no vehicle traffic.  After cruising along Sullivan Lake, you will the climb out of this basin and @slice[descent](d,40574.75,47653.44) Sullivan Lake Road back into the Pend Oreille River Valley.

For the grand finale, you will have the unusual pleasure of crossing the @poi[Ione Bridge](1495668).  Although it can look intimidating for those inexperienced in riding on steel grating, riding it on a **Road** / **GG** bike is easy but riding it on a **MTB** bike can feel dodgy, especially when it is raining!  After crossing this landmark, you will hit @slice[SR31](d,48369.54,49839.74) again for 1mi and back in Ione you will be.

This ride covers part of [The International Selkirk Loop - North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway](http://www.selkirkloop.org/index.php/places/scenic-byways/north-pend-oreille-scenic-byway).

## Safety Issues
This Route contains roughly 12.5mi of SR31 riding, which can have some light traffic, which typically reduces heading north.  Shoulders on this Route are variable in quality and should not be counted to be present, clean and safe.  Drivers in the area are courteous but as always, don't rely on someone else to be responsible for your safety.

If you choose to descent the @slice[hill](d,17287.56,19760.5) on SR31 just north of Metaline Falls, beware of road conditions in the turns as there has been small rocks and dust observed to accumulate.

## Aspects That Make This Route Great!
1. Sullivan Lake Road scenery and no traffic with awesome views!
2. 11+mi of Pend Oreille River views
3. 6 bridges (including one with wood surfacing!)
4. 3 dams all visible from the road
5. 2 large water bodies, all visible from the road
6. 1 waterfall accessible from the road
7. Great variety of terrain including:
	* 1 x [Category 4 Climb](http://ridewithgps.com/segments/Metaline-Falls-Highway-31-Hill-Climb)
    * 40mph+ downhills (for those with the right gearing, power and cadence!)
    * Low to moderate grade rollers

## How Best To Ride This Route
For those that ride the Northern POC roads often, this route is usually ridden more as an [Individual Time Trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_time_trial).

To get the most out of the descents, this Route is best ridden as it has been laid out.  The added benefit (for those that like hills anyway!) for doing the Route as designed is the lovely snake-like climb on SR31 heading north away from Metaline Falls.  Oh what a lovely little [climb](http://ridewithgps.com/segments/Metaline-Falls-Highway-31-Hill-Climb)!

If you are comfortable with night riding, the section along Sullivan Lake is awesome at sunset, usually without any cars!  It is just you, Mother Nature and her Beasts!

## Notable Route Features
The points of interest here are ordered in how you would encounter them riding this Route.
## Box Canyon Dam
3.5mi North of Ione, you will find one of Washington's oldest hydroelectric dams, @poi[Box Canyon Dam](1495665).  Tours of this facility are available year round with details and more information located on the [Public Utility District's website](http://popud.org/projects/box-canyon-hydro).

## Sweet Creek Falls
The only significant natural waterfall in POC, @poi[Sweet Creek Falls](1495663) is visible via a short detour from this Route about 2.0mi south of Metaline.  The turnoff is well signed and definitely worth stopping at!  Additional information can be found on the [Washington Trails Association website](http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sweet-creek-falls-interpretive-trail).

## Metaline Falls Bridge
10mi into this Route, you will encounter the majestic [Metaline Falls Bridge](http://bridgehunter.com/wa/pend-oreille/3749A0000000/).  It is a 1950s Warren Deck Truss bridge with an art decoish poured concrete guardrails.  From @poi[this bridge](1495667), you will get the best view of the lower Pend Oreille River and the now under water @poi[Metaline Falls](d12ebef76c65777ef00c0000).

## Sullivan Creek Project
Inland Portland Cement Company commenced construction of the Sullivan Creek Project in 1909 for the purpose of providing power to the town of Metaline Falls.  On this Route, you can see the following landmarks from hydro scheme, with more information on the facility being available on the [Public Utility District's website](http://popud.org/projects/sullinca-creek-project).
* @poi[Powerhouse](1495660)
     * Visible off the East side of SR31
* @poi[Mill Pond](1496731)
* @poi[Mill Pond Dam](1495662)
     * Requires slight departure from this route to experience it
     * Take [Trail #550](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/colville/recarea/?recid=67942) to get there
     * Built in 1921 as part of the hydro power scheme for Metaline Falls.  Decommissioned in the 1956 after the wood flume collapsed; Box Canyon Dam was commissioned the same year.
* Wooden Flume & Flume Tender’s House
     * Requires slight departure from this route to experience it
     * Take [Trail #520](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/colville/recarea/?recid=67938) to get there
* @poi[Sullivan Lake Dam](1495666)
* @poi[Sullivan Lake](1496730)

Please note that the @poi[Mill Pond Dam](1495662) is in the process of being [removed](http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/colville/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fsbdev3_035273).

## Ione Bridge
Built in 1932 for $75K, this 830ft long cantilever deck truss bridge is unmistakable in presence and experience (after you ride over it)!  For more information, check-out the [Historic Bridges website](http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=washington/ionebridge/).

## Off The Beaten Path
* @poi[Hall Mountain](1496733) Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Viewing (Winter Only)
     * If you happen to be in the area during the winter, you might be able to view the Alberta (18 in 1972 from Waterton National Park) and Montana (4 in 1982 from Sun River) transplanted Bighorn Sheep herd on Hall Mountain, which were fed at a station near @poi[Noisy Creek](1496782) until [January 2003](http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/nov1802a/).  Forestry Service feedings were halted to help protect the herd from Cougar attacks.
     * More information can be found in the [Records of Wild Sheep Translocations - United States and Canada](http://www.wafwa.org/Documents%20and%20Settings/37/Site%20Documents/Working%20Groups/Wild%20Sheep/Publications/Records%20of%20Wild%20Sheep%20Translocations%20-%20United%20States%20and%20Canada,%201922-Present-Reduced.pdf)
* @poi[Metaline Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant](1495661)
    * More information can be found [here](https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/wqreports/public/WQPERMITS.document_pkg.download_document?p_document_id=12665)

## Other
* @poi[Sullivan Lake Ranger Station Visitor's Center](1495664)
     * [Contact details and hours](http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/colville/about-forest/districts)
     
# More Resources
* Road conditions and closures can be found on the [Washington State Department of Transportation website](http://www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/Eastern.aspx)
* Colville National Forest related alerts / closures can be found [here](http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices)
* [North Pend Oreille Heritage](http://content.statelib.wa.gov/cdm/landingpage/collection/pendoreille)

# Important Reminders
When riding on Sullivan Lake Road, you may not see a car for an hour or more. For most of Sullivan Lake Road, there is no mobile phone service. Ione has poor quality service but it does exist. Mobile phone service is the best in Metaline and Metaline Falls (strong LTE service with some carriers).

# Photograph Credits
All photos were taken the afternoon / evening of 2015-09-22 by [Polka Dot Brother #1](http://ridewithgps.com/users/387656).

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Sullivan Lake Loop

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