Objective: 

Ascend Berry Rd. along Sandwich Creek, then cross over to the South Fork Skookum Creek drainage and descend to Vanes Lake Rd > Skookum Meadows Rd. > Conklin Meadows Rd. 

18.98 miles/1450 ft elevation gain.

I attempted this route on April 11th, but was turned around by 1.5 to 2 ft of snow. I was able to complete the route today, and was pretty happy about it. This is a good ride...... great workout for climbing, great route, great views/surroundings.

Here's a topo of most of the route. Conklin Meadows Rd. is not on the map.

Berry Rd. is a climb that will get your heart pumping. That starts off this route, after a warm up on the road to get here. It starts to level off for awhile at a spot I call "The Gap":

South side of The Gap

North side of The Gap

Road through The Gap

Typical road on Berry Rd, as you enter the forest and follow Sandwich Creek.

I was very happy to get to this fork. Last time, this is where I turned around due to deep snow. This road climbs a bit more and then traverses from Sandwich Creek drainage over to South Fork Skookum Creek drainage, and the route's descent. So, finding and taking this road is crucial.

Starts climbing at the fork


Climbing and traversing lead to a great view of the valley, Pend Oreille River, 49 Degrees North. I took a break here, held a crucial safety meeting, and took some photos. I had cell service here, so I edited and posted a photo of my view on Facebook. I was sitting down on the edge of the road, by some small bushes. A few minutes later, I notice 4 ticks crawling on my legs.

49 Degrees North on far right, upper corner. Valley 1200 vertical feet below.

Looking at where I live, next to the river, in the center of the photo.

Here's the typical road at this section;

I started descending a bit towards South Fork Skookum Creek. I stopped to take some photos on the way down........

This section of the blog is sponsored by "ASS SAVERS"!

The road was right beside South Fork Skookum Creek for a couple sections, and I went through a north facing canyon section where the air was much cooler. 

Looking down at South Fork Skookum Creek

This area had trees with thick moss on them. It looked cool.

Only a couple sections of snow, very rideable, in the north canyon.

Then the road opened up and was sunny. 

I made it!

Something really cool happened as I was pedaling towards home, about 2.5 miles away, on Conklin Meadows Rd. There was a herd of 25-30 elk grazing in the grass. I spooked them on my bike, and they started moving, jumped a fence, crossed the road, and then jumped another fence. I took video of it.....