Concrete Highlands

5 Star Route / Concrete, Washington / Published July 2023 / Version 1.0 / Directions

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The start at Silo Park in Concrete / May & July 2023

Cyclist riding on paved road in Concrete Washington

Heading out on Concrete Sauk Valley Road

Cyclist approaching Concrete Sauk Valley Bridge in Concrete Washington

The Concrete Sauk Valley Bridge / ~ Mile 1.5

Cyclist with Mt Baker in background in Concrete Washington

Mt Baker from the farmlands in the valley.

The Larsen Log / ~ Mile 6.0

Cyclist on Finney Creek Road in Concrete Washington

Starting the climb up Finney Creek Road / ~ Mile 10.5

Cyclist passing waterfall on Finney Road in Concrete Washington

One of the many waterfalls along the route.

View of Mt Baker with Skagit River in foreground

Mt Baker and the Skagit River

Cyclist pedaling beside flowers on Finney Creek Road

Continuing on the first climb.

Cascade mountains with Skagit River in foreground

Cyclist climbing over downed trees on Finney Creek Road

Downed trees in an early-season ride. Report this to us!

Cyclist passing waterfall on Finney Creek Road

Approaching a tall waterfall / ~Mile 20.5

Gravel cyclist with views of Cascade Mountains

After miles of climbing through the trees, the views open up.

A rewarding view of the Skagit River Valley / ~ Mile 37.5

Gravel cyclist descending NF-17 towards Concrete Washington

Descending towards Concrete.

Gravel cyclist looking down on Skagit River from NF-17 near Concrete Washington

Stopping to admire the bird's-eye views.

Cyclist looking at Skagit River near Concrete Washington

Looking out over the Skagit River.

Silo Park Spray Park in Concrete Washington

Returning to Silo Park.

Wahoo stats from gravel cycling ride near Concrete Washington

Riding metrics.

Route:

Lollipop | 54 mi

Gain:

4,500 ft

Surface:

~ 45% gravel, 55% paved

Technical Difficulty:

Moderate

Navigation:

Straightforward

Locale:

Remote

Tire Suggestion:

40 mm+

Options:

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Concrete — while it ain’t gold, it brought prosperity to the community which considers itself to be the “Center of the Known Universe.” In the 1870s, Amas “Peg Leg” Everett discovered that the area held high-quality deposits of clay and limestone, the perfect raw materials for what is now the most commonly used building material in the world. Everett’s discovery led to the creation of the Washington Portland Cement Company in 1905 in what was then called “Cement City” on the east side of Baker River. Three years later, Superior Portland Cement Company built a plant across the river in the town of Baker. Shortly thereafter, the two towns merged and renamed themselves “Concrete.”

These factories produced some of the best concrete in the world. Concrete from its namesake town went into building all sorts of massive structures. On the east side of Concrete stands the Henry Thompson Bridge, which, when it was built in the mid-1910s, was the longest single-span cement bridge in the world. The lower Baker River Dam, built in the 1920s, was, at the time of construction, the tallest dam in the world. Concrete was also used to build the Grand Coulee Dam in eastern Washington, the Ballard Locks in Seattle, and World War II airstrips through the Pacific. In its heyday, the town of Concrete swelled to a population of 1,700 residents, and all was peachy.

Alas, in the late 60s, environmental regulations and aging equipment brought operations to a halt. A few things beacons of light have kept Concrete front withering into a ghost town — a well-known bakery (visiting 5b’s Bakery is a must!) and an annual Bald Eagle Festival, to name a few. The town’s biggest claim to fame is that Tobias Wolff, writer and teacher of creative writing, once lived in Concrete. His memoir, called “This Boy’s Life,” describes his life in the town in the 1950s. The book was adapted into a movie by the same name. For us gravel cyclists, an even bigger claim to fame is that Concrete is the start of this here, the Concrete Highlands ride.

This route takes cyclists on a lollipop-ride through the Pacific Northwest’s Baker River Basin. Nestled in the glacier-formed valley adjacent to the North Cascades National Park, the river basin’s scenic forests and mountain landscapes are less busy than other recreational areas in the state, making for a lovely, remote ride. Along the route, pedal alongside bubbling creeks, refreshing waterfalls, and tall trees as you make a gradual yet steady ascent. Then, as you descend back to the valley, enjoy a wide-open, bird’s-eye view of the Skagit River down below and the Cascade Mountains in the distance, including gorgeous Mt Baker and Sauk Mountain.

Map

Brown = gravel / dirt road

Blue = single track

Red = paved road

Purple = paved bike path

GPX Download

Highlights & Remarkable Spots

Concrete / Beginning & End of Ride

The town of Concrete has a rich history. The first settlement, known as “Minnehaha,” was created at the junction of the Baker and Skagit Rivers. In 1890, Magnus Miller laid out an official townsite, which led to the establishment of a post office and a name change to “Baker.” In 1905, a community sprung up around the Washington Portland Cement Company across the Baker River, giving rise to a new settlement called “Cement City.” When the Superior Portland Cement Company plant was constructed three years later in Baker, the towns merged, and the residents agreed on the name “Concrete.” [Concrete Chamber of Commerce]

Concrete Silo / Beginning & End of Ride

In the heydey of Concrete, the silos that tower above the town were a symbol of the area’s industry. Today the silos are a tomb of a bygone era. The town’s more recent claim to fame is that that a well-known writer, Tobias Wolff, once lived in Concrete. The words “Welcome to Concrete” were painted on the silos for the 1993 movie called “This Boy’s Life,” which is a movie based on Wolff’s memoir about living in the town in the 1950s. The movie stars Robert DeNiro, Ellen Barken, and the not-yet-famous Leonardo DiCaprio. [The Seattle Times]

Skagit River / ~ Miles 1-10 and 41-53

The Skagit River, designated by the US Congress in 1978 as a Wild and Scenic River, stretches 150 miles through British Columbia and Washington before it empties into the Puget Sound. With a watershed that covers 1.7 million acres in the Cascade Range, the Skagit River is the only large river system in the state that contains healthy populations of all five native salmon species – chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye – and two species of trout: steelhead and coastal cutthroat. The Skagit River hosts one of the largest wintering bald eagle populations in the contiguous United States, attracting up to 800 eagles from inland Canada, Alaska, and Montana during abundant salmon runs. [Wikipedia]

Larsen Log / ~ Mile 6.0

“This twelve foot diameter Douglas Fir is 1,303 years old. It was felled in 1972 and dedicated in their memory. The Larsens immigrated from Denmark and homesteaded below Sauk Mountain in 1887.” [Plaque on Larsen Log]

Cumberland Creek Conservation Area / ~ Mile 41.5

The interpretative trails of the Cumberland Creek Conversation Area showcase the diverse deciduous forests of the Skagit River floodplain, with cottonwoods, alders, and big-leaf maples providing homes for birds and amphibians. In an effort to restore over 4,000 feet of salmon habitat, in 2014 the creek was diverted back into its historic channel, which had been altered nearly 80 years prior when the South Skagit Highway was constructed. [Skagit Land Trust]

Ride Details

When We Like to Ride This

This route is rideable in summer and fall once the snow has melted out at higher elevations. The ride is best kept for a clear day when you will have optimal views of the surrounding mountains and river valley.

Terrain & Riding

THE TERRAIN

The first ten miles of the route traverses through agricultural fields and along the Skagit River.

For the next twenty-two miles, you will gradually climb along forest service roads. You’ll mostly be in the trees, riding alongside creeks and waterfalls, with sections of shade and sunshine.

As you near the summit, the views will open up. A half mile before the summit you will begin to see rocky peaks and logged mountainsides and then — bam — right in front of you will appear magnificent views of the Skagit River Valley, Mt Baker, and Sauk Mountain.

The remaining thirteen miles of the route take you along the Skagit River back to Concrete.

THE RIDING

Miles 0 to 10 are flat and paved. There is no shoulder, but the traffic is minimal.

Miles 10 through 32 climb more than 3,000 feet along narrow forest service roads. The climbing is all at a comfortable grade never exceeding 8%. The first six miles are paved, the next nine miles are intermittent pavement and gravel, and the remainder of the climb is exclusively on gravel. The roads are decent-ish. Since you are climbing, you’ll have plenty of time to weave your way between any rocks or dips that may appear in the road. At Mile 14, there will be a nice clearing for a snack break on the right side of the road. Just before Mile 22, there will be another spot for a snack on the left side of the road just before the bridge over Finney Creek. Early in the season, you may encounter tree debris.

Miles 32 through 41 will descend you back to the river valley. This is a consistently steep descent. Some sections are rough with big rocks and craters that can be difficult to see in the shade. Use caution when descending and be careful not to override your sight line. Beginning at Mile 37.5, you’ll want to stop your bike to take in the views of the valley below and the mountains across the way.

Miles 41 through 54 are similar to the first ten miles of the ride.

The Start

Lat / Long: 48.537788, -121.758759

Silo Park in Concrete. Restrooms. No parking permit or fee required.

Food & Water

None

Notes & Options

Route Notes

The Upper Finney Creek Bridge (~ Mile 14.5) is closed to traffic due to construction for a seismic retrofit. The construction, which was scheduled to be completed 3/1/2023, has been delayed. Check out Skagit County’s Road Closure/Road Hazard Report for updates: https://www.skagitcounty.net/reporting/roadclose/.
Recommend riding the route in the direction as mapped, as this maximizes the views.
The light on the routes can vary from sunny to shady and all hues of filigreed light in-between. Wear bright colors and consider using bike lights. Keep your eyes open for potholes or other obstacles that may be obstructed by the shade.
Black bears reside in the forests along this route. Though the bears tend to be skittish, be bear-wise and consider carrying bear deterrent with you.
There are two campgrounds near Concrete. Howard Miller Steelhead Park, a local favorite, is ~7 miles to the east, and Rasar State Park is ~24 miles to the west.
If you encounter tree fall, please let us know by posting in the comments. From this, we can usually organize a work party and get it cleared.

Comments

Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!

Love Where You Ride! Learn More

In 2022, Puget Baker River Club House Sound Energy (PSE) opened a newly renovated visitors center in Concrete. The “Club House,” as the center is known, are repurposed industrial buildings from one of the town’s old cement factories and includes exhibits addressing the history of both the town as well as PSE. Consider cycling to the Club House, which is less than a mile from where the Concrete Highlands route begins. To reach the Club House, cycle east through downtown Concrete on Main Street and then cross the historical Henry Thompson Bridge over the Baker River.

Videos

Harnessing the Baker River

To keep up with a growing demand for power, Puget Sound Power and Light, a predecessor of today’s Puget Sound Energy, built a hydroelectric dam in the North Cascades. This 8-minute video discusses how the Baker River was harnessed for power and how the town of Concrete created the dam's key [...]

Conserving Cumberland Creek

This 4-minute video highlights the cultural and ecological importance of the Cumberland Creek Conservation Area.

Keep it Local! Learn More

Spend Where You Ride!

In Concrete, all the buzz is about 5b’s Bakery. This family-owned bake shop, which prides itself on making everything in-house from scratch using local ingredients, offers a delicious assortment of baked goods and savory entrees. How fortuitous that 5b’s Bakery is less than 1/2 mile from Silo Park, where the Concrete-Cascade Fondo begins and ends. Stop by to fuel your hive before your ride. Then stop by again after your pedal for more fuel, cuz it’s that sweet.

Ridden and Reviewed by:

SarahB / Team Dirty Freehub (Alum)

Sarah loves riding in the mountains and through the trees. The more Type II fun, the better. (2023 – 2024)