So yesterday 7/12/23 WEDS I looked at a short blast west of the Chehalis / Centralia area. I got a little lost (where Michigan Hill North bound road intersects Prather road)...so i back track to Lincoln Creek westbound/Manners RD/Independence/Michigan Hill (southbound)/ back to Lincoln Creek and into Centralia to the Nike Clearance store for some shoes. Looks like interesting options in that area...
namely: Brooklyn Rd (man!) to all the way to Raymond, WA...looks really nice. Bunker Creek also looks good as an abbreviated run.
Since I live in Battle Ground, I didn't want to get too tired and I've never ridden out there, but the short loop i rode was fun nonetheless. On staycation now, might try again in a couple days w/ Wade's advice.
the short loop I ran....
Centralia Loop ltd. (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/46.7134835,-122.9817192/46.7352534,-123.2179879/46.8067011,-123.1248996/46.7625993,-123.0981572/@46.759667,-123.1057502,13.21z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu)
So, what do you Recommend Wade?
This is a lot of pressure first thing in the morning, Kevin! My go-to ride home from work is nice: LaBree rd, Rogers, Shorey, right on 603, right on 6, left on S Scheuber, left on Graf, right on Blanchard, left on Cook's Hill, right on Joppish, right on River Heights and left on Galvin takes me home. Galvin road becomes W Reynolds and will take you to a left on N Pearl (507) and a nice ride through Bucoda to Tenino.
Also look up Salzer Valley, Centralia-Alpha road, North fork road, Pleasant Valley road and a nice route home for you might be N. Military, S. Military, Westside highway all the way to Longview.
Bunker Creeek is nice, Brooklyn rd is entertaining (you MUST stop at the Brooklyn Tavern!), but be aware it's not all paved and the log trucks always have the right-of-way.
I got advice from another local (from his friends) on PNWmoto.com that there is 7 miles of gravel between Brooklyn and Garrard Creek Road, but this was in late fall and rain. Deep puddles. <---I'm not sure how OLD this advice is, but has anything changed on Brooklyn RD. If it is deep gravel...fahgettaboutit! but if navigable by sportbike, might try it (read: light gravel).
I haven't been out to Brooklyn in a year, so there's that. I would EXPECT, however, that it's navigable by sport bike right now. Lincoln creek and Garrard creek are both nice roads, too.