After 39 years, Mt Rainier National Park shuts out iconic RAMROD bike event

Map of the 2023 RAMROD route, from the Redmond Cycling Club.

It's one of the most difficult and beautiful one-day bike rides you'll find anywhere on earth, and hundreds of people have been taking on the challenge every summer (except 2020) since 1984. The Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day (RAMROD") is 150 miles long and includes 10,000 feet of climbing, but that grueling physical feat takes place on roads both within and outside the bounds of Mount Rainier National Park.

But the event's 40th anniversary is in peril after the National Park Service denied access to roads within the southern part of the park, effectively cancelling the 2024 ride. Organizers at the Redmond Cycling Club said that the NPS decided RAMROD was no longer a necessary and appropriate use." The Club says they have attempted to collaboratively understand the underlying issue and address concerns," but have so far been unsuccessful.

The route begins and ends in Enumclaw, and roads remain open to traffic during the ride. As a road cycling event, RAMROD does not use off-road trails, where cycling is typically banned within the park. Specifically, the NPS has rejected access to the beautiful and remote Paradise and Stevens Canyon Roads, and the ride can't feasibly exist without them. I have reached out to Mount Rainier National Park to ask why they denied access and will update when I hear back.

The club is not giving up, though. They have started an effort to engage Washington State's elected federal officials in hopes that they can help bring NPS to the table to find a solution that allows the event to continue. The club is asking people to contact Senator Patty Murray, Representative Kim Schrier and Mount Rainier National Park to voice support for the ride and encourage a solution that keeps the iconic tradition going. They are also keeping the leadership team active for the possibility that the Park reverses their decision and enough time remains to allow us and cyclists to prepare properly," according to their website. The latest they could start registrations with enough time to properly organize the summertime event is April, the club said. Action will need to come fast to save the 2024 event.

More details from Redmond Cycling Club:

On the eve of what would have marked RAMROD's 40th anniversary and the anticipated lottery opening, it is with profound sadness, that we share the news of RAMROD's unexpected discontinuation in 2024.

Despite our anticipation for RAMROD 2024 and a return to our traditional route within Mount Rainier National Park, we received notice that our event is no longer deemed necessary and appropriate use.' Access to the southern roads within the Park is denied despite our attempts to collaboratively understand the underlying issue and address concerns.

RAMROD has always been more than just a cycling event: it's a wonderful fusion of non-commercialism, an event by cyclists for cyclists, and a pure celebration of the human spirit in the breathtaking beauty of Mount Rainier. Across four decades, we've adjusted the ride and its route to honor reasonable requests from the Park and to increase safety for all involved. With the permanent loss of access to Paradise and Stevens Canyon roads, which are the heart of the RAMROD experience in Mount Rainier National Park, we can no longer offer the world-class experience that has earned RAMROD its reputation in US cycling and drawn thousands to celebrate triumphs and create enduring memories.

We want you to know, that the Redmond Bicycle Club Board is not resigned to this decision. We've hired a public affairs specialist and initiated conversations with Rep. Kim Schrier's office while reaching out to US Senator Patty Murray. The Board is committed to exhausting every avenue to keep RAMROD alive.

Your support is crucial in the fight to restore RAMROD. Please reach out to Rep. Schrier and Senator Murray's offices, expressing your desire to see RAMROD continue. We'll also be engaging with the media and other bicycle organizations. An announcement on our progress is scheduled for March 15th, 2024.

Thank you for being a part of our RAMROD community and for your patience with this process. We're cyclists, and by our nature, we're also optimists when tackling tough climbs or this challenge. We remain committed to expanding the positive impact that cycling can bring to individuals and our communities.

Joe Matthews
President, Redmond Cycling Club

Additional Information

To contact US Senator Patty Murray's office, use this Write to Patty form.

To contact US Rep. Kim Schrier's office, use this Email Me form.

To share feedback with Mount Rainier National Park, visit their contact page

Visit our updated faq for additional information information.