RAMROD cancels 2026 ride

Published 11:00 am Thursday, March 26, 2026

Every July, hundreds of bikers make Enumclaw their staging ground for the annual 150-mile bike ride around the Plateau’s most famous landmark — Mount Rainier.

But there will be no Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day (RAMROD) event this year after the Redmond Cycling Club and Mount Rainier National Park could not come to an agreement on when the ride could be organized, or what route riders can take.

“We are deeply disappointed that a Pacific Northwest tradition, held since the mid-1980s, can no longer continue.

We remain committed to working with Mount Rainier National Park to find a reasonable path forward—one that preserves the spirit of RAMROD while maintaining the highest standards of safety. We believe there is a viable compromise that can allow this tradition to continue,” said Redmond Cycling Club (RCC) President Rick Duong in an email interview. “Our goal is not only to maintain access for cyclists, but also to support fair and responsible access for all communities who value the Park and visit Mount Rainier.”

This is only the latest in a series of setbacks the club has had in organizing the event.

According to the Redmond Cycling Club (RCC) President Rick Duong, Mount Rainier presented two options for this year’s event that either would have disrupted the event’s experience or puts riders at risk.

First, Mount Rainier would have allowed the event to proceed in July, but would not allow riders onto Steven Canyon Road.

Stevens Canyon Road has been a sticking point between park administration and the biking club for years; RAMROD’s traditional route used the corridor until 2022 and 2023, when construction in the area forced the event to go around the national park, rather than through the iconic Paradise area.

When construction ended, RCC was excited to get back onto its usual route — but Mount Rainier denied the club the permits it needed to do so.

It was only through months of negotiations that RAMROD happened that year, and it only occurred when both parties agreed to reverse the route and change the event date; the ride usually went counterclockwise around the mountain, but began going clockwise in 2024.

Additionally, the 2024 ride was scheduled in September, which provided some problems for riders, as the weather is cooler and there was less sunlight, which presented a safety risk to riders.

The ride continued its reversed route in 2025, but it was held in July.

Mount Rainier did not permit the event for a July ride this year, but would permit one for after Labor Day.

Duong said RCC also inquired about a June or August date, but MRNP declined issue permits for those months as well.

The Courier-Herald has reached out to Mount Rainier National Park for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.

In the past, MRNP has argued that increased park visits necessitated changes to RAMROD; the park had more than 975,000 visitors in 2024, and another 941,000 visitors in 2025, a 36% increase from 2015.

However, park visits have waned these past two years from a high of 1 million 2023.

The park had recently implemented a timed reservation program in 2024 and 2025, which further complicated the ride, but will not require reservations this year.

“RAMROD holds a special meaning for those who have taken part, and many can share stories of challenge, achievement, and inspiration. Over the years, cyclists ranging from their teens to riders in their 80s have completed the ride, including former Tour de France winner Greg LeMond,” Duong said. “We hope to continue creating those experiences and to pass them on to future riders, in a place as unique and inspiring as Mount Rainier.”