Overall Route Rating
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3.75 out of 5 Rider Rating 3.75
9 Reviews

Carbon River - Hwy 165

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Aug 31, 2008

Rider Reviews

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darksideducati
2 McR Points
February 21, 2012
I ride this route regularly I live close by great…
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Guest
July 15, 2010
We love to take a ride up to the Carbon River…
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Written Directions

The route starts in Sumner, Pierce County. Take Hwy 410 east. Take a right on to South Prairie Road and head southeast. In South Prairie, hang a left on to Hwy 162 (head east) and shortly after that you will come up to Hwy 165 where you want to take a right (head south). Take this past Carbonado, take the left fork (staying on hwy 165) to Carbon River Ranger Station.

Scenery

This route starts in Sumner and follows Hwy 410 on to Hwy 165. The route is very scenic through the Orting valley, running beside and crisscrossing the Carbon river and ending at the Ranger Station. It passes through small logging towns of Wilkeson, and Carbonado. Hwy 165 forks past the town of Carbonado and goes into the Mt. Rainier National Park ending at Mowich Lake but this road is pretty steep and unpaved, gravelly and very dusty. The left fork runs beside Carbon river and in the spring the river can be running full from the melting snow. There is a beautiful bridge that crosses a deep ravine and is worth stopping at.

Drive Enjoyment

The road is both straight and windy and has hills and flats. The road is a single lane well paved road. When I road it last month (Aug 2008), it was in good condition most of the way. Near the end, one side of the road has washed away and barriers and signs are up to direct traffic in a single direction at a time.

Tourism Opportunities

Wilkenson and Carbonado are the two small towns on the way. Wilkenson has a nice coffee shop / deli. There is a gas station on the way. You can camp at Carbon Ranger Station but need to get a permit.
 

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claytonj10
May 14, 2022
72 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
this is a great mid day ride. take a thermos and have coffee at the trail head.
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Spontaneity
September 16, 2017
2 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
Did not love the drive going through highway Bonney Lake. Now I know since we took the other way back to use this next time. I would suggest taking 410 (briefly) to connect to highway 162 through the small towns of Alderton, McMillin, Orting and then South Prairie. The connecting to highway 162 which seems to be South Prairie/Pioneer Way E that goes into highway 165. It gets very nice after Burnett, into Wilkenson (we gassed up had wings and a beer ) and into Carbonado and continue past Melmont Ghost Town and we simply made a turn around point at the Carbon Ranger station. That drive was fantastic, after Wilkenson and the long drive towards the Ranger Station was my most favorite (about 10 miles of scenery).
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Guest
February 3, 2013
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Real nice afternoon or summer evening ride.
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