Hwy 203 - the Hidden Shortcut | Route Ref. #36061

Motorcycle Route Author

By GJRonK (2630 McR Points) on Sep 08, 2014

Rider Reviews

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Christopher Kmet

327 McR Points

May 31, 2021

Scenery & good roads. A++ route

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Written Directions

This route is Hwy. 203, starting at Fall City, WA, 26 miles east of Seattle, just north of I-90. Head north 24 miles to Monroe, WA. This route is a bypass from I-90 to Hwy 2 to avoid the city traffic to the west.

Scenery

Some farmland along the way with accompanying old barns here and there. Lots of vegetation, streams and small waterfalls. Many areas of trees right up to the road contribute to the greenery everywhere. Fall City was founded in 1856 as a fort, then a trading post and gateway to the mountains. It catered to tourists more and more until the nearby freeway re-routed traffic. Now it's a scenic bedroom community to Seattle. Monroe was a railroad town named after President Monroe. It became a flower greenhouse location, then lumber mills, then the dairy industry. A tall smokestack in town is from an old Carnation Condensery factory. The old part of town still looks a lot like it did 100 years ago.

Drive Enjoyment

Good pavement, but two lanes and a fair amount of traffic. Many easy curves with trees alongside give the feeling of country riding.

Tourism Opportunities

Full services nearby in Seattle, more in Monroe than Fall City.

Photo Gallery of Hwy 203 - the Hidden Shortcut (9 Photos)

Heading north.

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Wait 'til you see the passengers!

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Many real small farms along the way.

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Past its prime.

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Scene during road re-pavement holdup.

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Photo

Most helpful review of this route

Christopher Kmet

327 McR Points

Scenery & good roads. A++ route

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Hwy 203 - the Hidden Shortcut