Summit to Sound 2026

Summit to Sound (S2S) is an ~84-mile endurance cycling adventure from Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle featuring nearly 5,000 feet of descending, mixed terrain, and a finish line festival on the shores of Puget Sound.

With ~2,500 feet of climbing and sections of gravel and rail trail, this ride is challenging but deeply rewarding. Summit to Sound is best suited for experienced riders ready for a big day in the saddle.

Bring Your Legs and Your Crew.

Summit to Sound is more than a ride—it’s a fully supported cycling adventure from the Cascades to Puget Sound.

When you register, you’ll receive:

1. An unforgettable ~84-mile ride from Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle on a dirtier, Doper route featuring mountain rail trails, valley roads, and rolling terrain

2. Ceremonial Summit to Sound swag to commemorate the journey from the Cascades to Puget Sound

3. Clearly Marked Course with navigation support

4. Four fully stocked rest areas along the course with water, snacks, and encouragement

5. SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles patrolling the route to assist riders if mechanical issues or fatigue set in

6. Timed Hill Climb Challenge where riders can test their legs and compete for the Summit to Sound Polka Dot Jersey

7. Mixed Team Race option for riders who want to take on the course with a crew and compete together

8. Music and inspiration along the route to keep spirits high and the pedals turning

9. One meal ticket redeemable at a food truck at the finish line festival

10. One drink ticket to raise a glass and celebrate the ride at the finish line

11. A lively finish line festival with food trucks, spirits, music, awards, and a welcoming rider community

12. A day on the bike you’ll talk about long after the ride ends

Want to start the day with your fellow riders? Grab a shuttle seat and ride up to Snoqualmie Pass together. The Summit to Sound shuttle is more than transportation—it’s the unofficial pre-ride party bus, where riders gather, swap stories, and build the energy for the day ahead.

Departure Location:

Seacrest Park, 1660 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle

Morning Schedule

• Rider check-in: 6:00 AM

• Bike loading begins: 6:00 AM

• Shuttle departure: 8:00 AM sharp (The Shuttle Will Not Wait For You)

Bike Transport

Event staff will assist with safe loading and transport of bikes to the start area at Snoqualmie Pass.

Arrival at Snoqualmie Pass

Riders arrive with time to get organized, fuel up, and roll out together for the official start.

Why Take the Shuttle?

• No early-morning mountain driving

• Ride up with the S2S community

• Start the day with a little pre-ride party bus energy

Important

Shuttle seats are limited and typically sell out.

Summit to Sound takes riders from the Cascades to Puget Sound over ~84 miles of mixed terrain that rewards endurance, focus, and a sense of adventure.

Course Overview

• Distance: ~84 miles

• Elevation Gain: ~2,700 ft

• Elevation Loss: ~7,000 ft

• Surface: ~75% paved / ~25% gravel

• Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

What the Ride Feels Like

• Start high in the Cascade Mountains at Snoqualmie Pass

• Roll onto the Palouse to Cascades Trail, a scenic gravel rail trail through forest corridors

• Long mountain descents and smooth cruising sections early in the ride

• Transition into the Snoqualmie Valley with winding roads and open terrain

• A mix of paved roads, gravel trail, and rolling countryside

• Several punchy climbs and rollers that keep the legs honest

• Final miles carry riders toward Seattle and the Puget Sound

• Finish at a lively waterfront celebration with food, music, and awards

Good to Know

• The course includes mixed surfaces and changing terrain

• Riders should be comfortable with long-distance endurance cycling

• Not recommended for beginner riders

Recommended Bikes

• Gravel bike

• Endurance road bike with wider tires

• Cyclocross bike

32–40mm tires recommended due to mixed pavement and gravel sections.

Early in the ride, S2S riders will encounter the official Timed Hill Climb Challenge—a short but demanding effort that rewards strong legs and smart pacing.

The segment begins at Garcia Trail Access Road and finishes at the Washington State Fire Academy entrance, where riders crest the climb before descending back into the Snoqualmie Valley.

Segment Details:

• Start: Garcia Trail Access Road

• Finish: Washington State Fire Academy entrance

• Distance: ~1.9 miles

• Elevation Gain: ~350–400 ft

• Average Grade: ~4–5% with short steeper pitches

This climb comes early enough in the ride to encourage a hard effort, but late enough that riders will need to manage their energy wisely for the miles that follow.

How It Works:

• Every registered rider passes through this section as part of the course

• There is no additional cost to participate

• Riders must opt in to timing and tracking to be eligible for awards

• The fastest recorded times on the segment determine the winners

Polka Dot Jersey Awards:

The fastest climbers will earn the Summit to Sound Polka Dot Jerseys at the finish line awards ceremony. (Team racers are not eligible for Hill Climb awards).

Awards will be presented for:

1. Mountain Champion — Men

2. Mountain Champion — Women

3. Mountain Champion — Open / Non-Binary

Push hard, recover quickly, and see if you have what it takes to become a Summit to Sound Mountain Champion.

Riders must enable GPS tracking through the event timing system to qualify.

To ensure rider safety, course integrity, and compliance with Washington State guidelines, Summit to Sound permits Class 1 e-bikes only.

ALLOWED

• Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist only)

• Motor provides assistance only while pedaling

• Assistance cuts off at 20 mph

• Fully operable pedals required

• Motor output ≤ 750 watts

NOT ALLOWED

• Class 2 e-bikes (throttle-powered)

• Class 3 e-bikes (assist up to 28 mph)

• E-motos / electric motorcycles, including:

  • Motors exceeding 750 watts

  • Throttle-powered bikes without pedaling requirement

  • Bikes without fully functional pedals

  • Any vehicle capable of speeds beyond e-bike classifications

Note: Vehicles exceeding e-bike classifications (e.g., >750W, no pedals, or >28 mph capability) are considered motor vehicles under Washington law and are not permitted on this course.

If it rides like a motorcycle, it’s not part of this ride.

Pedal. Earn it. Stay in Motion.

Riders are responsible for their own battery range planning. Spare batteries are permitted but must be securely carried by the rider or support crew and swapped only in safe pull-off areas away from active rider flow.

Why it helps

• Prevents riders from changing batteries in unsafe roadside spots

• Keeps aid stations from becoming battery swap zones

• Protects volunteers from handling lithium batteries

• Sets the expectation that range planning is the rider’s responsibility

• Reduces any perception that e-bike riders get “mechanical support advantages”

Peace Peloton does not transport, store, or charge batteries.

Bring enough battery to finish what you started.