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United States WA-821 Difficulty: 5/10

Yakima River Canyon Road (WA-821)

A rhythmic, high-flow ribbon carved into dramatic towering basalt cliffs alongside the rushing Yakima River. Perfect line-of-sight sweepers, minimal cross-traffic, and majestic desert canyon geology.

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Distance
Distance
25 mi
40 km total run
Turns
Turns
120
4.8 turns per mile
Summit
Summit
1,500 ft
Pass Summit
Surface
Surface
Paved (Twisty)
Difficulty: 5/10
3D Vector Trajectory
CARTO Dark Matter GL
Start: Ellensburg, WA End: Selah / Yakima, WA
Elevation Profile 1,100 – 1,500 ft
SUMMIT 1,500 FT
Pass Summit
Apex Density Index 4.8 curves / mi
Scenic Sweeper Technical Switchback
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Repair

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Nearby Staging
South Sound Motorcycles ~87 mi
Fife, United States • +1-253-922-2004
BMW Motorrad & Ducati Premier Service | Olympic Peninsula Staging
Brands: BMW, Ducati
Pro Caliber Motorsports Vancouver ~134 mi
Vancouver, United States • +1-360-892-3030
Pacific Northwest Supercenter | Emergency Tire & Mounting | Full Diagnostics
Brands: Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Indian
Lodge

Rider-Friendly Lodging

Covered Parking
Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort & The Tree of Shame ~2038 mi
Robbinsville, NC

The undisputed epicenter of motorcycle culture in the eastern United States, sitting at Mile 0 of the Tail of the Dragon (US-129). An electric, adrenaline-fueled carnival of sportbikes, adventure tourers, and interstate cruisers. Smells of warm tire rubber, two-stroke exhaust, and hickory smoke.

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Tank-Bag Quick Reference Sheet

Start Point Ellensburg, WA 46.9965, -120.5479
Summit / High Point Pass Summit 1,500 FT Summit
End Destination Selah / Yakima, WA 46.6540, -120.5290
T-CLOCS Pre-Ride: Tires & Wheels Controls & Cables Lights & Electric Oil & Fluids Chassis & Stand
DUNLOP
Official Tire Partner: Grip for Mountain Passes
Dunlop Roadsmart IV and Trailmax Mission provide maximum wet/dry confidence on mountain switchbacks.
Explore Dunlop Tires ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

How many curves and miles is Yakima River Canyon Road (WA-821)? ▼

Yakima River Canyon Road (WA-821) spans 25 miles and packs approximately 120 curves (4.8 curves per mile) with an elevation delta of 1,100 ft - 1,500 ft and technical rating 5/10.

Where are the start and end coordinates? ▼

The route starts at Ellensburg, WA (Latitude 46.9965, Longitude -120.5479) and finishes at Selah / Yakima, WA (Latitude 46.654, Longitude -120.529).

How can I download the GPX file for GPS navigation? ▼

Click the "Download Free GPX" button on this guide. The standard XML file is 100% free and ready to load into Garmin zūmo, BMW Motorrad Connected, Rever, Scenic, or Google Maps.

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