PNW and Glaciers Route Planning

[GetOuttaMyWay]

I scheduled a tour to leave in a week to Glaciers NP via Portland a long time ago and I've been slacking off on planning. Looking for route ideas and inspiration. I'm going to jam up to PDX next Friday 7/26 . Some friends are flying in and then we're going to get crazy basically drinking for four days. On 7/30 another friend is supposed to ride up and meet me and we're hoping to:

1- Spend 2 days riding/exploring the Colombia Gorge area. Looking for a good 'base camp' to camp out at and explore around that area. Looking for ideas on routes and attractions. Looking at a map it looks like there's lots of awesome roads and rivers and camping, but I can't figure out any must see areas.

2- A friend who lives up in SLC will join us in Idaho a on 8/1... something that's a days ride from SLC and he has ~3 days to hang/ride. He mentioned Hell's Canyon in Idaho as a meet up point.

3- From ID head to Glacier's NP where I have a camp site booked. My reservation isn't until 8/4 so there's 3 days to kill between ID and MT. That was the original intent of the trip but I might also be OK heading back West after ID and ride around down the coast, cut the trip a bit short and use some of my vacation time to work on some projects at home...

We'll be on street bikes. Camping most of the time, motels when it makes sense.

 

[scootergmc]

The gorge itself is pretty boring, but then again I've droned through there many times. This is a decent detour: https://goo.gl/maps/3jrM6ZRtgmsaA4QN8

On the return, and if you've never done it, I would do Highway 2 to Newport, WA then continue on Highway 20 across the state. Catch the ferry to Port Townsend and mosey around the Olympic Peninsula and head south on your chosen route. Avoid anywhere near Seattle because traffic sucks and all.

 

[scootergmc]

Also, north from Pendleton anywhere through the Palouse on random highways can be a lot of fun. It won't be as pretty right now as the wheat is going from green to brown, but the rolling hills are a lot of fun. Plus I like tractors so there's always some beasts to look at out there. Again, I'm a little biased.

 

[bcj]

Hwy 30 is the ooooold route on the south side of the Columbia.
Good for a slow scenic route. It's been overlaid by 84 in a couple places and can be hard to get the right exits.
Dropping down the cliffs on a tiny road from Vista House to Multnoma Falls is worth doing.
Stop off in Hood River and watch the wind boarders with a (good) local beer.
The Rowena Loops just west of The Dalles too.

84 east of Biggs Junction is pretty smooth and not bad for slabbing. West of there is jack hammer country.
Get to La Grande, then Enterprise on 82. From there WA 3 is the Rattlesnake Grade over to Asotin and Lewiston ID.

The state park on the Snake at Lewiston is really nice for camping.
The Old Spiral Hwy up to Pullman and Wawawai Grade road back is a fun loop.

12 out of Lewiston along the Clearwater River is great for goggling at stuff along the way and Lolo pass into Missoula is a must-do.

Agree about 2 and 20 across the top of WA.
Rather than doing 101 down the ocean side, going along the west side of Hood Canal from Quilcene to Shelton is wigglier and more scenic.

 

[bikeama]

When camping in the gorge be aware. There are trains on each side of the river. Bring earplugs if you want to sleep.

 

[GetOuttaMyWay]

Thanks guys. One by one all my buddies flaked out and I was gonna go solo but might bail as well now. Good news is I have 2 weeks reserved off work to fuck around!

 

[3B43]

I'm heading that direction, in about a month, enroute Deadwood SD, and have ridden most of NE Oregon, ID, and MT. IF....your heading through Bend, I'd ride the Shaniko/Fossil/Spray route, then head to Heppner, loop to Enterprise, then Rattlesnake Pass to Lewiston. From there, they're several routes, but if haven't ridden Hwy 12 through Lolo Pass, consider it. From there, its basically a straight shot N to Glacier.