Pacific Northwest Ride

3002 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by VinceInMT, 2 mo ago

Dawson89

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Hey Guys,

So, I am trying something a little bit different this year. I sold my FJR this winter, and while I wait to buy a newer model, I am going to rent a bike this summer. I am flying in to Salt Lake City and renting a Harley Pan America for 6 days. I am planning to ride up through Idaho and possibly up to the North Cascades National Park, but at this point it is all speculation. My trip is the third week of June, and I am not planning to hold myself to any specific route. I was just curious if there were any specific spots or routes recommended. I've looked into making a circle all the way down to Norther California before coming back north and across Oregon. For this type of trip, I am planning for more miles than sight seeing, but I am open to suggestion! Thanks in advance!

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VinceInMT

· #2 · 2 mo ago

I did a Northwest loop last September on my FJR. I started in Billings, MT, went through Idaho, up to Grand Coulee, across the Cascades, to Blaine, WA, the northwest corner of the lower 48. (I did the northeast corner the previous year in Madawaska, Maine.). I then headed toward Seattle but went over to Whidby Island and grabbed a ferry to Port Townsend. From there I road to Sequim where my sister lives and hung out there for a day. Then it was around the Olympic National Park and down the coast before heading to Portland and stopping in Oregon City to see a friend. When I got back on the road I cruised the Salmon and Snake rivers before heading back to Montana. I blogged every day of the trip which you can find here:

2022 Adventure - Day 1 - Billings to Wendover Campground, ID

While there lots of great rads, don’t miss Hwy 12 across Idaho, from Lolo Pass to the west. Also, Hwy 20 across the Cascades is a good one.

BTW, I tend to stay on two-lane roads and camp out so it adds to the adventure.

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Dawson89

Discussion Starter · #3 · 2 mo ago

VinceInMT said:
I did a Northwest loop last September on my FJR. I started in Billings, MT, went through Idaho, up to Grand Coulee, across the Cascades, to Blaine, WA, the northwest corner of the lower 48. (I did the northeast corner the previous year in Madawaska, Maine.). I then headed toward Seattle but went over to Whidby Island and grabbed a ferry to Port Townsend. From there I road to Sequim where my sister lives and hung out there for a day. Then it was around the Olympic National Park and down the coast before heading to Portland and stopping in Oregon City to see a friend. When I got back on the road I cruised the Salmon and Snake rivers before heading back to Montana. I blogged every day of the trip which you can find here:

2022 Adventure - Day 1 - Billings to Wendover Campground, ID

While there lots of great rads, don’t miss Hwy 12 across Idaho, from Lolo Pass to the west. Also, Hwy 20 across the Cascades is a good one.

BTW, I tend to stay on two-lane roads and camp out so it adds to the adventure.

Thanks VinceinMT!

I will go through your blog for sure! Thanks for the input. I have been on Hwy 12, and I would agree that it is worth the trip! The Lochsa River is beautiful through there. Hwy 20 is the one I have had my eye on for quite a while. The camping part sounds intriguing to me. I am not experienced in camping at all. I would like to make the loop around Olympic National Park, and ride down the coast to Northern California, then back up to Mt Hood or something like that.

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cra-z1

· #4 · 2 mo ago

There are plenty of roads that you could take. If you coming up through Idaho from Salt Lake you may consider stoping at Craters of the Moon National Park. From there you can take 20 over to 75 and and 93 all the way to Missoula. Hop on I 90 all the way to Coeur D Alene (which is where I live) and over to the cascades. Now some will say but I 90 is a slab but its one of the most enjoyable highway rides there is with lots of sweepers. You could also take 55 out of Boise all the way to 95 to Spokane. There are many other routes you can take off of these routes also. So as you get closer and figure out where you want to go let us know. Out of Spokane you can take 2 over to the Grand Coulee Dam then head over to the cascades. June will be pretty warm but usually dry. If you plan On a night in Coeur D Alene let me know and we could have a few drinks on the boat on Beautiful Lake Coeur D Alene.
Im original from the Midwest (Minneapolis) but i'm not sure where Morning sun is, name sounds nice anyway.

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mortenk

· #5 · 2 mo ago

Hwy 20 never disappoints! Even in the rain! I rode from Seattle down to Crater Lake (OR) a few summers ago, and there are some awesome roads around Mt. Hood! I took smaller roads from Seattle to Hood River (in between to Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams). I am currently planning a two day trip to repeat some of this around the same time frame you mention.

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VinceInMT

· #6 · 2 mo ago

cra-z1 said:
…way to Missoula. Hop on I 90 all the way to Coeur D Alene (which is where I live) and over to the cascades. Now some will say but I 90 is a slab but its one of the most enjoyable highway rides there is with lots of sweepers….

I heartily agree. For an interstate highway, it is a very scenic ride, at least from Billings to Spokane.

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VinceInMT

· #7 · 2 mo ago

mortenk said:
Hwy 20 never disappoints! Even in the rain!…

I agree. When I got on it last September it started to rain and then it started to hail. The hail lasted about 5 miles but then things cleared up. What’s not to like about scenery like this?

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mortenk

· #8 · 2 mo ago

From my trip last July

Wheel Tire Vehicle Plant Automotive lighting

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Dawson89

Discussion Starter · #9 · 2 mo ago

mortenk said:
Hwy 20 never disappoints! Even in the rain! I rode from Seattle down to Crater Lake (OR) a few summers ago, and there are some awesome roads around Mt. Hood! I took smaller roads from Seattle to Hood River (in between to Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams). I am currently planning a two day trip to repeat some of this around the same time frame you mention.

mortenk,

I like that idea! I was looking at going from Mt. Hood up 141 into NF-23. I'd like to get up to Elbe, WA and then ride 706 that goes into Mt Rainier from the west.

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VinceInMT

· #10 · 2 mo ago

I was just reviewing my blog from that trip last September (OK, editing grammar and spelling errors) and came upon a reference to a short ride on what was one, terrific 20-mile or so road. It was Hwy 9, the Valley Highway, that goes from Sedro-Woolley, WA to Deming, WA. It's where I got off Hwy 20 to head north to Blaine, WA. Curvy with lots of rolling hills through gorgeous farmland.

Wheel Tire Plant Automotive tire Fuel tank

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