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PNW (Portland / Spokane / Glacier) advise

MizzouMike

Rain Magnet
Guest
Coggers, I am looking for some advise for touring in the PNW.  I have a personal goal of visiting all 50 states before my 50th birthday, 38 to date with 4 years to go.  Three states left on the list include Oregon/Idaho/Montana.  What better way to visit than on a motorcycle. 

As you can tell, I don't know much about this area other than what I can gather from folks that have been there.  But my plan as it stands today is this:  FYI, will have wife with me, so no camping on this trip.  I like to keep the days aroudn 300 miles or so, or push to 450 if it is a lot of high speed interstate. 

I have a buddy in Spokane, so I am planning on visiting him on the last day of the trip (or maybe first) so one day will be a bee-line from Portland to Spokane, 350+ miles will use interstate, but I noticed that OR Highway 14 on the north side of the Columbia looks nice too.

There will also be a day from Kalispell to Spokane 300 miles or so, avoiding the interstate. 

Going to the Sun road is on the list as well, so my plan would be an early start to avoid the RV crowd.  I am sure there are better less traveled roads.

Other possible sights, but not required
Mt. Saint Helens
Headwaters of Missouri River (I live about 2000 miles downstream from there)
Lolo Pass (Seems to be a favorite)

So, any thoughts from those who know?

Thanks!!!
 
Mike, The Sun road is very scenic, just not you what would call a riding road. Definitely a must do though, especially with the wife.  10 mph, always under construction, wet & muddy. Lolo pass is a great road, Bear Tooth pass is better. Better than that in my simple little opinion is Chief Joseph highway.

Enjoy the ride!  :motonoises:
 
Chief Joseph and Beartooth are on the to-do list.  And maybe this is the trip to do that, I noticed that I was going to be 'relatively' close.

 
MizzouMike said:
I have a buddy in Spokane, so I am planning on visiting him on the last day of the trip (or maybe first) so one day will be a bee-line from Portland to Spokane, 350+ miles
...
There will also be a day from Kalispell to Spokane 300 miles or so, avoiding the interstate. 

PNW is a nice destination for sure (my home), but I'm confused on Spokane being the first day, etc. - missing what city/state you're riding from, and if this is a loop or back and forth, or are you flying to Portland and renting a motorcycle, and how many days you're looking at.  Also, what month or is that TBD? Just trying to understand so I can help.
 
I am planning on flying from KC to Portland OR, and then rent a bike from Eagle Rider.  It looks like Portland to Spokane or Spokae to Portland at the end of the trip seems like a doable leg.

This will be in July.

Thanks!

Red Fox said:
MizzouMike said:
I have a buddy in Spokane, so I am planning on visiting him on the last day of the trip (or maybe first) so one day will be a bee-line from Portland to Spokane, 350+ miles
...
There will also be a day from Kalispell to Spokane 300 miles or so, avoiding the interstate. 

PNW is a nice destination for sure (my home), but I'm confused on Spokane being the first day, etc. - missing what city/state you're riding from, and if this is a loop or back and forth, or are you flying to Portland and renting a motorcycle, and how many days you're looking at.  Also, what month or is that TBD? Just trying to understand so I can help.
 
I made the ride from Portland to Spokane this year.  It starts out nice but turns into flat plain and reminded me of west Texas.  I then road to Kalispell and made that base for my trip to GNP. 

It is worth your time to check the parks web cams for fog before you decide to leave early and such.  Not unusual to have half the park in fog till afternoon.  I can in from the east side first day and was lucky because anything past the top was fog.  I came back in the west the next day just to see what I missed.
 
Whether leaving or approaching Spokane, try to stay south and avoid the great Columbia Basin by traveling through the Palouse country. Sights such as Steptoe Butte, roads like Lyons Ferry/Palouse Falls, Central Ferry, Waitsburg to Walla Walla will all give you fond memories. then you will be veering West toward the Columbia Gorge and the WA side, 14, is prettier. Watch for 80mph non yielding semis and the troopers that like to catch them.
 
Road to the Sun is a must see, but early as possible.  It doesn't take long once the day starts to be sitting in a traffic jam.  I went around 6:00 am and had the road pretty much to myself.  Beartooth was great,  Wasn't that impressed with LoLo pass.  Not sure how far south you are planning, but I enjoyed Crater Lake.  Also had a good time in Small town of Riggins, Idaho.  Not sure what kind of bike you are renting, but just outside of town is an impressive overlook called Heavens Gate.  The only problem is its about 28 miles of gravel road to get to it.  I took my GTL 1600 up there without a problem, but it was a really rough road, boulders and trees down here and there.  Quite an adventure. I am sure it didn't help that I was quite hung over at the time. :beerchug:
 
You'll probably find as many suggestions as members in the PNW.  :)  I'll add another.

The Palouse area is nice.  And Hwy 2 has its own charm with small towns that have just a single main street and old store fronts.  Another alternative, especially if you're already that far north on the Going for the Sun road, is to stay north.  Follow WA-20 from Coeur d'Alene over to at least Rockport, WA.  From there, options are many.  Go north to Artist Point on Mt. Baker...one of the absolute most beautiful places you'll find.  Go west to the San Juan Islands.  Go south on Hwy 9 and other sights, like Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Seattle (if you like traffic).

You'll want to watch the timing on your trip.  Come to early, and all you'll get is signs telling you the road is closed.  Snow and avalanches control much of what you'll see.  June is a good time to come.  The weather is warming up and the forest fires won't have started yet.  Be prepared for extremes of climate. 

If you have time, a swing through Alberta and British Columbia would be sweet.  As pretty as Artist Point is, the Canadian Rockies rival that.  Riding up to Jasper is a treat.

Chris
 
That is a great plan, lets hope the timing works out.  I spoke to my buddy who lives in Spokane, and I am going to make some changes to the initial route.  As much as would like to hang around and drink his beer, I will likely add another day of riding.  The wife has weighed in on some of my plans (an she is the passenger), so I might roll back on those 400+ mile days.

connie_rider said:
Best advise; Don't do it your ride the winter...  :nananana:

Next best: Charlie Gary leads a ride in that area yearly.
                Contact him and schedule your ride when he's doing the Rally.
                  Plus; He's really good at suggesting things to see in that area {and grills some mean Salmon}.

http://forum.cog-online.org/northwest-events/21st-annual-volcano-ride/msg642334/#msg642334

Ride safe, Ted
 
If I were going from Portland to Spokane and time didn't matter, I would definitely be taking WA 20 from Mt. Vernon to Colville before going south on US 395 to Spokane.  If you're in a time/mile crunch, WA 14 is a lot more fun than I 84 to I 82, where you can go north into Kennewick and get onto US 395 to go north to I 90.  That will take you into Spokane with a decent mix of nice scenery and interstate speeds.

Mt. St. Helens is a half-day diversion from I 5, so if you want to see that you'll need to plan another day into your schedule.

As you get closer to the time to make your ride a reality, keep posting and local experts will be happy to help you get the most bang for your buck.
 
I forgot to mention the speed limit on the Idaho side of Lolo Pass.  Don't exceed it.  The police are vigorous in enforcing it, and people have been ticketed for five over.
 
MizzouMike said:
I am planning on flying from KC to Portland OR, and then rent a bike from Eagle Rider.  It looks like Portland to Spokane or Spokae to Portland at the end of the trip seems like a doable leg.

This will be in July.

Thanks!

Sounds practical and fun. I'll knock off some maps of how I might do this using lesser roads, and keep in mind that you're two-up - and then you can ignore the routes totally!
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions.  So vacation is approved, and now the planning starts.

Option A
Day 1 Saturday Portland Pasco 250miles
Day 2 Sunday Pasco Spokane 200miles
Day 3 Monday Spokane Kalispell 260miles
Day 4 Tuesday Kalispell Kalispell 200miles
Day 5 Weds Kalispell Lewiston 350miles
Day 6 Thursday Lewiston Kelso Wa 400miles
Day 7 Friday Kelso Portland 150miles

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RbfOa2OuIfAjPdoTO7YEelnU2HFGEUET&usp=sharing


Google Maps won't let me route Going to the Sun due to it currenlty being closed.  Bing Maps will, but Bing Maps will also route you off a cliff if you are not paying attention ;)
 
Don't trust you Garmin either. Mine tried to tell  me cross active runways at Davis-Monthan AFB. You don't think those A-10s could hurt a C-14 do you? 
 
In Kalispell I enjoyed my Super 8 stay.  Mainly because there was store, gas, casino and food all across the street.  I am sure there are nicer places though.  Montana club was ok for most meals and drinks.  I was really glad I was able to walk home from the TexMex place.  It was not bad for that fur north.
 
Lodging at the Best Western.... I have a bunch of points from work travels.

I am kinking around Plan C now.  My buddy from Spokane recommended Leavenworth WA, so I might end up renting from Seattle.

Working out some of the logistics now.  Oregon is on the list, so I might end up making the Columbia River run on the way back...

Thanks again for the suggestions, I will upload the new route after I get it worked out.
 
I had laptop and spare time last weekend, so put together a route for a visitor on a week long rented bike with wife along wanting to experience OR, ID and MT and especially Glacier Park.

A) July temperatures will be very warm to hot, but you'll pass from high humidity to low humidity in 1.5 hrs after leaving Portland; so it won't be hot muggy like the midwest summer.

B) Lolo Pass Rd, rte 12, thru ID is a favorite of mine, but the annual maintenance schedule starts July 10ish and runs to the end of the month about.  Very usually includes chip seal resurfacing with construction delays and pilot cars; except in 2018 it was totally new pavement which was great.  Delays waiting for the pilot car aren't long, maybe 1/2 hr, but it's in the hot sun, standing on hot pavement.  Nice road though.

C) Seattle vs. Portland.  Flying in/flying out, and riding in/riding out, of Portland will be much easier than Seattle - which has notorious traffic problems.  And Portland airport is smaller friendlier to travelers.

This route overview, roughly by day:
* Portland OR to John Day OR, classic eastern OR;
* to McCall ID, town on mountain lake;
* to Wisdom MT, crossing the Rocky Mtns in mid Idaho; Montana is Big Sky Country and this beautiful area / small town epitomizes that, imho.
* to Great Falls MT (in case you intend Glacier Park) on a day that could include the Missouri River headwaters (nearby Three Forks, MT);
* to Kalispell MT - this is the day for Glacier Park;
* to Spokane WA, crossing the Rocky Mtns;
* to Portland OR buzzing over main roads, but traversing the Columbia R gorge, seeing the sail boarding capital of the US, Hood River, OR and stopping at Multnomah Falls.

Once you get into MT you can look at the route ahead and see if you want to 'take the time and distance' to do Glacier Park.  Shortening the route is really easy to do at this point and smaller town motels are unlikely to full - so you can wing it.  Basically, if it were me, I'd probably see MT, but skip Glacier because of the reported summer traffic and extra miles. 

Overview map:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Portland,+OR/John+Day,+OR/McCall,+ID/Wisdom,+MT/Great+Falls,+MT/Kalispell,+MT/Spokane,+WA/Portland,+OR/@46.0665307,-116.8754509,6z/data=!4m75!4m74!1m20!1m1!1s0x54950b0b7da97427:0x1c36b9e6f6d18591!2m2!1d-122.6587185!2d45.5122308!3m4!1m2!1d-121.5734025!2d45.1145698!3s0x54be6aac1236f223:0x9d68beb0d1d46a11!3m4!1m2!1d-120.8709879!2d44.9724435!3s0x54be8031506e9975:0x3492cf6cd3049bf2!3m4!1m2!1d-120.1875876!2d44.9937727!3s0x54bc4682705c6ea3:0x3d0bb7080c5ea8e7!1m5!1m1!1s0x54bb05716ba757ab:0x9f2d0f27d0de17a6!2m2!1d-118.95301!2d44.4159883!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a659e630979ba1:0x63b51760e0318a36!2m2!1d-116.1171311!2d44.906183!1m5!1m1!1s0x53597806ba8beaf1:0xb4fa225a532b3c51!2m2!1d-113.4508925!2d45.6179788!1m10!1m1!1s0x5342378d658cb83b:0xd6de56b18e5945a8!2m2!1d-111.3007715!2d47.5052849!3m4!1m2!1d-112.2677479!2d47.9101391!3s0x53682c06bc2b1f41:0x7bdf6c0edc88d6db!1m10!1m1!1s0x536650959ceac247:0xaf1fbdda1d5abb62!2m2!1d-114.316813!2d48.1919889!3m4!1m2!1d-115.2150992!2d47.5822466!3s0x5360c8c6f5890a5f:0x57b64783100c20b8!1m5!1m1!1s0x549e185c30bbe7e5:0xddfcc9d60b84d9b1!2m2!1d-117.4260465!2d47.6587802!1m5!1m1!1s0x54950b0b7da97427:0x1c36b9e6f6d18591!2m2!1d-122.6587185!2d45.5122308!3e0
 
Well, a partial alternate route, if you want to use the Best Western hotel credits and get to the Lolo Pass Hgwy, Rt #12  --> 
Also fewer miles in a day, so your wife may be happier, too.

Eastbound from Portland / Troutdale OR to Kalispell

Map
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Troutdale,+OR/Bakeoven,+OR/Fossil,+OR/John+Day,+OR/Halfway,+OR/McCall,+ID/Riggins,+ID/Lochsa+Lodge,+Powell+Road,+Lolo,+ID/Kalispell,+MT/@46.2793953,-120.4502192,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m56!4m55!1m5!1m1!1s0x5495a16688c72099:0x21c51078cfe4e92e!2m2!1d-122.3920584!2d45.5396297!1m5!1m1!1s0x54bdd3f084d9cf3d:0xefbcee58f5cd7eae!2m2!1d-120.8397721!2d45.0865129!1m5!1m1!1s0x54bc6d2175747d35:0x40705c635ef45a8b!2m2!1d-120.2161373!2d44.9981864!1m5!1m1!1s0x54bb05716ba757ab:0x9f2d0f27d0de17a6!2m2!1d-118.95301!2d44.4159883!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a4478743210873:0xd2a4fe2487c72ccf!2m2!1d-117.1146172!2d44.880715!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a659e630979ba1:0x63b51760e0318a36!2m2!1d-116.1171311!2d44.906183!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a6c55ddc7fd9d5:0x835ef2ac6cb8432e!2m2!1d-116.3154109!2d45.4221105!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a04d39125851cf:0x1c9a4eb0f861fabc!2m2!1d-114.7177275!2d46.510703!1m5!1m1!1s0x536650959ceac247:0xaf1fbdda1d5abb62!2m2!1d-114.316813!2d48.1919889!3e0

If you chose to overnight in John Day OR, Riggins ID, Missoula MT and Kalispell MT you could have 3, 4 or 5 nights in one of your favored Best Western hotels - in a row. 


You'll go thru Fossil OR with its tiny County Court House (only 1300 people in the whole county)
5-21-2008014.jpg

and the nation's smallest Chevrolet dealership.

Also, thru Baker City which was a big gold mining town.  Here's its re-opened Geiser Grand Hotel
2015%20Aug%2023%20077%20smaller_zpsmo1xx5vq.jpg


All nice scenery and roads!

Westbound from Kalispell MT to Spokane WA to Portland OR

Map
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalispell,+MT/Thompson+Falls,+MT/Wallace,+ID/Spokane,+WA/Sundale+Park,+Sundale+Rd,+Goldendale,+WA+98620/Stonehenge+on+the+Columbia+River,+Stonehenge+Drive,+Goldendale,+WA/Biggs+Junction,+OR/Hood+River,+OR/Multnomah+Falls,+Oregon/Troutdale,+OR/@46.6053821,-120.6147056,7.18z/data=!4m62!4m61!1m5!1m1!1s0x536650959ceac247:0xaf1fbdda1d5abb62!2m2!1d-114.316813!2d48.1919889!1m5!1m1!1s0x5360d09e1ef46d73:0x6001b6693df884a0!2m2!1d-115.3373865!2d47.5955023!1m5!1m1!1s0x5360f7d036cde3a1:0x13f817539562ab63!2m2!1d-115.9279386!2d47.4740945!1m5!1m1!1s0x549e185c30bbe7e5:0xddfcc9d60b84d9b1!2m2!1d-117.4260465!2d47.6587802!1m5!1m1!1s0x54bd64c294f7ec39:0xb11222ff38d35dd7!2m2!1d-120.3150129!2d45.7192706!1m5!1m1!1s0x549629d31ab82861:0x93d5de980bdbf80b!2m2!1d-120.8060139!2d45.6945911!1m5!1m1!1s0x54bd880edd8770b7:0x85575919fd00dc2f!2m2!1d-120.8328408!2d45.669846!1m5!1m1!1s0x54960e614c1c0fe7:0x56f6cf7e4d7d985c!2m2!1d-121.5214623!2d45.7053966!1m5!1m1!1s0x5495eb1e0412e187:0x6bfea57cb2c637ef!2m2!1d-122.11674!2d45.5785963!1m5!1m1!1s0x5495a16688c72099:0x21c51078cfe4e92e!2m2!1d-122.3920584!2d45.5396297!3e0

This route takes you right past the historic train station in Wallace ID, and
it's fun to walk around this town with a silver mining background.
July%2021%202013%20096%20crop%20smaller_zpsmrlzck7q.jpg

Also Wallace has one of my favorite restaurants - delicious food at ordinary prices.  City Limits Bar and Grill.


Later on, close to Portland, you can just pull off the road and walk to Multnomah Falls.


 
So many great options!!  Thanks for all that insight. 

I was working up a Seattle solution this afternoon.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1N9HhSuA7u4_7Hwphv3m1CGjEgx4tYv6G&usp=sharing

With an overnight in Leavenworth WA (recommended by some friends)  I am leaning much more to the Portland, just for the simple fact that it avoids Seattle.  I have been there a few times, so I feel that I will enjoy spending time in Portland at the beginning and end of the trip.


 
I received some great input!    What I really learned is that there is a lot of great stuff to see and do in this part of the US!  I am really getting excited!  Made reservations in/out of Portland, mostly because it sounds like it is much easier to escape than Seattle traffic wise. 

I have the Kalispel and Portland reservations made.  I have not yet made the intermediate reservations.  When I travel solo I like to camp.  This affords me a great deal of flexibility in that there are lots of campsites, and often you can squeeze a motorcycle or two into a site.  We would usually make reservations around lunch for the evening, and try  to get in before dark.    Also, you can ninja camp a lot of places in a pinch (I don't like to, but I will if not many other options)

Traveling with the wife, it is a hotel kind of trip, so I will likely make all the hotel reservations this weekend.  I just don't like the 'have to be somewhere' aspect of it.  The good part is that rolling in after dark is not as big a deal, and if we get in early we can go explore the town/area.

 
Hi Mike, sounds like you have a great adventure planned!  If you want to avoid the Seattle traffic, here's another option you could consider.  A new airport is open for business north of Seattle beginning March 1, it's called Paine Field (code PAE), in Everett WA.  This airport will have 24 daily flights from Alaska Air & United arriving & departing to a variety of cities including San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, LA, San Jose, Las Vegas, Portland, etc.  Sound Harley Davidson www.soundharley.com in Marysville WA rents motorcycles.  This puts you north of Seattle and closer to highway 2 or highway 20 (both great rides).

I looked at your route and had some suggestions for alternate roads that offer more scenery and curves to them:
- From Monroe to Sultan, take Ben Howard Rd instead of hwy 2.
- At Coles Corner, take 207 and the Chumstick Highway to Plain, then on to Leavenworth. Plan to stop & look around at Leavenworth, it's a fun place.
- At Coulee City, go north on 155 along Banks Lake to Grand Coulee, then take 174 to Wilbur.
- Highway 14 is better than I-84 along the Columbia River.
- When you hit Portland, go north on hwy 30 rather than I-5.
- When you get to Vader, WA on I-5, cut off to the west and go through Pe Ell, Brooklyn, Arctic, and Montesano instead to get back to Olympia.
Hope your travels are safe and enjoyable!
 
 
More great advice!  Thanks!!!

I travel for work, so I have a bunch of Southwest points, so I am focused on SEA and PDX.  The good news is that both have direct flights from KC, so that makes it easy.  Although, SWA is going to start flying to Hawaii, so saving up points for that!!!

 
That area SW of Spokane had me thinking I was back in Texas.  Looked a lot like west tx to me anyway.
 
Yes, it definitely had that feel!  It made my wife feel like she was back at home :)

smithr1 said:
That area SW of Spokane had me thinking I was back in Texas.  Looked a lot like west tx to me anyway.
 
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