Tell us where to go (Planning 3k mile ride - northwest....CA, NV, UT, ID, WA)

[GP1152]

Since ADVRIDER and it's members provide such a wealth of information, I figured I'd ask for some help with planning our next big trip.
The GF and I are planning to do a +/- 3,000 mile loop like the one in the map below. We'll have about 13 days to do it and will be going towards the end of August. The original plan was to go up along the coast then thru Portland and Seattle and up into Victoria, but I thought something like what I have here would be the better way to go. We could always hit the coast on the way back. What I have mapped here is a rough idea of what I had in mind, but it seems like there's some mind-numbing sections in there. I haven't gotten into planning the ACTUAL roads we would take. I'd like to get people's input here before I start that process. Anyway.....
Here are my questions to everyone:

1. Any suggestions on the route?
2. What part of this route would you change?
3. Any suggestions on different or additional destinations?
4. What "must" roads would you recommend? (we're on 2 ducati's so no off-roading). We usually like to stay away from the interstates. Not as boring and gives a better feel for the towns we're going through.

As a side note: We've done multiple 3,000+ mile trips before, so we're not strangers to trips like this. Those trips though were on the east coast. This will be our first long trip out west and want to make the most of it.

Thanks to everyone for your input......

[samthg]

I'd head north out of SF and get this done first. Maybe throw in a little 'coast' time through WA. If you're going to Victoria you're prolly going to Butchart Gardens. DO NOT MISS... www.evergreenmuseum.org/ while going through OR. Is Crater Lake on that route? It should be if you haven't seen it.

Mount St Helens and visitor center is well worth it. Hwy 2 in northern WA gets you off the main roads and is very scenic. Stay on it into ID & MT. What, no Glacier or at least near this area. Down to Missoula(smoke jumpers tour at the airport is cool). From here it's south on 93, or head a bit east. Nice little loop through Phillipsburg is fun.

Now you're getting close to Yellowstone, or at least West YS.
Soon you'll be heading into UT. Nothing there really. Just Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce & Zion. Hwy 12 south of Torrey has to be ridden!

This will get the juices flowing I hope. Also check byways.org

[GP1152]

Great advice. Gonna work on the route a bit. Hopefully I have enough days to squeeze a bit more in there. If you think of anything else let me know. Thanks again.

[Eyes Shut]

Heading north, I'd take Hiway 1/101 all the way up the coast. You can take the ferry to Victoria out of Port Angeles. Also, as samthg mentioned, start at San Francisco first. Then when you get to the more inland routes, it will be slightly later in the year and the temperatures will likely be a little more forgiving.

Another vote also for Crater Lake and Hiway 12 in Utah.

If you have the time, you might also want to consider taking Hiway 12 west from Missoula, Montana. This is the Lolo Pass route and is a really great road.

[meatwitheyes]

+1 for Hwy 1/101 up the coast from SF. I-5 is a real drone though it is scenic from Shasta to Eugene. You should really see the Oregon coast and the Calif. Redwoods.
The ferry from Sidney to Anacortes through the San Juan Islands is my favorite.
Are you camping or motels???
If you have time to explore Vancouver Island I like the ride up to Nanaimo/Parksville and take Hwy 4 to the west coast and see Tofino and Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim Park Reserve, maybe spend the night?
If you are heading east across Washington I highly recommend Hwy SR 20 from Burlington east over the Cascades. Seattle traffic can be brutal.
That's all I have to add........

[TwilightZone]

>"Heading north, I'd take Hiway 1/101 all the way up the coast."

Ditto... Hwy 5 is pretty boring. Lots of the best riding in California is east to west.

Hwy 1 north of SF.
Hwy 101 to hwy 36
36 to I-5
299 back to the coast... of 199 back to the coast.
101 north in Orygun.

[GP1152]

Originally Posted by Eyes Shut

Heading north, I'd take Hiway 1/101 all the way up the coast. You can take the ferry to Victoria out of Port Angeles. Also, as samthg mentioned, start at San Francisco first. Then when you get to the more inland routes, it will be slightly later in the year and the temperatures will likely be a little more forgiving.

Another vote also for Crater Lake and Hiway 12 in Utah.

If you have the time, you might also want to consider taking Hiway 12 west from Missoula, Montana. This is the Lolo Pass route and is a really great road.

Originally Posted by TwilightZone

>"Heading north, I'd take Hiway 1/101 all the way up the coast."

Ditto... Hwy 5 is pretty boring. Lots of the best riding in California is east to west.

Hwy 1 north of SF.
Hwy 101 to hwy 36
36 to I-5
299 back to the coast... of 199 back to the coast.
101 north in Orygun.

My bad, I had actually moved the route to the cost previous to posting that screenshot, but when I added another destination it must have reset it to I-5. I'm with you guys....I wouldn't dream of taking I-5 up that way.
You guys make a good point about starting that way (along the coast). I had planned on doing that on the way back.
Oh and definitely adding crater lake. Thanks guys.

[GP1152]

Originally Posted by meatwitheyes

The ferry from Sidney to Anacortes through the San Juan Islands is my favorite.

Thanks for the tip. Just looked into this. While doing so I came across an article that say this is also the less "rocky" ride to get there. So aside from the more scenic, this also seems to be the more bike friendly and SEA-SICK friendly route (Apparently the BLACK-BALL ferries are the worst)

Originally Posted by meatwitheyes

Are you camping or motels???

We'll be staying in Hotels/motels.

Originally Posted by meatwitheyes

If you have time to explore Vancouver Island I like the ride up to Nanaimo/Parksville and take Hwy 4 to the west coast and see Tofino and Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim Park Reserve, maybe spend the night?

Great idea. I hadn't really even thought of it, but just checked and it's really not THAT far a ride. Should work to go there and sound the night.

[GP1152]

Thinking that with the time that we have available (14 days), this might be the way to go. This will give us a few additional days for places like Seattle, Victoria and Ucluelet. This has us taking the coast pretty much all the way up. I added Crater Lake as most of you suggested. Anything else you would recommend for the trip back south?

[N-Id-Jim]

You are going to trade Idaho for Ca./Nv./ Or dessert stretches.????......Ugh! If you incorporate the potato state once north of boise A WAYS go from Grangeville down to Kooskia, Then Orofino, Thenthe back way to Kendrick by the reservoir, then up to St Maries, then Harrison and along Lk Coeur d'Alene, you would not be sorry.

[GP1152]

Originally Posted by N-Id-Jim

You are going to trade Idaho for Ca./Nv./ Or dessert stretches.????......Ugh! If you incorporate the potato state once north of boise A WAYS go from Grangeville down to Kooskia, Then Orofino, Thenthe back way to Kendrick by the reservoir, then up to St Maries, then Harrison and along Lk Coeur d'Alene, you would not be sorry.

Unfortunately we just wouldn't have the time for the first route. The way you suggest would be something like this (wouldn't it also take us through some pretty barren stretches?):
Google map here

[N-Id-Jim]

]Unfortunately we just wouldn't have the time for the first route. The way you suggest would be something like this (wouldn't it also take us through some pretty barren stretches?):
Google map here

If you were to go from Grangeville, ID to Cambridge,ID, (which would include a really cool stretch of the Salmon River).. at cambridge you could drop down into Hells canyon,, google it.. then form there to Baker City.. then head toward Steens maybe?? (If you had time there is a spectacular route form near Oxbow, FS Rd 39, paved to Joseph OR)..

IF you reveres the loop to CCW direction you could also do the really cool trip from Seattle down to Hood River as suggested, then cut over to the coast

Looks like an awesome trip have fun!

[Eyes Shut]

Originally Posted by N-Id-Jim

You are going to trade Idaho for Ca./Nv./ Or dessert stretches.????......Ugh!.

I've never objected to dessert stretches...I'm always on the lookout for ice cream, fudge, chocolate cake....

[GP1152]

Originally Posted by Eyes Shut

I've never objected to dessert stretches...I'm always on the lookout for ice cream, fudge, chocolate cake....

LOL.....that's funny. Yes, I too would prefer the DESSERT stretches to the DESERT stretches.

[cycletlh]

Keep your northern route. Then as others have recommended Hwy 20 over the Cascades to Winthrop and Omak is worth adding. Then WA 155 to Grand Coulee and Grand Coulee Dam then 174 and 2 to Spokane. Would really encourage you to take Spokane to Lewiston to Asotin, down and up Rattlesnake to Enterprise OR. West on 82 to LaGrande, W on 244 to 395 S to 26 W to Prineville. Another really good ride. Then to Crater Lake to Grants Pass. Crater Lake to Grants Pass is a great ride. Time permitting over to Crescent City on Redwood Hwy and Home.

That would be my choice. Check it out, I think you have time, I think you will be happy you did.