Looking for some help for a northern ID itinerary. We are leaving northern MT to ride Lolo Pass. The first day is 310 miles, but it can be a long day getting through Missoula, and Lolo is a bit slow with all those damn turns! :-) I'd like to add the loop through Weippe and Pierce, but that may be too much for one day. How great is that loop?

The hard part is planning Orofino to Coeur d' Alene. I'd like to ride the St Joe River road to the end of the pavement. The ride planner says that is 300 miles but 8.5 hours! I tried spending the night in St Maries but there appear to be no motels, just a couple of B&B's.

The bottom line is we'd like to spend one night in Orofino and a second night in northern ID somewhere to get back to Kalispell on the 3rd day. Looking at northern ID on the Butler maps it seems like there are too many great options and I can't find an obvious route to maximize the ride.

 

Don't know that I could help, but years ago left Kalispell down to Lolo but was heading to Stanley then Colorado before heading back to Dallas.
All I remember it was middle of August and Lolo pass was 40 degrees.... In August. Stayed at McCall. Nice little town and brewery.

 

I recommend heading north from Coeur d' Alene up to Bonners Ferry, ID. From there you can cut over into Troy, MT and head back to Kalispel from there. It's a really scenic ride.

 

When you plan your Orofino stay, please go to the Konkoville Motel, just a couple miles up the road from downtown Orofino. Biker friendly and they have a grill your own steak dinner option. Great quality steak, you won’t go away hungry. It’s a destination stay for several of us here in Central WA.

https://www.konkolvillemotel.com/steakdinner.php

 

Thanks for the tip Sparkules. I followed your link to check out the hotel but unfortunately we are in Orofino on Sunday night, the one night they don't do the steak dinner! However, there is so much riding in north central ID I'm certain we will be back in the neighborhood.

Have you done the St Joes Scenic Byway? It looks like fabulous riding but I'm not sure how much time it takes.

Cheers...

 

One of my favorite two lane back roads is Idaho 7 out of Orofino, through Cameron and on up to Deary and Harvard. But then I’m a two lane back roads junkie. It still looks the same as when I was young. Timeless. But it’s 35-45, not 55-65. Pick your poison as both ways are good. The back way is just good for my soul.

 

I'm with you, love two lane roads, detest highways. Between Deary and St Maries you would go through Harvard vs Bovill and Clarkia?

 

Yes, then after StJoe trip back at St Marie’s take the Coeur d’alene lake road (97) into the west end of CdA. Either route north is fine. Harvard or Clarkia.