Road Trips Let us know where you've been on your Harley, the best places to visit on a bike, etc.

Washington/Oregon Riders...Need Some Suggestions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 16, 2012 | 12:00 PM
  #1  
billk's Avatar
billk
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 935
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Default Washington/Oregon Riders...Need Some Suggestions

Out of SoCal, end of July, thru Vegas, #93 North thru Missoula, GNP, Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise...10 day trip, 4 guys, 4 MC's. 3,500 miles.

Right now, planning on coming back to US thru Kelowna, BC, thru eastern WA/OR. Not looking to do the super slabs...got any suggestions on roads to Reno or the SF Bay area? Could work our way more westerly (in Canada & US), but don't want to do the last few days in rain, which maybe you are famous or infamous for. Not too interested in doing PCH...done it a few times...so been there, (except for eastern WA) and not excited about the "summer" crowds. Also, travelling on the fly and will try hotels/motels at the end of the day, wherever we end up.

I have done the "Google" thing extensivley, but even with "road views" there is only so much info one can gather. Suggestions? This seems to be the "loose part" of our trip. Yeah, if we get behind, we can always jump on the #5 freeway.

Thanks for any help.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2012 | 09:12 PM
  #2  
DBlass's Avatar
DBlass
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 16
Default

East side of the Cascades should be hot and dry but too far east and there is precious little in the way of roads that go north and south. From Kelowna, I would head south on US97. This goes down just east of the Cascades without going too far into the badlands. It goes all the way down to I-5 to Weed but then you would be stuck going on I-5.

My trip in a week will head down US97 (I'm coming out of Portland). Just south of Bend, I am cutting over on to Ore 31, which hooks into US395 before you get to Lakeview OR. I have never been on this road which is why I am taking it. As an alternative, take 97 all the way to Klamath Falls and then head east to Alturas where it hooks back into US395. I am going to Yosemite, but 395 goes all the way to LA. Side trips can take you to Reno, Tahoe and Virginia City. The backside of the Sierras are great as is Us 97 for most of the trip between Canada and the Calif border.
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 10:13 AM
  #3  
skydrifter's Avatar
skydrifter
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 647
Likes: 5
From: Snohomish WA
Default

I have done LA back to Seattle by way of Vegas and Utah .I would suggest north on 15 out of Vegas to ST George UT through Zion and Bryce Canyon NP then HWY 12 north to Torrey UT instead of 93. Here is link to a map all the way up into Canada
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=La...mra=pd&t=m&z=5
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 10:25 AM
  #4  
jmorganroadglide's Avatar
jmorganroadglide
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
Default

If anyone can work it in, I found highway 242 heading west out of Sisters, Oregon toward Eugene to be a wonderful motorcycle ride. Beautiful scenery, mildly challenging with little traffic(no trucks).
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 10:40 AM
  #5  
Twistnride's Avatar
Twistnride
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 11
From: Oroville,Washington.
Default

There are all kinds of routes north/south,east of the Cascades.One of the more scenic is U.S. 95,down the Idaho Panhandle.It parallels the WA.,OR, borders.South to interstate 84 and then a few miles past Boise,you catch Hwy. 51 south to Elko,NV.Spectacular country,rugged and desolate.From Elko there are all kinds of back road routes,catch the junction @ Bishop,Ca.,down the Eastern Sierra scarp,and the desert route into SoCal.
 

Last edited by Twistnride; Jun 18, 2012 at 08:11 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 05:46 PM
  #6  
turdlefxst's Avatar
turdlefxst
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 9
Default

Kelowna south to Tonasket, hwy 20 to Kettle Falls, 25 south to Davenport, to Harrington, 23 to Sprague, to Steptoe , south on 195 to Lewiston/Clarkston, south on 129 the "Rattlesnake" to Enterprise, then into Joesph and the usfs rd into Hells canyon and out to Baker city and southwest out of there.......that would be fun !!
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 08:19 PM
  #7  
Twistnride's Avatar
Twistnride
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 11
From: Oroville,Washington.
Default

Originally Posted by turdlefxst
Kelowna south to Tonasket, hwy 20 to Kettle Falls, 25 south to Davenport, to Harrington, 23 to Sprague, to Steptoe , south on 195 to Lewiston/Clarkston, south on 129 the "Rattlesnake" to Enterprise, then into Joesph and the usfs rd into Hells canyon and out to Baker city and southwest out of there.......that would be fun !!
That's a good one. Better......is hit hwy 21 south out of Republic (via hwy 20) then down the gorge to Kettle Ferry,across the lake to the snake (still hwy 21.....one of the twistiest roads you'll ever ride) that runs up to the Spokane Plateau,into Wilbur.Billy Burgers in Wilbur,THEN over to Davenport and south.Damn,we gotta' million great roads up here.
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2012 | 10:04 PM
  #8  
mtgriz's Avatar
mtgriz
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 224
From: Coeur d'Alene
Default

Originally Posted by turdlefxst
Kelowna south to Tonasket, hwy 20 to Kettle Falls, 25 south to Davenport, to Harrington, 23 to Sprague, to Steptoe , south on 195 to Lewiston/Clarkston, south on 129 the "Rattlesnake" to Enterprise, then into Joesph and the usfs rd into Hells canyon and out to Baker city and southwest out of there.......that would be fun !!
turdle may be slow but he knows good roads. Rode much of his suggestion last summer, especially Rattlesnake grade to Joseph, Hell's Canyon and out to Baker City....excellent.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 04:03 PM
  #9  
DustyJones's Avatar
DustyJones
Advanced
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Default

Hwy 503 east off I-5 out of Woodland, WA (exit 21) to Mt St. Helens is a great ride. I've ridden it a bunch and have seen it listed in motorcycle magazines as being a great ride.

Some really good twistys and amazing views of the mountain. To see the damage in person is really quite amazing.

You just have to keep an eye open for the sport bikes.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 04:16 PM
  #10  
turdlefxst's Avatar
turdlefxst
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 9
Default

I think twistandride is talking about going into Keller and taking the Keller ferry across the pond. Yes there is a short twisty ride up to Wilbur, we rode it a couple times when we first found it.
If ya do that I would drop on into Spokane, several good ways to get there....like into Chewelah and the flowery trail rd, past 49 degree north ski area and into spokane.
Then I would cut east a ways to Coeur d lane lake and down south on 97 to St Maries
AWSOME ride around Idaho's lake tahoe.. and work your way over to Lewiston
Then just before lewiston off of 95 grab the Old Spiral hwy to Clarkston...another awsome little twisty.
But do the RAttleSnake....
And eastern oregon out of Baker city west and south has some of the BEST roads.

have fun, but ya need more time ... And stay off I-5 or any of the "I" rods for that matter, unless your trying to make up time and distance...

I may be slow, but I'm steady....unless its twisty.. LOL!!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:52 PM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE