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I'm leaving central CA. In a couple weeks, riding thru Yosemite on my way to Boise ID. Then to Oregon. Have my route planned to Boise. Going to catch hwy 50 in Carson city to hwy 95 to hwy 84.Staying with family a couple days in Boise. Any suggestions on day rides in Boise area? Going to take Hwy 84 to Hood River OR. To visit WAAAM. Would like some input on my route back to Carson City NV. Some must see places & things? Thank you for your advice!
Last edited by 2boxerdogs; Jul 12, 2017 at 05:56 PM.
The above route is good but only one of many ways to get from Boise to Hood River. There is Ontario to Burns to Bend on US 20, then up US 197 to The Dalles (take US 26 at Madras and then go from Govt Camp to Hood River on OR 35). Or you could go from Baker City (like above) but go back to OR7 (go to Sumpter but back track a few miles) and take OR 7 to US 26 through Prairie City/John Day to Madras and either go US197 or US 26 to Mt Hood- like above). Or, you can do the above, but get off US 26 in Dayville OR and take OR 19 through Fossil OR, then due north on OR 19 to Arlington OR, or get on OR 206 to Biggs Junction or take OR 218 west to US97 or US197.
As you can see that there are lots of two lane twisty and scenic roads from eastern OR to Hood River. I-84 from Pendleton to Hood River is a interstate slab with lots of semi-truck and limited scenery (Baker to Pendleton is nice). Take the smaller routes and see the state of Oregon rather than the back-end of a truck.
A bit to the East of your return plan, is Hells Canyon. This road is a bucket list ride. You would take 95 North out of Ontario....to Cambridge, then 71 to Copperfield (this is a very nice road),..... then 86 west to the south entrance to the Hells Canyon road..... then all the way up to Joseph & Enterprise ..... then west back to La Grande on 83. Figure on a full day, with a stop at the overlook. A google search will show you the route. When you come through Joseph, at the junction there is a restaurant on the other side of the street to your left, called the Cheyenne Cafe.... great food.... and just to the south of Joseph is a great site to visit if you are into American History, Old Chief Josephs memorial and grave site. (take a small something to leave, you will see what I mean if you go)
Also, 84 is a major North/south connector from Canada to California, and there is a lot of truck traffic on it. You might want to consider 14 on the north side of the Columbia, I am not sure of the road, have not ridden it myself, but my buddy did and he said is a good ride. Be prepared for some wind on the Columbia river.
If you go through Baker, just east of it is the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. This is a worthy stop to get a bit of American History.
On the way south from Hood, certainly Crater lake if you have not done it. Make sure you stop in the Interpretive center on the South end of the park, there is some good stuff in there to read in the displays.
Thank you CR2. Hells Canyon is on my to do rides as are Crater Lake & Columbia Gorge. Thank you for the info.
PS: I really enjoy your travels with Darla & have to admit you & my wife's encouragement lit a fire under my butt to plan this ride! I'm really looking forward to this adventure! Thanks again & safe travels!
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Heading to Boise/Oregon
