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Denver to Seattle, the scenic route....

tkent02

tkent02

Forum LongTimer
Past Site Supporter
Been this way many times, on Interstates and other highways. Looking to do the really back roads stuff, using as few state highways and other paved roads as possible. Riding a big dual sport, so crap roads are fine. A week or so enroute would be good. Any great suggestions on roads to ride and places to go along the way?

Avoiding Yellowstone like a plague, it's summer and I don't like crowds and slow riding all that much.
 
Well, in Oregon it's wide open. I assume you're going west first, so get to US Hwy 40 to 6 to 50 and get over to Winnemuca,NV. Avoid southern ID, the Snake River plain will kill you

I'll start with Denio, NV and go up 205 to the Steen Mt Loop and end up in Frenchglen, OR

Then up to Burns, OR and take the Burns- Izee Rd over the Ochocos to 380 and Paulina, then Prineville, OR. West thru Redmond and Sisters and over Hwy 242.

North on 126 to the junction, then to Detroit on Hwy 22. North on FR 46 to Breitenbush and beyond.

There's lost of possibilities after that. You can ride up forest roads to Mt Ranier and into Seattle. Or cut thru the valley and the Coast Range to the Coast and take Hwy 101 up around the Olympics
 
Have to agree, been on most of those.
How backwoods are they?,,.. expect cows on the road around any corner.
S1993-0808W1-02.jpg

Also consider eastbound Oregon Hwy20 from junction Or Hwy126.
 
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Thanks guys! Actually I'm fairly familiar with those areas. Ridden a lot in Nevada and Oregon. I'm thinking of going North first, then across, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, into washington and avoiding highways as much as possible.
 
Sure, go the wrong way around!

Sheridan, WY over the Bighorns on 14, stay west to Lowell, 310 up into MT, double back a few miles to 308 to Red Lodge, continue on 78 to Columbus, I 90 to 191 N to 3 W and north on 89 thru the NF, Great Falls, up thru the park and down to Kalispell

Have you done Lolo Pass thru ID?
 
Hopefully you have checked Touratech ( http://www.touratech-usa.com/) and the Griptwister self tours ( http://www.griptwister.com/olympics.html ) your can do with a GPS around the Olympic National Park. Quilcene, WA to Forks then Hoh River to Lake Cushman is a 600 mile circle of fire roads full of fun. I use my GSA with knobbies or the XR when lazy. Great training route to do the Yukon elements or Deadhorse jaunt.
The Seattle Touratech flagship USA store is pretty cool if you are downtown by Boeing Field Airport.
 
The bicycle folks at Adventure Cycling have some good routes (though they do go through Yellowstone). I like the route through Lander WY to Jackson, over Teton Pass. Idaho your desire. For crossing the Cascades:
- McKenzie Pass in OR (OR-242)
- Chinook Pass in WA (Mt Rainier WA-410)
- North Cascades Hwy in WA (WA-20) (near Canadian border)
 
go through north idaho, if you are lucky, you will get lost.

route 12 Missoula to Kooskia (coo-ski)is a fast winding road, but, it has a 50 mph speed limit. it can be busy in july and august. there is a really nice place to stay at Powell id, 50 miles past missoula near the summit of the lolo pass....Lochsa lodge.
at Kooskia you decide...

A)
winchester grade (winchester lake state park?)near Grangeville / Lewiston, is worth the slight detour. and if you find yourself at lewiston do the spiral highway that climbs out of there.

B)
head to Orofino, get off 12 and climb the big hill past the dam and head for Kendrick-Deary-(White pine scenic byway)Emida and you end up at St Maries

Another route
St joe river road is better than route 12 if you don't mind a little gravel (10 miles) near the summit, it starts at St Regis mt and heads west to St Maries id.
 
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derwood said:
Another route
St joe river road is better than route 12 if you don't mind a little gravel (10 miles) near the summit, it starts at St Regis mt and heads west to St Maries id.
Click to expand...

No, I don't mind gravel, it's a big dirt bike. I'd do the whole thing on gravel and dirt if I could find a route that goes.
 
Question for you Canadians...

It has been very wet summer so far in BC I hear, do you expect this to continue through the summer, or do you think it may dry out later?

Planning plan B in case the coastal areas are under a deluge all the time. I don't mind riding in some rain but my beautiful bride may think otherwise after a while.
 
tkent02 said:
Question for you Canadians...

It has been very wet summer so far in BC I hear, do you expect this to continue through the summer, or do you think it may dry out later?

Planning plan B in case the coastal areas are under a deluge all the time. I don't mind riding in some rain but my beautiful bride may think otherwise after a while.
Click to expand...

As someone who has had to deal with weather forecasts throughout my career at sea. I can confidently tell you that Environment Canada couldn't predict yesterdays weather.
But for what it's worth. I believe they are predicting an exceptionally hot August. How does she feel about forest fire smoke ?:)
 
I don't think you have to go through canada to get to seattle from denver. especially the coast. Rainy season is over regardless.
 
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tkent02 said:
No, I don't mind gravel, it's a big dirt bike. I'd do the whole thing on gravel and dirt if I could find a route that goes.
Click to expand...

When are you leaving and what's your basic route so far?

When are you going to be done in Seattle?
 
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