Oregon Route Help

[johnpitts01]

PNW Super Ten comrades:

A right coast group is planning an assault out west for 2012.
We need some help with a route through Oregon.
We've researched the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route and don't like what we see. Many ride reports indicate some difficult sections.

Our basic plan through Oregon goes from the Carson / Stevenson area to the coast somewhere near the Oregon / California border.
We want to ride off road as much as possible but want to avoid anything too gnarly. We want to be relaxed and enjoy the beauty of Oregon via off road routes. Negotiating difficult single track routes with the potential for bike and rider damage is not what we seek. Great camping in remote locations is a bonus.

We are willing to go east in Oregon if it will afford good riding and scenery. Desert riding is not on our agenda for this trip.

The bikes will be a mix. The largest being a GSA ridden by a highly skilled rider.

Any and all offers of routing assistance are welcome as are general do's/don'ts and advice for Oregon. If you know anyone specific that has local knowledge or any local DS clubs, etc that we should contact please send the information along. You are welcome to PM me if you prefer to keep the communication off the main thread.

To give you some idea of our riding preferences and the skills of the crew have a look at any of the ride report threads on ADVRider in the links below. We research our routes thoroughly and spend countless hours in preparation to ensure we maximize the enjoyment of the trip with minimum route worries and dificult riding conditions.

Thanks in advance.

JB

Forever West http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647968
TAT West http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=410130
TAT East http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272563
Idaho http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=530858

 

[rem]

http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=statemap R

 

[tomatocity]

Here is a route I am looking forward to riding next year (was supposed to be this year)... http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=McCall,+ID&daddr=Ponderosa+State+Park,+McCall,+ID+toark+At+the+River,+Wallowa+Lake+Highway,+Joseph,+OR+to:Enterprise,+OR+97828&hl=en&ll=45.046359,-116.666565&spn=1.11776,2.694397&sll=44.919476,-116.103172&sspn=0.035007,0.0842&geocode=FZ5JrQIdUHkU-Smhm5cw5lmmVDE2ijHgYBe1Yw%3BFT2BrQId95YU-SHEreCeD9BbjA%3BFb_gsgIdcYYD-SHm4tY2NJgpwSmV9tCTOQ-kVDFOLH4pWiS8ng%3BFVYmtQIdw3cC-Sl5ZXsmifmjVDE7KDNk5Tzy6Q&vpsrc=6&mra=ls&t=p&z=9

The Nat'l Dev roads look like fun and beautiful. I was using this route to connect to the all asphalt Enterprise Lewiston Hwy (Hwy 3).

Here is an alternative to Hwy 3 from Wallowa to Boggans Oasis... For some reason I can't copy the map but if you enter Wallowa and Boggans Oasis you can see the twisty route.

I have not ridden these routes and found them with GoogleMaps. Some of the route can be viewed through Street View. Hope this helps.

 

[markjenn]

Here is a route I am looking forward to riding next year....

Great route (hells canyon area is just wonderful), but radically east of where these guys are going to be going. Not that Hells Canyon isn't a great destination - one of my all time favorite areas is around Imnaha and the somewhat treacherous road that goes out from there to the Snake. Klienschmidt grade coming out of Hells Canyon on the other side is truly a ride that should be on everyone's bucket list, although you have to be comfortable riding rocky two-track with big dropoffs.

My overall take: When traversing OR, you first need to decide if you want to do coastal range, cascades, eastern oregon or a mix (probably two out of three to keep mileage reasonable). Coastal range stuff is a lot like N. Calif coastal - dense woods, tight riding with poor sightlines, sometimes very slick pavement (moss, etc.), more water (occasional mudholes), much cooler/windier (sometimes damn damp/cold), fog often near the coast, great ocean views, etc. Eastern Oregon is high desert and volcanic - dry, damn hot sometimes (but a dry heat), sage, see forever, little water except for major rivers, sometimes very rocky, extremely grippy pavement. Cascades is somewhat between.

Personally, since you're doing coastal in CA, to get the full monty, I'd do either Cascades and/or E. Oregon going south, and let CA be your coastal fix. Since you want to be near the coast around the CA-OR border, I'd look at a loop that first goes E from Carson and starts S around The Dalles or Biggs where the high desert begins. Work your way S sorta staying a bit E of 97, going through places like Antelope, Mitchell, Prineville, etc., then starting to trend W to get into the area around Crater Lake. If you have time, you can work a little more E and pick up the prime sections from the OBCDR, but avoid the really nasty stuff between Burns and Paisley. Work your way W through Medford, and out to the coast. If this appeals to you, I can amplify further.

- Mark

 

[johnpitts01]

Wallowa Boggins

Thanks Tim.
We rode in that area including the reservoir on our Idaho trip.
It's a beautiful area you will love it.

We probably do not want to go that far east in Oregon in 2012.

JB

Here is a route I am looking forward to riding next year (was supposed to be this year)... http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=McCall,+ID&daddr=Ponderosa+State+Park,+McCall,+ID+toark+At+the+River,+Wallowa+Lake+Highway,+Joseph,+OR+to:Enterprise,+OR+97828&hl=en&ll=45.046359,-116.666565&spn=1.11776,2.694397&sll=44.919476,-116.103172&sspn=0.035007,0.0842&geocode=FZ5JrQIdUHkU-Smhm5cw5lmmVDE2ijHgYBe1Yw%3BFT2BrQId95YU-SHEreCeD9BbjA%3BFb_gsgIdcYYD-SHm4tY2NJgpwSmV9tCTOQ-kVDFOLH4pWiS8ng%3BFVYmtQIdw3cC-Sl5ZXsmifmjVDE7KDNk5Tzy6Q&vpsrc=6&mra=ls&t=p&z=9

The Nat'l Dev roads look like fun and beautiful. I was using this route to connect to the all asphalt Enterprise Lewiston Hwy (Hwy 3).

Here is an alternative to Hwy 3 from Wallowa to Boggans Oasis... For some reason I can't copy the map but if you enter Wallowa and Boggans Oasis you can see the twisty route.

I have not ridden these routes and found them with GoogleMaps. Some of the route can be viewed through Street View. Hope this helps.

 

[johnpitts01]

Mark:

That sounds about perfect. As we are already communicatiing off line I will email you there.


JB

Great route (hells canyon area is just wonderful), but radically east of where these guys are going to be going. Not that Hells Canyon isn't a great destination - one of my all time favorite areas is around Imnaha and the somewhat treacherous road that goes out from there to the Snake. Klienschmidt grade coming out of Hells Canyon on the other side is truly a ride that should be on everyone's bucket list, although you have to be comfortable riding rocky two-track with big dropoffs.

My overall take: When traversing OR, you first need to decide if you want to do coastal range, cascades, eastern oregon or a mix (probably two out of three to keep mileage reasonable). Coastal range stuff is a lot like N. Calif coastal - dense woods, tight riding with poor sightlines, sometimes very slick pavement (moss, etc.), more water (occasional mudholes), much cooler/windier (sometimes damn damp/cold), fog often near the coast, great ocean views, etc. Eastern Oregon is high desert and volcanic - dry, damn hot sometimes (but a dry heat), sage, see forever, little water except for major rivers, sometimes very rocky, extremely grippy pavement. Cascades is somewhat between.

Personally, since you're doing coastal in CA, to get the full monty, I'd do either Cascades and/or E. Oregon going south, and let CA be your coastal fix. Since you want to be near the coast around the CA-OR border, I'd look at a loop that first goes E from Carson and starts S around The Dalles or Biggs where the high desert begins. Work your way S sorta staying a bit E of 97, going through places like Antelope, Mitchell, Prineville, etc., then starting to trend W to get into the area around Crater Lake. If you have time, you can work a little more E and pick up the prime sections from the OBCDR, but avoid the really nasty stuff between Burns and Paisley. Work your way W through Medford, and out to the coast. If this appeals to you, I can amplify further.

- Mark

 

[Mike Sisson]

As Mark noted, East can get pretty toasty... Coast is GREAT but lottsa SLOOOOW traffic.... ::010:: You won't be dissapointed regardless. Enjoy!!!

 

[digitalmoto]

Motorcycle Journeys through the Pacific Northwest is a helpful book. The author teaches English at PSU in downtown Portland. He sticks to pavement, but there are some great sections of road covered in his book.

http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Journeys-through-Pacific-Northwest/dp/1884313868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320516340&sr=8-1

My off-road expereince is very limited and I don't have any suggestions for off-road routes through Oregon. Historically, I've been pushing my luck on my SuperDuke on the tight, twisty, paved forest service roads in the Cascades or doing distance runs in Central/Eastern Oregon on my FJR.

One of my favorite rides is the Klickitat valley in Southern Washington. I do it at least 6 times a year. In Oregon, the roads around Antilope, Fossil, Shaniko, and Condon are really nice. Mind the gravel in the turns.

The road between Clarkston, WA and Enterprise, OR is on the AMA top 15 rides list. It really is that good. I know it is seriously out of your way, but you could hit it on your way West. You can reach it from the south via I-84. You can start near the southern end of Hells Canyon and work your way toward Joseph. North to Enterprise and you're on you way to Rattlesnake grade. My first off-tarmac on the XTZ was in the Hells Canyon area. It was a lot of fun and there are lots fo forest service roads. Temps will fluxuate widely. 80s of the canyon lip. 110 at the bottom. And my GPS lied.

I'd research the Steens Mountain and Alvord Lake areas.

Have you considered emailing the guys at Giant Loop? They are based in southern Oregon. They are known for doing... wait for it... a "giant loop" through Oregon and Northern Cali on thier dual sport bikes.

Hwy 199 from Grants Pass to the Coast through the Redwoods is phenominal.

My $0.02.

 

[johnpitts01]

DigitalMoto

Thanks for the $0.02

We want to cover as much of the route as possible off road.

Hells Canyon area is fantastic. We rode in the area when we did our Idaho route. Hells Canyon Roadhouse in Imnaha is a must do!

We will check Steens Mountain and Alvord Lake areas..

Contacting the Giant Loop guys is a great idea!!!! Trying to decide what to do for luggage on the S10. Maybe a Giant Loop!!!

Thanks again.

JB

Motorcycle Journeys through the Pacific Northwest is a helpful book. The author teaches English at PSU in downtown Portland. He sticks to pavement, but there are some great sections of road covered in his book.

http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Journeys-through-Pacific-Northwest/dp/1884313868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320516340&sr=8-1

My off-road expereince is very limited and I don't have any suggestions for off-road routes through Oregon. Historically, I've been pushing my luck on my SuperDuke on the tight, twisty, paved forest service roads in the Cascades or doing distance runs in Central/Eastern Oregon on my FJR.

One of my favorite rides is the Klickitat valley in Southern Washington. I do it at least 6 times a year. In Oregon, the roads around Antilope, Fossil, Shaniko, and Condon are really nice. Mind the gravel in the turns.

The road between Clarkston, WA and Enterprise, OR is on the AMA top 15 rides list. It really is that good. I know it is seriously out of your way, but you could hit it on your way West. You can reach it from the south via I-84. You can start near the southern end of Hells Canyon and work your way toward Joseph. North to Enterprise and you're on you way to Rattlesnake grade. My first off-tarmac on the XTZ was in the Hells Canyon area. It was a lot of fun and there are lots fo forest service roads. Temps will fluxuate widely. 80s of the canyon lip. 110 at the bottom. And my GPS lied.

I'd research the Steens Mountain and Alvord Lake areas.

Have you considered emailing the guys at Giant Loop? They are based in southern Oregon. They are known for doing... wait for it... a "giant loop" through Oregon and Northern Cali on thier dual sport bikes.

Hwy 199 from Grants Pass to the Coast through the Redwoods is phenominal.

My $0.02.

 

[johnpitts01]

Bump