Route Suggestions: Portland Oregon to Glacier National Park, MT.

[Mtbjay]

Other then, "Camping," I don't see a better spot to post this… (for quick replies, anyway). I'm planning a trip to the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier National Park, (from Portland, OR) for my fiend, Brian and I. We've only got 4 1/2 days. East of Walla Walla, I'm in new territory. I spent the day dragging lines on Google Maps, metering out they trip, and avoiding major highways while exploring the curvey minor highways. What "CAN'T MISS" roads between Portland and Glacier National Park would you suggest? Any tips, Do's & Don'ts for Glacier?

My riding partner says I always do an outstanding job planning the routes…. I can't let him down now!


Ears open,

JB

 

[shrekonwheels]

Holy cow so many beautiful routes. Highway 12 is a winner to LoLo Mt then north either up 93 to 35 to 2 for good scenic, or up 93 to I 90 east to 200, 89, 2 for amazing the entire way.

Now make sure you go Hwy 2 up thru Libby one direction, amazing drive as well.

Regardless that area of Montana/Idaho is worth the ride, even on I90.

 

[rider33]

you need to be on 2 for Glacier. The cool bit is out of Portland you can pick it up via 14 (other side of river from 84) with a switch to 97 in Maryhill. That will put you thru some very pretty sections of the Palouse or at least it did the last time I did it. Be sure to bring a heated vest, the Road to The Sun will drop 20-30 degrees from whatever the starting temp is as you climb. My avitar actually is an accidental shot of Logan pass, I handed the disposable camera to a lady to take a picture and she inadvertently set of the last shot. When I got the film back, there was this shot of my hand w/Logan in the background....

 

[Don in Lodi]

You should be able to grab both Lolo's, Washington's and Idaho's. I did Idaho's a few days ago, very nice. From the east side in Missoula, it was an easy shot to our campground at Lake McDonald at the west end of Going to the Sun Rd.

 

[tomatocity]

The best I could do in 10 minutes...

https://goo.gl/maps/IUhia

I don't know most of these roads but most of the travel is not on "I" and "US" highways.

I have been wanting to ride OR-3 and WA-129 for a few years.

WA-14 keeps you off I-84. Threw in Stonehenge because it was there.

Surely you know more about your area than I do. Back roads are the best.

 

[Mtbjay]

Sweet! Thanks for the replies, guys. I will definitely check this all out.

Squeezing it all in (without pushing 400 mile days) is proving to be a challenge. I like the challenge. I can't wait to look into this and compare it to what I intuited to be the best routes.

This forum is great!

JB

 

[Don in Lodi]

Two 350 mile days there, two 350 mile days back. No slack built into this one. I can recommend the Fish Creek campgrounds on McDonald. Need to make reservations though.

 

[Mtbjay]

Shrek,

I noticed right away, you're from Montana! It's been years since I've visited (had a cousin in Bozeman)…. who now lives in Kalispell and works, building walls, in Glacier.

In the interest of time, I was planning an "out-and-back" from Whitefish, up the "Going-to-the-Sun" road & back, then south to the Bitterroot Mountain Range for the 3rd night's camp. It looks like pushing through to St. Mary, then looping around Hwy 89, 287, 200 and onto Missoula, wouldn't be a scenic as the out & back. What what road south from West Glacier? 93? Or 35 on the east side of Flathead Lake? Hwy 83, just east of hwy 35 at Flathead Lake, looks good too.

From Missoula, it's south & west. I recall a sign "Curvy Roads next 56 miles" from my youth on Hwy 93 south out of Missoula. I was initially planning to take 93 around to Stanley, ID. But, now I am considering Hwy 12 out of Lolo and onto 95 south. How would you compare those two ways?

I'd love to have more time to explore, but it just isn't in the cards this year. It's really just a run to the sun, turn & burn home (albeit the scenic route)….

 

[AspentureRider]

Be careful of traffic in Missoula... it can be bad am, lunch, and pm. But DO stop at Big Sky Brewery! >
And, the sooner you hit "Going to the Sun" the better... like 6am, to avoid traffic there.

 

[Mtbjay]

you need to be on 2 for Glacier. The cool bit is out of Portland you can pick it up via 14 (other side of river from 84) with a switch to 97 in Maryhill. That will put you thru some very pretty sections of the Palouse or at least it did the last time I did it. Be sure to bring a heated vest, the Road to The Sun will drop 20-30 degrees from whatever the starting temp is as you climb. My avitar actually is an accidental shot of Logan pass, I handed the disposable camera to a lady to take a picture and she inadvertently set of the last shot. When I got the film back, there was this shot of my hand w/Logan in the background....

Rider33,

Thanks for the tips! I was looking to camp, east of Walla Walla, the first night. I hadn't considered traveling further north (through Kennewick) because Hwy 12 looked like it might better offer a place to set tents for the night? We'll be leaving PDX around 4PM, blasting East, Northeast, till 8PM+ looking to throw down our bags anywhere we won't be hassled. We'll want to get a jump on Friday's run into Kallispell>Whitefish. What say you on the cowboy camp situation roundabout Walla Walla east?


As far as the rest of it…


I am wrestling with going through Coeur D'Alene north to Sandpoint and Hwy 2 into Kallispell

Vs.

Minor Hwy 3 (just east of Lake Coeur D'Alene) to i-90 just l-90 and onto ??? towards Flathead Lake.


(I prefer, fast, scenic and curvy minor highways -to well traveled highways- whenever possible.)

What do you suggest? We want to make Whitefish in 1 1/2 days.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Cour d'Alene was a pain. The traffic lights are not in sync. We did hit it 4:30 on a weekday afternoon though.

 

[Mtbjay]

Be careful of traffic in Missoula... it can be bad am, lunch, and pm. But DO stop at Big Sky Brewery! >
And, the sooner you hit "Going to the Sun" the better... like 6am, to avoid traffic there.

Yes, I recall some 3 decades ago, Missoula "felt" crowded then. Planning on hitting G2S at 7AM at least… on a… Saturday? Better make that 6, huh?

Much fine-tuning to do. Then the dreaded Garmin Base Camp to program the GPS…. ugh. Paper maps and a Sharpies rule!

Midnight Oil work for me...

 

[Mtbjay]

P.S. Will be tour testing the new Conti TK70's and Cardo Q3 bike-to-bike BT inter-comm at that time. Can provide feedback if anyone's interested.

 

[tomatocity]

Friends recently rode 82 out of Enterprise OR to Elgin OR. He picked up radar signals and slowed in time. Be careful how far over the speed limit you ride.

 

[shrekonwheels]

Shrek,

I noticed right away, you're from Montana! It's been years since I've visited (had a cousin in Bozeman)…. who now lives in Kalispell and works, building walls, in Glacier.

In the interest of time, I was planning an "out-and-back" from Whitefish, up the "Going-to-the-Sun" road & back, then south to the Bitterroot Mountain Range for the 3rd night's camp. It looks like pushing through to St. Mary, then looping around Hwy 89, 287, 200 and onto Missoula, wouldn't be a scenic as the out & back. What what road south from West Glacier? 93? Or 35 on the east side of Flathead Lake? Hwy 83, just east of hwy 35 at Flathead Lake, looks good too.

From Missoula, it's south & west. I recall a sign "Curvy Roads next 56 miles" from my youth on Hwy 93 south out of Missoula. I was initially planning to take 93 around to Stanley, ID. But, now I am considering Hwy 12 out of Lolo and onto 95 south. How would you compare those two ways?

I'd love to have more time to explore, but it just isn't in the cards this year. It's really just a run to the sun, turn & burn home (albeit the scenic route)….

I lived in Bigfork, Kalispell and Missoula, really liked them all.
The east side of flathead lake is beautiful, but most of the wide open views of the lake are on 93, which is easiest to go thru. 35 had lots of corners so is very fun on a motorcycle but not so much on the view end as lots of trees on the east side and only sparotic views of the lake on the west, still worth the travel regardless. However if you want scenery then take the extra fifteen minutes and go down the 89 along the Swan. You will have several stunning lakes along the way. This route IMO is the most spectacular of that trip to make excluding 2 up glacier, or going up thru Libby. You then catch the 200 to I 90, to Missoula or on west.
The area in general is littered with deer, but especially so on the 89, just take your time, keep your brake covered and eyes peeled, well worth it regardless and I lost count how many times I have ridden it by Motorcycle. The Swan route never gets old.

Edit; If I had to tell someone who could only see the area once which to take, it would be the 89, hands down.

Stanly Idaho is friggin Amazing and the Sawtooth breathtaking. Riding the St Joseph Pass South Of Missoula is non stop corners up and down. Then when you pass Chalise ID to Stanley, all curves the entire way and breathtaking views.

That is your winning route ::008::

 

[Bappo]

Do not miss highway 12. With that settled :-* there are many great campgrounds on 12. The one at Lochsa Lodge is a favorite of mine. Stay there almost every year. I you get fancy, the cabins there are fantastic and only cost like $60. Another good campground is the Jerry Johnson campground just a few miles east. It's advantage is that when you cross the cool swinging bridge across the river there is a short 2 mile flat hike to some of the best natural hot springs you will ever find. My favorite pool has you sitting under a hot water waterfall. Natural of course means suits are optional.

Easy to get camp set up at either site in early evening and a nice soak before nighty night time.

Have a great trip ::012::

 

[Bappo]

Oh and I also use the Scala Q3 and love it. Have 2 actually because it lasts exactly 8 hours on a charge when listening to music so on long days I can just continue along while charging the other one. ::021::

 

[rider33]

Rider33,

Thanks for the tips! I was looking to camp, east of Walla Walla, the first night. I hadn't considered traveling further north (through Kennewick) because Hwy 12 looked like it might better offer a place to set tents for the night? We'll be leaving PDX around 4PM, blasting East, Northeast, till 8PM+ looking to throw down our bags anywhere we won't be hassled. We'll want to get a jump on Friday's run into Kallispell>Whitefish. What say you on the cowboy camp situation roundabout Walla Walla east..........




The two roads in that area that I think are not to be missed are the Going to the Sun (early=better) and 12 between Lewiston and Missoula. Me, I'd jump on whatever slab is needed to make time to get those in. In terms of camping, I've not camped in the area but from the look of it deep into 12 would be a better bet than Walla Walla unless you book something prior, its a lot bigger than you would think as I recall...

 

[Mtbjay]

@Rider33,

12 out and 93 back would be epic curves. Good idea - avoid anywhere near Cour D'elane and Spokane, their population influence on the road congestion would slow us down.

But that St. Joe/NF-50 road, just east of St. Maries looks cool…. You gotta zoom in on GoogleMaps to see it.




@Bappo,

Great tips! That's our style, for sure. 12 it is, one way or another.

Q3 coming today. Hopefully we can jive with the interface and be chatting in no time. I've ridden 6 years with only hand-gestures to work with. I look forward to being able to talk.

 

[yz454]

Any where up that way you have to watch out for forest rat and mean the biggest kind .