Trip Recommendations

[mcdstrom]

I'd appreciate some recommendations from y'all to help me put together a trip.

June 14 - I'm heading out of Portland to meet up with a friend in Yreka, CA. I don't really want to take I-5 all the way down, but can't take too much time either. What do you recommend?

June 15 - We'll be making our way back up around Crater Lake ending in Redmond. Best route?

June 16 - Heading east. I'm thinking we should try to touch on Hells Canyon, but it looks like it'll make a really long day. Is HC worth the extra miles? How do you recommend we get from Redmond to that end of the state?

June 17-18 - From somewhere near HC (possibly Joseph/Enterprise) heading up towards Lolo and then down 93 - based on a recommendation my buddy received on another site. Is 93 worth getting to? We'd probably include a trip through Stanley on the way down since that is on the Rose City Motorcycle Club's Grand Tour. And maybe take in the falls at Twin Falls? If we can't make this big of a loop, are there other recommendations.

June 19 - back into OR in the southern corner (Jordan Valley is another Grand Tour stop) and up to Burns?

June 20 - back to Yreka via???

Recommendations (both where to go and where not to go) for those days would be much appreciated. As I've mapped these out there are some pretty solid 350 mile days in there. I'm looking forward to seeing how I do on the RCMC 500 this weekend as the longest I've ridden so far is the 250 last month. And that was one day...not 10 days strung together.

Then we split and I take June 21-23 working my way back up to Portland. Between other posts on this forum, Motorcycle Journeys of the Pacific NW, and Oregon Motorcyclist, I've got lots of ideas for these days.

Oh yeah, my friend is on a Volusia so we need to stick to pavement.

Thanks all!

[Nighthawk22]

One recommendation: Since you are going all this way to spend time with your buddy, don't over do, stop early enough (6'ish) to have time and energy to actually have a nice dinner and talk about the day. Crashing as soon as you hit the hotel is not much fun. Don't get me wrong, the odd high milage day is sometimes unavoidable, just don't plan on it everyday.

[Berserker]

when I plan a ride...

Microsoft Trips and Streets and what I consider the Holy Grail of Oregon map reference...

http://www.amazon.com/Benchmark-Oregon-Road-Recreation-Atlas/dp/092959150X

Joe's (formerly GI Joe's) sells some of the states they offer. You can get any Western state on Amazon.com.

Decide where you want to go and study the maps planning your route with Streets and Trips...I have found some unbelievable roads this way.

Nacho's right on though, plan enough time to get off the road early. I actually like being where I'm going by 4...if you're moteling you have enough time for a hot tub soak for the aching muscles and/or a swim before settling in for a nice dinner.

Good luck!

[mrltt]

Where it me, I'd hit the coast first and then inland to pick up I-5 after Eugene anywhere - that's a far more interesting slab of interstate (hills and curves) than the northern sections... Lots of chances to cut east from the coast depending on how long you want to ride (and whether you have to get to yreka in a day). [editted to remove coastal references to Yreka that reveal my flakiness and confusion of "Y" and "Eu"reka...]

[05Vader]

If you get the chance to do the road between Yreka and Weaverville, through the Trinity Alps Wilderness to Weaverville (west of Redding) do it! Great road, light traffic. Also, if you get a chance to het the Old McKenzie Highway between Sisters and Eugene don't miss it. Try to hit it on a weekday when traffic is lighter.

[WoodWorks]

On the tail end of your trip, DO NOT MISS the chance to ride up Steens Mountain after you stop in Burns. From Burns, head south to Frenchglen, ride up the 13 mile, smooth, well graded gravel road to the summit. Breathtaking! Ride back down, have a burger for lunch at the inn in Frenchglen, and then head south to highway 140 (Denio Junction) and then west back to Klamath Falls and Yreka. You won't regret it!

[Berserker]

If you get the chance to do the road between Yreka and Weaverville, through the Trinity Alps Wilderness to Weaverville (west of Redding) do it! Great road, light traffic. Also, if you get a chance to het the Old McKenzie Highway between Sisters and Eugene don't miss it. Try to hit it on a weekday when traffic is lighter.

On the tail end of your trip, DO NOT MISS the chance to ride up Steens Mountain after you stop in Burns. From Burns, head south to Frenchglen, ride up the 13 mile, smooth, well graded gravel road to the summit. Breathtaking! Ride back down, have a burger for lunch at the inn in Frenchglen, and then head south to highway 140 (Denio Junction) and then west back to Klamath Falls and Yreka. You won't regret it!

Plugging some of these suggestions into our return trip from the VStrom Rally!

Thanks! :D

[zero_it]

From Stanley, Idaho heading west into Garden Valley and then north up to McCall is some quality riding. Coming into Stanley from the south is not that great, other than some scenery. The Sawtooth Mtns are beautiful.

If you're into twisty stuff, then Hell's Canyon is not to be missed! Cool road, clean pavement, killer scenery, very little traffic. There's about 30 miles of back-to-back 15 to 25 MPH (posted speed, the Strom will take 'em much quicker, though!) turns. Once you're in McCall, you HAVE to go to Hell's Canyon. If you want to head back to Portland from HC, there are a couple of options. I suggest going south to I-84 and picking up the old Immigrant Pass road. It's on the north side of the interstate. Two lane, nearly abandoned and very twisty. As suggested above, check it out on Microsoft's Streets & Trips.

[mcdstrom]

Thanks all for the recommendations. There are a few we might be able to work in.
June 14 and 15 haven't changed.

We decided to skip Hells Canyon. On the 16th we'll make our way east from Redmond along 26, head up 395 to Ukiah, then east again on 244, then 82 around to Joseph.

On the 17th we'll head north from Joseph on 3 and 129. Pick up 12 in Lewiston and head to Missoula.

On the 18th we'll drop south from Missoula on 93 to 75 into Stanley.

On the 19th, we'll head west from Stanley on 21. Work our way over to 26 one way or another and stop in John Day. Doesn't look like we can fit in McCall.

On the 20th, we'll head south on 395 to Burns and on down to a point where we'll split (I'll probably head over to KFalls. I'll take a look at the Frenchglen side trip, but I'm not sure my buddy will like the gravel road.