Prineville nice little town, its on 20/26 one of my favorite routes across the U.S. At Mitchell head north on 207 for most of the rest of the trip KEEPING THE TANK TOPPED UP is recommended. This next par t of the ride is scenic and twisty. A few miles after the town of Spray take hwy 19, when you arrive in Kimberly take 402 heading NE. At Long Creek (gas)take hwy 395 north if the burger joint in Dale is open be sure to get a burger!!
18 miles after Dale head east on 244 a really scenic area nice road, some fishing/recreation traffic but not much else coming your way. 244 is part of the route that Cheif Joseph followed while eluding the calvary. Hard to imagine getting through here on foot carrying all your gear!! The route is scenic and twisty with some really tight corners. The rocks on road signs were correct; when I was there most areas had stone and rocks and rubble on the road.
The canyon has about 100 corners on the way up and down; waqthc for livestock, I almost got a large bull who was trucking on down the middle of the road. If it wasn't late in the day I would hve ridden it again!!!
At LaGrange I fueled myself and the bike, then headed off of the slab as soon as I could on Hwy82 NE to Enterprise. 82 was fun too but not quite as much fun as 244 but was little faster road.
Hwy 3 north out of Enterprise on to Lewiston,Idaho a lot smaller than I expected. A few miles before Lewiston on Hwy 129 I found new blacktop and some absolutley wonderful corners witha great bank built in, was so much fun I went back and rode part of it again!! This route only has about 40 miles in Washington state.
Plan your lodging better than I did between the bikers, the bicyclists (lots) and a high school reunion I got the last room in Orofino.
Hwy 12 is the way to get to Missoula, over 100 miles of nice sweepers, tremendous scenery, as the road follows a river valley for most of that distance. The road surface was great when I was there, I stopped a number of times to check out the river and the view, I miss the mountains. The Lolo Pass Info center is worth a stop, nice to get off the bike and take a short walk, view the exhibits, and get more upcoming site information.
Missoula has a great hike if you think your legs can handle it, climb up to the "M" lots of work, down was almost as tough. I had a great meal on the main street, name escapes me, but the food is great in this college town.
The town is home to fire fighter and smokechaser forest fire fighter jumping school as well as a good Univ. I wanted a little more adventure after Missoula and not a slab ride, so...I took hwy 200 to 141 east to Helena. I wandered around the capital city, visited the capitol building, a nice historic building; but Helena did not impress me.
I took 287/12 out of town but wanted less traffic and slab like riding so..I headed north on Lake Helena Dr., why it sounded nice. At hwy 280/York RD. I turned east. A nice new road anice new bridge and then wow it turned into a great narrow canyon road that after ashort ride became gravel;just what I was looking for!!! If you want less gravel take Jimtown Rd back to the rest of the route; no gravel well bypass this loop and stay on the main route to whereever you are headed.
I followed York and some other roads until I was caugt in a forest fire and kept riding to stay ahead of the flames and smoke. Not sure what roads I took for sure but afer reviewing my maps this is what I believe I rode. York and the rest were scenic and well maintained gravel, some loseness in the corners, I wish I could have looked around some but I was riding fast and hard in smoke; at times I had flames along the roadsides on both sides I saw few burned recreational cabins and trailers.
The rest of teh ride back to MN was great but for another route.
This is a motorcycle ride in the states Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana. This motorcycle route has 5 scenery characteristics and other road conditions to help you plan your road trip. This motorcycle map was created by 48overland in February. Click here to see other Motorcycle Roads by 48overland