Pacific Northwest - Portland to the coast?

What's the best route from Portland to the coast? Meadow Lake Road to Nestucca to Blain looks promising. I think it starts in Carleton or Newberg. Very curvy, though...

I only know about whatever the bike route is to Astoria--I'm not sure of the names of the road(s); however, it seems like that's the route you'd want to take (or, cross over to Kelso and head to the coast on the other side of the river and then you can peddle over the Astoria bridge!). :)

Where do you want to go on the coast, and where are you starting from in Portland, it will make a difference on route.

I don't really care actually. Obviously the route to Astoria would be a good one, but I love that area that I described in my first post. I'll have to try it and let you guys know.

Alex,
There is some info on the route you mention from Michael Wolfe's blog. It's under Nestucca River Road.

The Long Haul (http://escapevelocipede.blogspot.com/2006/10/long-hauls-to-do-list.html)

Here is his G-map of the route, you will have to zoom in to level 12 to see the road names. Needless to say, if you are unfamiliar with the area, you should have a reliable paper map with you as there are many side roads and signs are not always in place. Also see the comments about snow by David.

Gmap (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=524002)

I would think the route for the Hood to Coast Relay would make a good one. That'll land you in Seaside. Map is here:

http://www.hoodtocoast.com/map.php

BTW, that is one of the most fun running races I've ever been a part of.

And here is another route to Astoria through the coast range. Again, there will be snow in the higher elevations of this route at times.

1. Take Rt. 30 from Portland to Scappoose.
2. Turn left on Scappoose-Vernonia Hwy.
3. Turn right on Oregon Hwy. 47 at Pittsburg.
4. Turn left on Oregon Hwy 202 at Mist.
5. Follow 202 into Astoria.

This is all pavement with no shoulder for most of it. Traffic is light but there will be log trucks during the week and motorhomes on weekends. It's a much more scenic ride than taking Highway 30 all the way from Portland to Astoria.

http://www.pbase.com/billd9/image/67719870.jpg

I would think the route for the Hood to Coast Relay would make a good one. That'll land you in Seaside. Map is here:

http://www.hoodtocoast.com/map.php

BTW, that is one of the most fun running races I've ever been a part of.

I've done this route, it's very nice. You can also start in Hillsboro, through Veronia and Pittsburg to Mist and Jewell. Last time I rode this route, I went into Astoria, not Seaside, look at a road map for details to go either way.

YES dogbait! That's it!!:D

Added note: Clicking on the individual HtC legs will get you backroad routes to help avoid much highway travel.

A memory that is still vivid from a HtC was leaving the Columbia Co. Fairgrounds about 2 am and running down a country lane in the dark with no points of reference other than the rising and falling pungence of manure from the farms I was passing.

Thanks for the replies everyone! This is starting to seem like a real possibility...

I did the Nestucca/Blaine/Cape Lookout trip last Spring. The road is mainly paved, but there is a section between Carlton and Blaine that is hard packed gravel (atleast it was hard packed in May/June).

I road my mountain bike with slicks and had a great time. There was some snow underneath the trees in the higher spots, but the road was totally clear. I did encounter a few logging trucks, but there was very little traffic until I hit Blaine. There are very few stores or even houses in the middle of that ride so I would advise bringing extra food. You can get water at the campgrounds along the road.

I put my bike on the Max and rode to Hillsboro before starting the trip. My wife picked me up at the coast (I can't remember the town, but it is a few miles North of Cape Lookout) and the trip was 108 miles.

There is another road that starts in Nehalem Bay near the town of Nehalem and connects with the highway that goes to Vernonia, but it has about 15 miles of gravel. It follows the river and is truly a spectacular ride, but my hands were numb from the bumps by the time we got back on pavement.

Lots of options! We talked about organizing a BF ride to the coast a few months ago, but never got past the planning phase.

Good Luck--