Touring - Denver to Portland?

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View Full Version : Denver to Portland?


kincaasi.werdna
06-28-09, 11:38 AM
Hello everyone. I plan on riding from Denver to Portland this in July. Does anyone know the route? or have any useful advice for the trip?


Barrettscv
06-28-09, 11:43 AM
How many days can you budget?

Michael

kincaasi.werdna
06-28-09, 11:45 AM
As many as needed. It is really the only thing I'm lookin forward to this summer. I was thinkin it would take like three weeks but really have no idea.


EmmCeeBee
06-28-09, 12:05 PM
Lots of choices for route, but an obvious one would be the AdventureCycling (http://www.adventurecycling.org/) TransAmerica trail. Getting from Denver to Silverthorne or Granby (both on the TransAm), would be a nice ride, no matter how you do it.

Lots of TransAm riders go down the Columbia River through Portland, instead of along the route in central Oregon. That leg along the Columbia is part of ACA's Lewis and Clark route. So, in essence, it's all laid out for you.

If you're looking for a bit more adventure and trailblazing, the state maps have great alternatives. For example, through the Sawtooth Mtns in Idaho, through the Wallowa Valley in Oregon...

If you take the TransAm route, three weeks sounds about right.

-- Mark

kincaasi.werdna
06-28-09, 01:10 PM
Man thanks. I was just ordered the trans am map. Thanks for the help!

Barrettscv
06-28-09, 01:26 PM
Be sure to bring a camera and post you pictures here.

Michael

SRS
06-28-09, 01:52 PM
I rode Boulder, CO - Astoria, OR a few years back. Distance: approx. 1600 miles/ 16 days
CO: Boulder, Ft Collins, CO 14 to Walden, CO14 and US40 to Craig
UT: US40 to Vernal
WY: US 191, UT 44, WY 593 to Green River; US30 to Kemmerer; US30 and WY 89 to Thayne
ID: WY89 and US26 to Idaho Falls; US20 Craters of the Moon, Fairfield, and Boise
OR: US20 plus county roads to Vale, OR then US26 to Dayville and Prineville; OR126 and OR 22 to Detroit and Grande Ronde; US101 to Astoria

I did this route in late October-early November.

It was a nice route: great scenery, low vehicle traffic for the most part but that is due in part on the time of year I rode this route. US30 can be busy in the summer. One could avoid US30 by taking WY372 and US189 from Green River to Kemmerer.

For a summer ride I'd suggest riding through the Sawtooths (Sun Valley, Stanley) rather than Fairfield and Boise.

One can camp for free in the Walden, CO city park. $5/night at the city/county park in Kemmerer, WY. Dayville, OR has a biker hostel at the Presbyterian Church - quite nice. More than half the nights someone offered me a place to stay otherwise I generally camped - combination of public and private campgrounds or 'in the woods'.

SRS
06-28-09, 01:55 PM
Lots of TransAm riders go down the Columbia River through Portland, instead of along the route in central Oregon. That leg along the Columbia is part of ACA's Lewis and Clark route. So, in essence, it's all laid out for you.-- Mark

The prevailing winds in the Columbia Gorge are westerly - often quite strong. Hood River is a favorite wind surfing location for a reason. I've always ridden the Columbia Gorge west to east and had a fun tailwind. When I cross OR heading west I prefer to be in the mountains.