Denver to Portland?
06-28-09, 11:38 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Denver to Portland?
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?
06-28-09, 11:43 AM
#2
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
How many days can you budget?
Michael
Michael
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
06-28-09, 11:45 AM
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
06-28-09, 12:05 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SW Washington, USA
Posts: 373
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Lots of choices for route, but an obvious one would be the AdventureCycling 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
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
06-28-09, 01:26 PM
#6
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Be sure to bring a camera and post you pictures here.
Michael
Michael
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
06-28-09, 01:52 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 107
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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'.
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'.
06-28-09, 01:55 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 107
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
