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-   -   Route from Boise, ID to Ontatio, OR? (https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/819181-route-boise-id-ontatio.html)

mashtofu 05-19-12 12:05 AM

Route from Boise, ID to Ontatio, OR?
 
I'm going to be cycling from Boise to Eugene in a couple weeks. I've found a route from Ontario to Eugene, but I can't find a route from Boise to Ontario. I've heard mentions of low-traffic farm roads the whole way somewhere. Can anyone provide a map or directions?

Edit: Oops, sorry about the typo in the title. Of course I meant Ontario.

mev 05-19-12 06:34 AM

For what its worth (and I haven't been on the roads yet):
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bo...=prev&t=m&z=10

That is what Google Maps, "Avoid Highways" shows as likely roads. If time allows, I'm planning a 5 day ride from Portland to Boise over an extended Memorial Day weekend and that is roads I was going to try. If I am able to ride, I'll report back.

mtnbud 05-19-12 06:46 AM


Originally Posted by mashtofu (Post 14243783)
I'm going to be cycling from Boise to Eugene in a couple weeks. I've found a route from Ontario to Eugene, but I can't find a route from Boise to Ontario. I've heard mentions of low-traffic farm roads the whole way somewhere. Can anyone provide a map or directions?
.

So what's your plan from Ontario to Eugene? Are you planning on taking McKenzie Pass?

The tunnel on Hwy 58 south of Willamette Pass will be closed from June 4th to June 8th.

mashtofu 05-19-12 11:00 AM

Thanks for the links!

I plan to take US-20 from Ontario to Eugene. My primary concern is having enough water to get through the long stretches on either side of Burns. My boyfriend and I will both be riding fixed gear and he's towing our 65-pound dog in a trailer, so we'll probably only be doing 30-50 miles per day, depending on the climbs/descents. We'll have 11.4 liters of water collectively with very little room for more.

Somewhat relevant: Eugene is not our end goal; we're doing the Pacific Coast via 101S from Florence, OR.

Shifty 05-19-12 11:13 AM

There is water along highway 20, just have a filter to treat it. West of Vale in the Malheur Canyon there is a nice spring with great water, you'll see it right on the road a pipe coming out of the rock wall. Sounds like a fun trip.

simplygib 05-19-12 01:05 PM

Doing the Pacific Coast with a fixed gear while towing a 65-pound animal in addition to your other gear sounds like a recipe for trouble, but you folks appear young, and I'm not. :)

mev 05-30-12 07:09 AM

Yesterday I cycled from Vale, OR to Boise airport - as the last day of a mini-tour from Portland to Boise.

The route I took:
- 20/26 from Vale to Cairo Junction (201)
- South 201/20/26 through Nyssa
- 95/26/20 through Parma, Notus
- I-84 across the Boise River though Caldwell
- Exit on 20/26 and into Boise where it became Chinden Road

The route was fine with reasonable shoulders for most of the way. The last miles from Caldwell into Boise wasn't what I'd describe as quiet country roads however. I-84 got me there with a little care on two intervening on/off ramps. However, if I were going to ride again, I'd be tempted to try Idaho 44 three miles north of 20/26 instead. I suspect it would be slightly quieter and would also avoid brief stretch of Interstate.

In total it was a fun ride on an extended five day Memorial Day weekend. Total of 450 miles from Portland to Boise. I came along Madras, Prineville, Mitchell, John Day, Prairie City and Unity. I enjoyed coming through some of the smaller towns and some excellent scenery. There were a few hills but also some longer river valleys to follow.

Doug64 05-30-12 11:23 PM

We've ridden the same route as mev describes. It is a good route. We rode on Highway 20 from Newport, OR to Boston, MA. There is water at reasonable intervals from Boise to Bend. Carry a few extra liters, just in case. The Hampton store was closed for the 4th of July when we camped there, but water was still available.

Having also ridden the Pacific Coast Route, I would have to agree that using single speeds would be extremely challenging.

JimF22003 05-31-12 02:08 AM

I didn't have anything useful to add to this thread when it came up originally, but I had to mention that mev's route (except for taking I84) is basically the route a friend and I rode back in about 1974, when we did a day ride (to see his girlfriend) from Nampa to Ontario. We rode out and back, and I seem to recall finishing the ride completely dehydrated and riding home the last ten miles in complete darkness.

Good times :)

mashtofu 06-11-12 10:46 PM

Thanks for the route! My trip has been postponed while I try to sell my car, hopefully not more than a couple of weeks. Maybe I'll try taking the 44 as you suggested. I really don't like the idea of riding on the interstate.

I agree that this tour will be difficult, and I'm prepared to walk as much as I need to :p We have an unlimited amount of time, so there's no pressure to overexert ourselves.


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