Google street view is a good way to see the roads, mapmyride is nice for saving routes and alternates. I have three alternate routes saved on mapmyride. I think I'll need another route due to a long train that has stopped me twice around the same time of day.

The "best way" seems to be driving the route during the hours you'll ride it since you might be going that way already. Or ride it on the weekend, but you are then subject to the dangerous sections...