Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Grizzly]

I'm hoping someone can assist me with mapping out a ride planned through the State of Washington...

We will be staying in Oak Harbor and heading for Coeur d'Alene, ID with a night in between either in Winthrop or Omak, WA.

I've heard for years how wonderful #20 is through Washington and therefore plan to ride from Oak Harbor along #20 to at least #97.  From there I'm wondering what is the most enjoyable route to ride to Coeur d'Alene, ID?

Option 1) Go north on #97 and continue on #20 east through Kettle Falls all the way to #31 then south onto #41 to C.d'A. or

Option 2) Go north on #97 to Omak, then take #155 and #174 south and pick up #2 at Wilbur and follow through Spokane to C.d'A.

Of course if you have an even more enjoyable route, I'm all ears!

If you have unique hotels in mind to suggest along the way, or special lunch spots, those too would be helpful tips.

Thanks in advance for your expert advise. 

Take care & ride safe,
Grizzly

PS - After Coeur d'Alene we'll heading north east to Whitefish for a night and then along The Road To The Sun to St. Mary's and beyond.

[2k]

Hey Grizz, About 6 yrs ago me & the kid did 97 all the way around the Lake & it was a great ride. We were headed south to Hwy 12 and stayed the nite in a little flop house in St Maries, it was a clean little motel used by the loggers comming thru the area. Also stayed in Winthrop and it is a really neat little western theme town......board sidewalks and all.....great burger joint in town but can't remember the name. Northern Washington has a great ride on the Strait of Juan de Fuca Hwy #112, but it doesn't sound like you are going that way. The whole area is much like where I live, KSD,turnaround, pick a road.....they are all great.

[Indenial]

If you have the time, go south and do Hwy 12 across Idaho. It's outstanding.

[Grizzly]

Hey Grizz, About 6 yrs ago me & the kid did 97 all the way around the Lake & it was a great ride. We were headed south to Hwy 12 and stayed the nite in a little flop house in St Maries, it was a clean little motel used by the loggers comming thru the area. Also stayed in Winthrop and it is a really neat little western theme town......board sidewalks and all.....great burger joint in town but can't remember the name. Northern Washington has a great ride on the Strait of Juan de Fuca Hwy #112, but it doesn't sound like you are going that way. The whole area is much like where I live, KSD,turnaround, pick a road.....they are all great.

Thanks 2K, I appreciate your input... Yes, I'm really looking forward to Winthrop.

[Grizzly]

If you have the time, go south and do Hwy 12 across Idaho. It's outstanding.

I was certainly wanting to go that far south and do Hwy 12, but unfortunately we only have so much time and the trip starting in Calgary riding through B.C. and then down into Washington, back east and up to Calgary is already 17 days long.  So we it's a matter of too much to see and too little time.

Thanks for your input though and if you or anyone else has anymore thoughts that keeps us further north, it will be appreciated.

[barrhill]

if going to BC head to the island then take the backball ferry from down town Victoria to port angles Washington its cool deal

[BT]

I'm hoping someone can assist me with mapping out a ride planned through the State of Washington...

We will be staying in Oak Harbor and heading for Coeur d'Alene, ID with a night in between either in Winthrop or Omak, WA.

I've heard for years how wonderful #20 is through Washington and therefore plan to ride from Oak Harbor along #20 to at least #97.  From there I'm wondering what is the most enjoyable route to ride to Coeur d'Alene, ID?

Option 1) Go north on #97 and continue on #20 east through Kettle Falls all the way to #31 then south onto #41 to C.d'A. or

Option 2) Go north on #97 to Omak, then take #155 and #174 south and pick up #2 at Wilbur and follow through Spokane to C.d'A.

Of course if you have an even more enjoyable route, I'm all ears!

If you have unique hotels in mind to suggest along the way, or special lunch spots, those too would be helpful tips.

Thanks in advance for your expert advise. 

Take care & ride safe,
Grizzly

PS - After Coeur d'Alene we'll heading north east to Whitefish for a night and then along The Road To The Sun to St. Mary's and beyond.

Nice Best Western in Omak if you do the Ride Rewards. Also they have free beer and appy's at happy hour. Winthrop (if you stay right in town) you can walk to restaurants and saloons. I you haven't been there I would stay in Winthrop as it's a cool place.
 
As for the route, the question would be do you want to see the Grand Coulee Dam ?  If so then #2.  From the Dam to Coeur d'Alene is basically flat with not a lot to see, and mostly straight roads.  Option #1 will keep you in the mountains/trees (eg cooler as it can get hot in central Washington).  I would take option #1.
 

[harleybar7]

Hi Grizzly, Brett here. We talked about your route planning a few months ago. I've not been on the site for a while and was thinking about you the other day. Let me know which route you end up with. Maybe I can meet up with you for lunch or something. I have to agree with the route on 20 all the way to Kettle Falls. Great ride. Have not done the 25 route but looking at it I think I need to. Stay in touch.

[Grizzly]

Hi Grizzly, Brett here. We talked about your route planning a few months ago. I've not been on the site for a while and was thinking about you the other day. Let me know which route you end up with. Maybe I can meet up with you for lunch or something. I have to agree with the route on 20 all the way to Kettle Falls. Great ride. Have not done the 25 route but looking at it I think I need to. Stay in touch.

Just sent you a PM... But now that I'm here, with the recent drop in the CND$, we've decided to stay north of the 49th this year.

For all you thinking of a tour through Canada, this could be the year to do it!  You'll be saving 20-25% with your strong US$ vs. the CND$.

Thanks everyone for your input which is very much appreciated.

Take care & ride safe,
Grizzly

[Indenial]

Last summer took a route through BC that was the prettiest ride I think I have ever made.  From Revelstoke, go S on 23 to the free ferry, cross the lake,  then South, then Hwy 6 to Nelson and then Hwy 6 South to Hwy 3.  I could do that ride all day long and at least three times a week.