CALI to CANADA

[blurry vision]

Well, it's that time of year again. I'm doing my research for another summer ride. I'm planning to ride from CA to Canada in July. I would love to get some info that will help me plan a route. I will be traveling from San Diego, CA through Northern CA. From there head North thru Oregon, Washington, and then on into Canada. I'm not sure how I will head east, once I enter Canada. From Canada I need a route south back home. Additionally, I will be taking back roads and scenic byways as much as possible. Thanks for all the help in advance. Happy and Safe Riding to All. https://photobucket.com/blurryvision?albumview=slideshow

 

[McRide]

Having done the San Diego to Canada route twice in recent years, I'll give you my 2 bits...

Stay off the coast in summer. The weather and views are great but you'll be following a slow moving train of RV's. Frustrating for even the most patient rider.

When I think of backroads, I'm meandering through valleys and ranches and stopping in small towns for a bite (the General Store in Adin, Ca is a must). Moteling in a 60's, one story, park in front of your room is my kind of road trip .... although I've been known to splash a few deniro for a 5 star once in awhile and Hampton Inns are great and you get the free breakfast.

With that said, try the 395 as a baseline to Susanville. There are numerous other smaller parallelling roads to get onto to explore, but 395 is a good northbound reference.

From Susanville, the 139 to Klamath, Or. and the 97 on up to Crater Lake then Bend. The 97 takes you right up to Ellensberg, Wa where you can split west to Seattle

and Vancouver B.C. or stay northward into Osoyoos, B.C.

Note to self: Next time I'm coming south, I will try to plan it around Bonneville Speed Week in Wendover Utah Aug 13-19 ( yes it will be hot) or the 2011 World Finals Oct 5-8.

Are you, or will you ever be IBA? If so, think about checking off the Border to Border on your way back... leave Canada before breakfast and be home for dinner the next day!

 

[blurry vision]

Having done the San Diego to Canada route twice in recent years, I'll give you my 2 bits...

Stay off the coast in summer. The weather and views are great but you'll be following a slow moving train of RV's. Frustrating for even the most patient rider.

When I think of backroads, I'm meandering through valleys and ranches and stopping in small towns for a bite (the General Store in Adin, Ca is a must). Moteling in a 60's, one story, park in front of your room is my kind of road trip .... although I've been known to splash a few deniro for a 5 star once in awhile and Hampton Inns are great and you get the free breakfast.

With that said, try the 395 as a baseline to Susanville. There are numerous other smaller parallelling roads to get onto to explore, but 395 is a good northbound reference.

From Susanville, the 139 to Klamath, Or. and the 97 on up to Crater Lake then Bend. The 97 takes you right up to Ellensberg, Wa where you can split west to Seattle

and Vancouver B.C. or stay northward into Osoyoos, B.C.

Note to self: Next time I'm coming south, I will try to plan it around Bonneville Speed Week in Wendover Utah Aug 13-19 ( yes it will be hot) or the 2011 World Finals Oct 5-8.

Are you, or will you ever be IBA? If so, think about checking off the Border to Border on your way back... leave Canada before breakfast and be home for dinner the next day!

I have ridden the coast before but, not 395. I was thinking about skirting past the Seqouias since I have not seen them. I did crater Lake last summer but, it was some good riding. I am not IBA. I would do the border to border but, my riding partner is only up for 500-600 mile days. I pushed him last trip to 700 a couple of times and he was crying. Thanks for the info.

 

[Aasland]

97 through central Oregon is pretty with the Sister's to the west, but the road itself is straight and boring, boring boring. If you're coming up on 395, take 31 from Valley Falls (28 just to the east looks promising too), OR to La Pine, 97 south to 58, 58 to Oak Ridge, then 3/17/19 (der Aufderheide) north to Rainbow. Then 126/22 to Detroit, and 46/57/58 north to Hwy 26 just north of Warm Springs. From there you take 35 to Hood River and you're ready to cross into Washington.

In Washington you've got some great options through Klickitat, GOldendale, or Windy Ridge, then up and over Chinook Pass near Rainier. THere aren't many good north/south roads in the northern Cascades, so this is where you just stick to 97 to Canadia.

 

[gregory]

How much are you planning on seeing off the bike? If your planning on doing the coast to the redwoods and then cutting over to 395, 36 is a great road east. MT. Lassen may be open in july and is a great ride up and over. PM me if you plan on cutting through Redding.

 

[tcfjr]

Here's some ideas for the ride back to SoCal from Canada.

From lower British Columbia, take Hwy 3 east over Crowsnest Pass to Pincher Creek, then Hwy 6 south to the border crossing at Chief Mountain. It turns into SR-17 in Montana; take this down to US-89, then cut west through Glacier National Park on Going-to-the-Sun Highway. From there, take US-93 south to Challis, then SR-75 through Stanley to Sun Valley/Ketchum and down into Twin Falls.

From Twin Falls, continue on US-93 through Jackpot and Wells to Ely, NV, then SR-318 to Ash Springs. Finally, US-93 down to I-15 north of Las Vegas and back to San Diego. Once you get 20 miles or so south of Twin Falls on this stint, you can ride as fast as your conscience, skills, and radar detector permit.

If you have some extra time, the riding in the Kootenay's in southeastern British Columbia is fantastic. From Castlegar, take Hwy 6 north to New Denver, 31A east to Kaslo, then 31 and 3A south back to Hwy 3.

 

[WBill]

I have ridden the coast before but, not 395. I was thinking about skirting past the Seqouias since I have not seen them. I did crater Lake last summer but, it was some good riding. I am not IBA. I would do the border to border but, my riding partner is only up for 500-600 mile days. I pushed him last trip to 700 a couple of times and he was crying. Thanks for the info.

I picked up US 395 out of Ritzville, WA., last summer,and rode it south down to where the I 40 passes through Cali. It was one of the prettiest rides I have done. I plan on doing it the other way next summer, but not until, say, mid or late June. It was cold and snowy up north in early June last time. The part of 395 that passes through Reno wasn't so nice, though, so I will avoid that next time if I can. WBill

 

[ynotride]

I did Canada back in 09 and did it backwards of what your thinking. To this day that was the trip of my life and cant wait to do another. I did a little over 7000 miles in 16 days.

Here are my old notes when I was planning my trip. I apoligize if its hard to read.

Day-1 325 mi Corona to Phoenix (meet up with friends) slabbed 10 fwy

Day-2 400 mi Phoenix to Cortez, CO 17 fwy to the 160

Day-3 220 mi Arrive Gunnison, CO Hwy 550 thru Durango

Day-4 440 mi Gunnison CO to Rock Springs WY thru rockies 53,133,13,789

Day-5 408mi Rock Springs WY thru Yellowstone over Beartooth Hwy to Red Lodge MT

Day-6 438mi Red Lodge MT to Columbia Falls MT

Day-7 355mi Columbia Falls MT thru Glacier by Going to the Sun Hwy to Calgary AB

Day-8 287mi Calgary AB to Lake Louise AB via Radium Springs

Day-9 418mi Lake Louise AB over Icefields Hwy thru Jasper AB to Kamloops BC

Day-10 270mi Kamloops BC to Vancouver via Destination Hwy #21 & #3

Day 11Rest Day

Day-12 228mi Vancouver to Merritt BC via Destination Hwy #9

Day -13 368mi Merritt to Kelowna BC via Destination Hwy #6, #7 & #11

Day-12 300 mi Kelowna BC to Kennewick, WA via HWY 97

Day-13 244 mi Kennewick, WA to Bend, OR via HWY 97

Day-14 442 mi Bend to Fortuna, CA via HWY 97, 3, 36

Day-15 357 mi Fortuna to Monterey, CA HWY 1

Day-16 350 mi Monterey to Corona, CA HWY 1

Take lots of pictures

 

[blurry vision]

Well, just want to say thank you guys for all your info. I have most of the route figured out. Some portions will be determined as we ride.

1. Starting from San Diego, Ca we will ride to Provo,Utah riding through Prescott, Sedona, and up the 89.

2. From there head up to Missoula by way of the 83.

3. Then head up to Jasper, over the Ice Fields, and down to Osoyoos.

4. From this point I will make the decision as which way I will go. Trying to make it down to Bend, OR.

5. From Bend head home passing through Lassen, Yosemite, and the Seqouias.

6. From there whatever home.

I am going to see if I can post a map of the route. https://s647.photobucket.com/albums/uu199/blurryvision07/CALI%20to%20%20Canada/

Can't wait I'm ready to go.

https://photobucket.com/blurryvision

 

[yamafitter]

never mind. I didn't check the last post and your not coming this far east so I dumped my post.

 

[gregory]

Just beware that Mt. Lassen might not be open till late July/Aug. We have had a lot of snow this year