Grand Coulee Dam

SUMMARY

Blue skies, empty roads and a marvel of human engineering thrown in for good measure. Such is the ride to Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State. Last ridden by ORR riders in 2000 (as one rather aged and murky photo shows below), things have changed at the dam from a security point of view, but the laser light show goes on and the otherworldly landscape with its imposing bluffs and islanded lakes on the road approaching the town of Coulee Dam make for one of the area's great rides. From Maryhill, the route is more or less a loop and takes in the far reaches of Washington's Hwy 14 and OR Hwy 730, the lonely backroad around the east side of the Columbia River between Umatilla and Pasco. On the way back, the road takes us into premium canyon country west of Bickleton before passing through Goldendale en route to Portland. A round trip of some 800 miles and a good weekend away from it all.

OUT

Meet at Elmer's Restaurant at 9660 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97216 Tel: (503) 256-0333 at 8:00am

Go north on I-205 and go east on WA Hwy 14 until Maryhill and turn right to cross the Columbia River to Biggs, OR. STOP FOR GAS (109 miles)

From Biggs, cross Columbia River back into Washington and continue east to Plymouth and cross Columbia back into Oregon to Umatilla. STOP FOR GAS (83 miles)

From Umatilla, continue east on OR Hwy 730, following river to north to Wallula Junction

Go left onto WA Hwy 12 and continue northwest to Pasco

In Pasco, go north on WA Hwy 395 until WA Hwy 17 and turn left to Mesa.

Continue north to Moses Lake and follow Hwy 17 through to Coulee City.

From Coulee City, continue north on Hwy 155 to Coulee Dam. OVERNIGHT STOP (390 miles) at Coulee House Inn

BACK

From Coulee Dam, go south on Hwy 155 to Coulee City.

From Coulee City, go east on Hwy 2 approx. 20 miles and turn left onto Coulee Meadows Road to Ephrata.

From Ephrata, go south on Hwy 283 to George and join I-90 south to Vantage and STOP FOR GAS (110 miles)

From Vantage, continue south on Hwy 243 through Mattawa and Desert Aire and turn right onto Hwy 24 going south.

Go left (south) onto Hwy 241 through to Sunnyside. STOP FOR GAS & LUNCH (70 miles)

From Sunnyside, continue south on Hwy 241 to Mabton and continue through Bickleton to Goldendale

From Goldendale, go south on Hwy 97 to Hwy 14 to Maryhill

From Maryhill, return on Hwy 14 to Portland and END OF RIDE (376miles)

SUMMARY

ROUTE DETAILS

OUT

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