It is four days and counting until the gang hits the highway once more for the annual HBM Road Rage circa 2011.
This year we have chosen to head west to California and see the redwoods.
Three of us, all from Minnesota, are meeting in Yreka CA and then heading to the coast on CA Hwy 96 from there we head up the coast to see the redwoods back down and over CA Hwy 299 and CA Hwy 36 before heading over to US 50 “The Loneliest Road” into Utah.

I will have some time in and around Pullman WA and then around Bend OR on my way to meet the other two guys.

Any recommendations for some roads around Pullman WA and Bend OR I should go see?

Thanks,
More to come, photos and hopefully some nice video too.

South of Pullman, Old Hwy95, aka The Spiral Highway, down the hill into Lweiston Idaho. From there head east on 12 to Spalding and Hwy 3 north. Up the Kendrick grade on 3 to Deary. From Deary take Hwy 8 west through Troy and Moscow and back to Pullman. Curves, grades and great scenery in about a 60 mile loop.

Curt

Near Bend, check out the loop through Crater Lake National Park.

For Bend, if you like mountains and twisties, take 20 North to Sisters, then make a loop of 242 West to 126 North, back to 20.  Then you can take 20 back to Bend.  It's about a 130 mile ride, but spectacular!

If you can take the time, and don't mind crisscrossing the Cascades, you should really try to catch 224 between Estacada and Detroit.  It's sport bike heaven.  There are lots of paved NFS roads to make it a shorter run, but since I was turned back on NFS25 last Saturday by a road still closed due to snow (in July?!?), you should stick to the marked highways.

If you post more info about your trip, like how much time you have to spend exploring, more routes could be suggested.

For Bend, if you like mountains and twisties, take 20 North to Sisters, then make a loop of 242 West to 126 North, back to 20.  Then you can take 20 back to Bend.  It's about a 130 mile ride, but spectacular!

If you can take the time, and don't mind crisscrossing the Cascades, you should really try to catch 224 between Estacada and Detroit.  It's sport bike heaven.  There are lots of paved NFS roads to make it a shorter run, but since I was turned back on NFS25 last Saturday by a road still closed due to snow (in July?!?), you should stick to the marked highways.

If you post more info about your trip, like how much time you have to spend exploring, more routes could be suggested.

I'm going to have three days in Pullman and one day around Bend. I am going to do the loop through Sisters. If time permits I will check out 224.

Thanks for the input. I can't wait leaving in two days!!!

3 days in Pullman eh?  If you haven't been through Hells Canyon, then definitely consider taking a long day and run through there.  If you are up for a really long day (600 miler), you could make a loop out of it by running south on 195 through Lewiston to 129 (3 in Oregon), to Enterprise.

There is a NFS road from there over to Hells Canyon, but I would check with the locals in Enterprise to determine if it's S/T worthy.  As I recall, someone told me it's gravel (not sure though).

The known paved route would take you west, around the mountains to Baker City, then east again to 86, 86 all the way through Hells Canyon to ID 71, then 95 north all the way back to Lewiston.  Lots and Lots AND LOTS of Canyon Carving!  You might be dizzy after that ride.

If you just want to see Hells Canyon, then just do the 95/71 route down and back.

Another great run (but another 500 miler) would be 12 (east towards Missoula MT and back).  There's also 11 (off of 12, going north) that I've been wanting to see, but again, check with the locals on it's condition.  That section of 12 is the highway with the sign “Curves ahead next 99 miles”.

You're also pretty close to the Grand Coulee Dam (155 miles to the north-west), and according to BDF (Brian), definitely worth seeing.  It's also on my bucket list.

Lewiston (Clarkston, really) South to Enterprise and back...they don't call it "Rattlesnake Grade" because you'll wear out the center of your tires...if ya know what I mean...