Oregon State Route 218 ‘Shaniko-Fossil Highway’

Wikipedia has an excellent description of Oregon Route 218. OR 218 is a fairly short rural highway. Its western terminus is in Wasco County, in the “ghost town” of Shaniko at U.S. Route 97. The road is very windy and hilly over its entire 43-mile (69 km) length and is a popular destination for motorcyclists.… Continue reading Oregon State Route 218 ‘Shaniko-Fossil Highway’

Oregon State Route 207 (Ruggs – Mitchell)

Another fantastic Central Oregon route, here we have over 80 miles of nearly unbroken sweepers and hairpins in the Ruggs – Mitchell segment of Oregon Route 207. As this route does one of those strange Oregon multi-plexing things where it forms an ‘X’ across North Central oregon with Route 19, I’ll deal with this in… Continue reading Oregon State Route 207 (Ruggs – Mitchell)

Oregon State Route 402 ‘Kimberly-Long Creek Highway’

Back in 2007, I wrote the following and I think that it bears some further discussion: Long known by its name, the newly minted Oregon State Route 402, is considered by some Portland sport-riders to be a destination road in its own right. It’s a mere 35 miles long and links the towns of Kimberly… Continue reading Oregon State Route 402 ‘Kimberly-Long Creek Highway’

Historic Columbia River Highway

Way back in the opening decades of the 20th Century, an amazing road was designed by the Oregon State Highway Department and highway engineer Samuel C. Lancaster. An fantastic routing full of viewpoints, waterfalls, tunnels, and curves of all shapes and sizes. It was described by John Arthur Elliot: The ideals sought were not the… Continue reading Historic Columbia River Highway

Washington State Route 530 ‘Pioneer Highway’

Pioneer Highway. A nice curvy specimen of roadcraft and an apt name as well, since the road curves here and there all over the Stillaguamish River valley. The pavement is a little rough and appears to be surprisingly light-duty for what is a state highway, after all. There’s significant bumps along the road and small… Continue reading Washington State Route 530 ‘Pioneer Highway’