Oregon State Route 245 ‘Dooley Mountain Highway’

Way over in the eastern end of Oregon, is one of the most challenging sections of rural highway Oregon has to offer. Called Dooley Mountain Highway, it’s an amazing piece of road that leaves almost no time at all to enjoy, let alone ponder, the fantastic scenery from 4000′ or so feet up. Abandoned Barn… Continue reading Oregon State Route 245 ‘Dooley Mountain Highway’

Wallowa-Whitman Forest Service Road 39

This road is part of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. It wends its way down from Imnaha Highway near Joseph through the Hells Canyon back-country past a number of peaks in the Blue Mountains range before dropping you out east of Halfway. Obviously, this road isn’t in one of the more populated parts of the… Continue reading Wallowa-Whitman Forest Service Road 39

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)

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’