Portland OR to Windy Ridge
By: Lee M - Editors' Choice Aug '07 I would recommend this trip for a number of reasons. First, most of the roads are in good shape and it's a fun ride with great scenery. Second, you get right up to Mt St Helens and Spirit Lake, which is still covered with blown down trees from the blast. You get to see the devastation that Mt St Helens caused when it blew around 20 years ago. From Carson Washington to the Windy Ridge Lookout you are riding on two lane forest service roads that are winding, narrow in places and many potholes after you turn on to FS road 99. So I would say the skill level is at least above the beginner stage. When you leave Carson on Wind River Rd then Curly Cr Rd you will have an absolute blast if you are riding a sport bike. The road is in great shape until you hit NF-90 then NF-25. NF 25 is the heart of some of the best riding you'll find anywhere...days could be spent exploring the nearby roads. Although a little bumpy on the North half of the road, it's still a blast and the southern half is as good as it gets. A word of caution on these roads, as metioned there are some dips/potholes and somtimes gravel... not to mention traffic coming the other way. As soon as you enter the park, the road leaves farmland and enters the forest and it doesn't take long to get fun. You'll hit a few sweepers and a couple tighter corners as the road winds past an info station and some camping sites. 8 miles after entering the National Forest and the road gets very tight and the corners don't stop till you get to Cougar. As you fly by Iron Creek Picnic area get ready for a sharp right hand corner followed by a few switchbacks. These corners set the tone for the road for the next 10 miles as you head toward Windy Ridge. There are a number of lookouts along the way and the closer you get to the Windy Ridge Lookout (end of the road) the more pullout and lookouts you will find. Most are on NF-99, which turns off of NF-25 and is the road that takes you the Windy Ridge Lookout. Click on images to enlarge
Click here for more images and to download GPS file Published: Aug 1, 2007 Leave Comments |
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