Trans Am or L&C westward of Missoula, MT?

[shumin]

Hello all!

I'm an 18-year-old guy, foreign to the US but in love with that great nation.

I'm in the process of planning a coast-to-coast bike trip from NYC to LA, heavily relying on this helpful website. My current plan is to ride the Atlantic Coast route till joining the Trans America route near Richmond.

I had the intention to stick to that route all the way to the Pacific Coast, but then I came up with another idea: what if I switched to the Lewis and Clark route in Missoula, MT, which will allow me to ride along the Columbia River? That way, I could visit Portland and just as conveniently continue to the Pacific Coast route.

Should I adopt that idea? I don't know a lot about the scenery of either path, and would appreciate your input a lot. Which one is the more interesting and extraordinary? Is the city of Portland worth the detour or does the Trans Am provide an equally entertaining feature?

Thanks a lot!

[John Grossbohlin]

I faced the same choice and decided to take the L&C west at Lolo, MT and not go into Missoula. The ride from Lolo into Kamiah, ID was very nice... I enjoyed it. I cannot speak to the TA going west...

[John Nelson]

I have done the TA, but not the L&C. The routes west of Missoula diverge at Kooskia, so both of them go through the absolutely stunning Lochsa River valley. The TA goes south from there, through quite scenic country, but probably nothing you'll regret missing for the rest of your life. You'll miss Hells Canyon and the Hells Canyon Oregon Scenic Byway. You'll miss the Natinoal Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, which isn't anything that special. You'll miss Picture Canyon in the John Day Fossil Beds. Probably the most significant thing you'll miss is McKenzie Pass, which has a large lava flow on top. Most TA cyclists really like McKenzie Pass. And you'll miss a lot of miles on the incredibly scenic US 101 in Oregon (assuming you go up to Astoria). The Oregon Coast is a classic bicycle ride that people come from all over to do (mostly in the other direction).

[indyfabz]

As noted, you have to take a spur into and back out of Missoula if you reach Lolo via the TransAm. Look at the interactive map for details.

McKenzie Pass rocks. The entire upper portion is all lava rock, and at the pass there is an observatory made of lava rock that you can walk up. Another bonus is that east to west is an easier climb that the other way.

Check out the new Chicago to NYC route maps if you really want to start in NYC proper. You could ride the NYC to Philly portion and connect with the Atlantic Cost route there. From downtown Philly to the main Atlantic Coast route is nearly all trail riding.

When are you planning all this?

[shumin]

Thanks for your detailed replies!

It actually seems like while the L&C does join the TM through the Lochsa River valley, it has an alternative route that user John followed, which diverges into a mountainous path pretty early after Lolo, both reconnecting at Kamiah. However, I got pretty convinced that I should stick with the TM until after the McKenzie Pass, which sounds awesome.
I would still like to visit Portland and reach Astoria before proceeding south. Another route that enables both goals, other than L&C, is to join the Cascades route after the McKenzie Pass, going through Mt Hood before entering Portland. Although Mt Hood sounds exciting, it's a long and remote path to take. Maybe I should make the choice en route to the area.
The Chicago to NYC idea is splendid.
The whole trip I believe would take about 100-120 days, starting late July until early November. I do not plan to hurry until after visiting DC, to allow a proper look around at NYC and Washington. I think early September is a reasonable time to reach Colorado. Switching to an easier pace on the Rocky part, I hope to reach Astoria mid-October. A quick ride down the Pacific coast should allow me to conclude the trip at LA, or SF if short in time.
I have no previous experience at touring biking, as I usually ride intensive day trips on a mountain bike. I don't worry about my physical fitness which is good, but rather about my ability to estimate the time correctly for that kind of an odyssey. I would welcome an expert opinion here