TransAm Alternate from West Yellowstone to Oregon

[Kari Post]

My friend and I are currently riding westbound on the TransAm and don't feel the need to go to Missoula.  We definately want to hit Yellowstone though, and were wondering if there was a more direct route from Yellowstone to the Oregon Coast (we're thinking Florence).  Any suggestions?

[JHamelman]

My friend and I are currently riding westbound on the TransAm and don't feel the need to go to Missoula.  We definately want to hit Yellowstone though, and were wondering if there was a more direct route from Yellowstone to the Oregon Coast (we're thinking Florence).  Any suggestions?

I don't have a route for you but you could use the Shoulder Width map found on the web page below to help you create one.

http://www.itd.idaho.gov/bike_ped/bikeTouring.html

.Jennifer.

[litespeed]

I did Jackson WY (just south of Yellowstone) to Florence OR a few years ago on my around-the-48 tour.

There was snow on Teton Pass so I rode US26 to Idaho Falls. Some touring cyclists I had met previously spotted me from their van and gave me a ride to Twin Falls. I would recommend US20 to Mountain Home. It's said to be a good bicycling route. From there I took 67 and 78 up to Nampa. Not a good ride. You'd probably be better off going through Boise, a college town. It's said to be more bicycle friendly.

I entered Oregon on 20 but cut north on US26 at Vale and took it all the way to Redmond. US20 through Burns looked to have too many long, lonely stretches of road. US26 had very little traffic with a lot of passes but I love the high desert and this was one of the highlights of my bicycle travels. There were times on this stretch where I really felt on top of the world.

McKenzie Pass isn't a real hard climb and the scenery is spectacular. Not to be missed. Then it was a straight shot through Eugene (also a college town and bicycle friendly) and on to Florence, a pleasant seaside town with lots of small commercial boat traffic and a campground right in town on the water.