OREGON'S OLDEST AMA CHARTERED ROAD CLUB
OREGON'S OLDEST AMA CHARTERED ROAD CLUB
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North Coast Alternatives
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by Bob Anundson
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Through Vernonia, Mist to Astoria from Portland
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Highway 26 are 30 are terrible drives. Yes the scenery is ok if you haven't seen it a thousand times, but the traffic is heavy even during the week day. An alternative is to take Hwy. 47 off of 26 just west Hillsboro north to Vernonia. Then follow the signs to Mist, Jewell, and Astoria. The path is very pleasant with lots of curves and it is two lane with center strips all the way (upper orange marker). |
| Astoria is actually one of the more interesting spots on the coast but often over looked because of its fishing and logging appearance. The town has a couple of great museums. In fact the Maritime is not to be missed. However my favorite is Fort Clatsop where Lewis & Clark spent the Winter of 1805. Nearby is Fort Stevens State Park. It is a great beach and has a swimming lake usually packed with kids. | |
| You can pick up the same route off of Hwy. 30 at the west end of Scappoose (yellow marker). The road is quite twisty. Another alternative is to go up HWY. 6 west of Banks and then cut over to Vernoia on the Timber road(yellow marker). Again the road has some major twisties and at one spot a little gravel which has broken loose from the pavement. | |
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To Tillamook via Highway 6
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| Even though Hwy 6 is a major highway it is an excellent motorcycle road when the traffic is light. Skip the cheese factory but don't miss the Air Museum. Now if I was really nice I would tell you of one of the top restaurants is on the coast within ten miles of Tillamook. But I'm not nice. |
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