One-Day 600-Mile Four-State Road Trip
Occasionally I try to fit too much in a short period of time. Not that it’s a bad thing, or even that it technically is “too much”, but that it’s enough that most people tell me it’s not a good idea. Such as back in June, when I wanted to string together a week visiting family in Montana with a long weekend in Central Oregon going to a rodeo with college friends. Specifically, I wanted to make it from Missoula, MT to Sisters, OR in one day, avoiding interstates the whole way. There’s so much of the west I haven’t explored, and this little road trip was a perfect opportunity to do it. Unfortunately I only had one day to play with.
Lochsa River
The first leg was getting over the divide and into Idaho, along Highway 12. Upon crossing over Lolo Pass, you enter the Lochsa River drainage, with hot springs, backcountry access, and a beautiful tumbling river. The roads weren’t great at all, with rain the whole way, a bit of snow at the top of the pass, and low clouds. But it sure was gorgeous. And after 2.5 hours and 125 miles of driving I passed Lowell, Idaho — where in 2009 I had previously spent some time backpacking on the Selway River — I was in new country.
Clearwater River
New country, same watershed. After the Selway River and Lochsa Rivers converge at Lowell, Idaho they become the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. After a couple dozen miles the Middle Fork and South Fork converge to form the Clearwater River proper, which brought me all the way to Lewiston, Idaho, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River, on its way to the Pacific Ocean.
I love geographic transitions. There’s something about two distinct regions coming together, with a combination of gradient and chaos in between. I love the Rocky Mountain Front. I love the Eastern Cascades. And now I love this region of Idaho. There’s just something about coming out of the mountains, whether onto rolling foothills, plains, or the ocean.
Snake River
Southeast Washington is amazing. Absolutely amazing. There is so much going on, I just want to go back and explore for a whole week. Largely following the Snake River, this stretch went from rolling foothill farmland to badland-esque geologic plains. The Snake River gets really big here, and there are amazing bridges and train trestles crossing it.
Palouse Falls
I’m always game for a good detour, and if the detour involves waterfalls and slot canyons, I’m there. This was the case with Palouse Falls State Park. It added about two hours to the day, but was totally worth it (and I was a bit ahead of schedule). I don’t know how the falls was formed — no doubt something geologic involving water and millions of years — but it sure is cool. A small canyon emerges out of nowhere on the rocky rolling foothills, with a massive overhanging waterfall and bowl at the head of the canyon. Totally worth it.
The Palouse
The next stop from Palouse Falls was Walla Walla. While only 60 miles away, I was looking forward to this stretch — the much hyped Palouse — more than any other. The Palouse are rolling hills of farmland. Undulating in all directions, some green and some recently-harvest brown, I felt so different than the Snake River badlandy area I had just left. As I drove south, the clouds stacked up with thunderstorms on the horizon while working pickups plodded along rural county roads. I want to come back here and explore more.
Central Oregon
After a quick stop in Walla Walla for coffee and a bite to eat, I hunkered down for the last stage of my trip to Sisters, Oregon. This 4 hour 30 minute stretch took me through the upper reaches of the Columbia River until I turned south through Central Oregon on Highway 97. While I did cheat and take I-84 for 75 miles or so, to keep off the Interstate entirely would’ve added two hours to my trip, and I wanted to maximize my daylight hours on the rural state highways to come. Eventually I reached Central Oregon, where the majesty of the setting sun, multi-layered clouds, and high desert presented itself. After a quick stop to take pictures, I made it to Sisters, ending my crazy day. Lots of driving, for sure, but worth it.
