Scenic Motorcycle Route | Portland, Oregon to Yellowstone

Whitewater rafting on the Lochsa River, ID

After a long winter of limited motorcycle riding, a ride from Portland, Oregon over the Continental Divide to Yellowstone might be just what the doctor ordered. This is the first part in the Portland, Oregon to Yellowstone series.

The ride to West Yellowstone, the small town at the West entrance to Yellowstone National Park, runs about 850 miles from the Portland, Oregon area. The route we chose:

Portland/Vancouver to Pendleton, OR via WA-14 and I-84;

OR-11/Oregon Washington Highway No. 8 to Walla Walla;

US 12 through Lewiston, ID to Missoula, MT;

I-90 and MT-Hwy 1 to Butte;

and finally Mt-41 and MT 287/US 287 to West Yellowstone.

This route allowed us to avoid interstates, take a couple scenic short-cuts (sometimes fewer miles but always more time), but still make a pretty direct path to the Park. We made the trip in three short riding days going out and two long days on the return.


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