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travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Yahoo Message Number: 96525
Looking for a little travel advice... We'll be coming down from Coeur d'Alene WA in early Sept and instead of coming the normal route down 80/395 out of Spokane thru the Tri Cities, we were looking at lake a more easterly route down thru Lewiston, Enterprise, stopping at Willowa State Park for a few days then on down to I-84, probably at La Grande and then heading west on I-84 to Portland.
Has anyone done this route in a tag axle bus?... in particular I am wondering about the route between Enterprise and La Grande. Any advice or reassurance would be appreciated

Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition
www.windseeker.com

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96535
Joseph,

Sounds like a trip. If you haven't been to the little town of Joseph you will love it. Always something going on there and it is a pretty good western art community. A caution: as you approach Pendleton on I-84 there is a steep, curvy section (downgrade) of a few miles that is noted for taking out large vehicles. The road is wide and in good shape--just go slow. At the bottom you will find the Cayuse Umatilla Indian reservation, casino and RV park. The park is big and often full so call ahead. It is near enough to Pendleton to hop over to Hamley's store and steak house. A must visit.
Lyle Wetherholt
04 Intrigue 11740

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96537
Lyle, is there another route around the I-84 steep grade near Pendleton? We're headed west that way in a few weeks and don't like the sound of Cabbage Hill! We're from FLAT FLORIDA!! LOL!


Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96542
Lyle... is this a 40 mph grade you want to come down in 3rd gear with the jake brake on... or is this a 15mph hairpin turn kind of grade? And how long is the steep twisty part approximately? Appreciate the advice.

jb

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96543
oops rereading it, I realize you are not talking about the road down from Enterprise to Pendleton... but 84 itself. I am very familiar with 84 so my last comments do not apply. What about the road down from Enterprise though? No sweat?

joe

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96548
The grade into pendleton is not bad.
Check the map, but dont you go through Asotin and Anatone if you're headed to Joseph? If so that ahould be avoided if it means coming down rattlesnake grade.
I've got to. Believe there is a better way, just cant remember.

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96582
I too have made that trip many times. Joseph is right on the lake near Wallowa State Park, and the highway between there and La Grande is fine. I travel it every year with a 40 foot Allure, towing a Hummer H3. It is such a draw for me that I make the trip every year from Portland to Wallowa Lake State Park. Enjoy....
Bruce P #30852 (40' Allure w/tag and toad)

Re: travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96585
thanks to everyone who commented. I think we will stay far far away from rattlesnake grade... we've been a lot of beautiful places and plan to visit a lot more of them, and no place is worth cutting it all short with the serious risk of a dangerous road that by all accounts is rattlesnake grade. It would be 300 miles RT and a couple extra days to drive down to Hermiston and then out 84 and up over 82 to Joseph which most people say is ok... but we cannot spare the time right now... so we will leave that for another time. We are Flathead Lake in Montana now with the coach and our Catalina 22 sailboat and this place is just amazing.

Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition
www.windseeker.com

Travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96540
Joseph, Enterprise and Willowa Lake is called "Little Switzerland". And, it is true. The beauty will amaze you.

The Alpenfest festival takes place September 26 - 28. We will be performing again this year. We play Roland Digital Accordions and performed 9 times over 4 days last year. It is a great festival in an incredible setting. We stayed at Five Peaks RV Park in Joseph (only 5 sites) so you can't find it in any RV reference book but they are online.

OK, that is the good part. There are only two roads in and the same two roads out but it is worth it to see this little gem of an area. Last September, from Coeur d'Alene, we took Idaho 95 south through Lewiston-Clarkston then Washington Highway 129 that becomes Highway 3 in Oregon. NEVER AGAIN! Don't ask. This year we are coming down from Coeur d'Alene again and going the long route through LaGrande. Highway 82 from LaGrande through Elgin is just fine for a large motorcoach.

Plan to visit Alpenfest if you are in the area the last week-end in September. Here is a website link. We are Polka Express.

http://oregonalpenfest.blogspot.com/p/headliners_10.html
We would love to say hi and play a polka, waltz or schottische for you.

Shirley OBrien

06 Allure 37 ft but by then 06 Intrigue 40 ft.

Re: Travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96559
Shirley, Toni

Thanks for the comments about Highway 3 down from Lewiston to Joseph.... a.k.a rattlesnake grade, which does indeed go through Asotin and Anatone. I think Shirley's comment "NEVER AGAIN!" says it all. I googled it and found most references to it on motorcycle forums. Couldn't find any other reference to it in the CC forum OR the Tiffin RV Network. To me that would indicate their either a) it is no problem... or b) no one else has been crazy enough to even consider it. From Shirley and Toni's comments I would suspect the latter.
So scratch that one... the other approach down to Tri Cities and Hermiston and then east on 84 and taking HWY 82 out of La Grande up and over to Joseph sounds more doable but it would add some 300 miles to our return trip and still sounds a bit challenging. I am inclined to pass on it, but I welcome any other comments from CC'ers who have gone that route.
Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition
www.windseeker.com
?

Toni wrote:

The grade into pendleton is not bad. Check the map, but dont you go through Asotin and Anatone if you're headed to Joseph? If so that ahould be avoided if it means coming down rattlesnake grade. I've got to. Believe there is a better way, just cant remember.

Shirley wrote:

There are only two roads in and the same two roads out but it is worth it to see this little gem of an area. Last September, from Coeur d'Alene, we took Idaho 95 south through Lewiston-Clarkston then Washington Highway 129 that becomes Highway 3 in Oregon. NEVER AGAIN! Don't ask. This year we are coming down from Coeur d'Alene again and going the long route through LaGrande. Highway 82 from LaGrande through Elgin is just fine for a large motorcoach.

Re: Travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96561
I use to work in Lewiston, ID. years ago and visited the trip in our tow a couple of years ago to Asotin and Anatone. It is as bad as it was way back. I would not consider that route with a motor home towing. It is a challenge in a car IMHO.


Jock Vargo

2005 Inspire
51428

Re: Travel from Enterprise OR to La Grande

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 96562
I have been on that route from Lewiston to Joseph several times, once in my 42' magna. The rattlesnake grade is steep and windy but not a problem if you take it slow. The route is very sceenic and enjoyable if you just take it slowly. I would do it again.

John
08 magna