Favorite Roads

[IdahoKidd]

My first experience of driving a Z was in 1980 taking my buddies 72 240 from Moscow Idaho to Joseph Oregon. One has to go through a little town called Anatone WA and then drive both sides of Rattlesnake grade. I hadn't been over that road since that day until today. Granted, I took the 500 SEC and not the 280, but man the flash backs! Rattlesnake grade drops 2000 feet in elevation, crosses the Grande Rhonde River and climbs 2000 feet back up. It is 22 miles of 25 mph seriously windy road that is a serious workout. What a riot! I had a ball.

I guess the point of the post is I am certain there are other segments of road that offer a great challenge, great scenery, etc etc that others might recommend for their Z. It would be cool to somehow create a list of these by referrals from other Z members so when we travel, we could enjoy them ourselves. We all know the highway 1 on the west coast is awesome, but there are certainly more. Anybody recommend their favorite? Maybe with a scenic or historic description to go with it?

Here's mine to start:

From Lewiston Idaho/Clarkston WA, travel 5 or 6 miles up the Snake River to Asotin WA. Washington 129 climbs out of Asotin for 3 1/2 miles that sets the tone for the rest of the trip. 129 turns into Oregon 3 at the state line. It is a two lane rural blacktop that stays on top of the plateau for 20 miles and then drops down the Rattlesnake grade and crosses the Grand Rhonde River. From here it corkscrews back up the Oregon side following the Nez Perce Indian trail. (18 miles of exhilarating exercise) On top there is a scenic overlook of the canyon that Chief Joseph took trying to reach Canada evading the US army. At Enteriprise OR, some 5000 population, it is beautiful at the base of the Wallowa Mts, Joseph is 6 miles away and is the resting place of Chief Joseph, just a few hundred yards from Wallowa Lake. Simply a beautiful place! The distance from Lewiston to Enterprise is about 83 miles and takes about 2 hours at a reasonably brisk pace. Enterprise can be reached from LaGrande OR off of Interstate 84 as well. I have yet to take that section but am told that it too is an awesome drive. I plan to drive it this summer in the 77 280zt.

FWIW