Downtown Hillsboro to Downtown Salem
 

Folks:

I am planning a trip from close to downtown Hillsbor (near Hillsboro Fairgrounds) to downtown Salem (specifically to where I can join 22 going east to Stayton, Detroit, and Bend.

I know that Route 99 W is pretty decent, however I don't know a decent route from Hillsboro to join 99 W and 99 W is a ways east of Salem itself.

Does anyone know of a decent route from Hillsboro to Salem, or at least some way to get on 99 W from Hillsboro?

Thanks

Mark

You don't want to ride on 99W.

A search on bikely.com yields this route:
Salem to Hillsboro

I've ridden on most of those roads. Probably a good way to go.

All except for Salem...
 

I agree with Lynne. The given route looks pretty good. The only part I haven't ridden on is the stretch from Hopewell southwards. It looks like a pretty annoying stretch as you go through Salem.

The issue is crossing the Willamette. I think I would probably opt for crossing the Wheatland Ferry (head east from Hopewell), go through Brooks and the Labish Flats (65th & 62nd) to Hazelgreen, then Howell Prairie Road.

In this manner you would avoid Salem altogether, since your stated end is to drop down towards Detroit anyway...

The portion through Lafayette is very nice indeed at this time of year. I did that portion last weekend as part of a 60 mile training ride. There are several stretches of wildlife wetland refuge along that portion and there was an incredible variety of birds out, especially along the Fernhill section.