Historic Columbia River Highway Detour
 

I've never been on Alex Barr or Palmar Mill rd. Which is less scary for 700x25 tires? Is taking I-84 East from Corbett a reasonable possibility?
Thanks
-Sew

S-C, rode one of those (going up) about a decade ago, don't recall which, on 32c & it involved considerable walking - which may say more about my cycling skills/fitness than the quality of the unpaved road, but there you have it. Both are extremely steep & i find it hard to think either would be navigable on 25c in either direction -

Just a little update to anyone who might be interested. I was out on the HCRH last weekend, and while construction was still ongoing at Crown Point, the road is open. Immediately after some single-lane be-prepared-to-stop business at Crown Point the smooth nice repaved surface begins and carries you through all those crazy switchbacks most of the way to Latourell Falls.

I've descended Alex Barr (via Larch Mt. & Haines) on 23s. It's doable, and there's a spooky abandoned(?) house along the way, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. For comparison, I consider Saltzman (the one in the West Hills) just fine, if muddy.

I have looked into Palmer Mill, but was not able to find it from the highway or Larch Mountain. It might be a myth.

Update: thanks to this Strava Multiple Ride Mapper, it looks like I turned around just shy of Palmer Mill on Brower Road, right where it makes a final turn east (and into gravel).