Idaho Motorcycle Ride: Lolo Pass, Part 1 of 3, Lewiston to Kooskia

[@RobertMerz]

If you enjoy my videos and want to help me out with the time and expense that I take to create them please visit my page at Buy Me A Coffee and consider making a small donation. Thanks so much, Robert. www.buymeacoffee.com/lgEFpyZjs

[@calliepieters3446]

Awesome ride I'm going to take the same ride this season. thanks for the tips, and the information is good !!

[@RobertMerz]

I only did Lolo Pass because it was on the way to somewhere else. I had heard of it but it wasn't high on my to do list partly because of it's fairly low elevation, but my opinion changed after riding it. It is a beautiful ride with endless sweeping corners, peaceful views of the river, and very light traffic when I did it. I highly recommend it! It is the kind of road that just makes you want to chill, at least it had that effect on me. Stop along the way and hike down to the river to soak the hot feet and just relax, it is that kind of place.

[@BigPaulBlack]

Another great ride Robert and excellent work on the vid Cheers dude and keep the shiny side up

[@joestrother2583]

Always enjoy your videos' pov and the soundtrack choice of music blended with v-twin. Thanks for the video.

[@RobertMerz]

+Joe Strother Thanks. I appreciate the comment!

[@micheallinderman481]

We rode this Pass as well. July 7 2017. We started the Day, out of Lewiston Idaho. Stayed the night, at a KOA in Missoula Montana. Will remember this Trip always. May the Lord Bless Us in Our Voyages. Keep the Wheels Up and Turning!

[@RobertMerz]

Lolo Pass is a deceptively enjoyable ride. Much better than what I expected. Thanks and the same to you!

[@jthowson]

Very nice, Thank you. Love ridding Lolo Pass.

[@RobertMerz]

+My Roadstar Rides We were very pleased with Lolo Pass, just a really relaxing, pretty ride!

[@mrtequilashooter]

That was awesome can't wait till I can ride small towns like that again this year

[@RobertMerz]

+mrtequilashooter Small town America, America at it's finest in my opinion!

[@jimweagant8920]

Another great video thanks

[@shreedevi2005]

Excellent as always!

[@bushcraftidaho3593]

great ride! we rode from Hailey ID. up 93 through Hamilton MT. Started on the Lolo side. rained the whole time but it was awesome! we did a nice 800 mile loop,, two days.

[@RobertMerz]

Nice! We really enjoyed Lolo Pass, it is a very pleasing ride, apparently in the rain too!

[@davidjpodurgiel7388]

Robert, as you know I’m planning my trip out there and thanks to you my plans are taking me on great roads. Doing Lolo, which is best direction to start, in Lewiston or Missoula? We like ascended roads.

[@RobertMerz]

Part of my planning involves my considering what the video will look like. I try not to ride into the sun, but rather with the sun at my back. With Lolo I left Lewiston near mid day and as the ride progressed the sun went from overhead to behind me. Also the Missoula end of the ride is a north south route, so again due to the sun position in the sky, I prefer riding north over south to film the ride. So those were the factors I was considering at the time as part of a longer journey that was heading east overall. If I had felt that it wouldn't film riding east I would have planned for it along my return trip. Now all that long winded non answer aside, after riding it eastbound only, I think eastbound is a slightly better choice. Lolo for the most part is not a steep road, but rather a long slight incline on either side of the summit, the more continuous curves are on the Idaho side so riding eastbound puts these curves on a slight uphill, allowing for slight power through the curves, as opposed to westbound and coasting through the curves. It is a very minor difference, and the grade is so slight, but thinking on it that might be the deciding factor. Really I would more consider which direction your trip will put you in line with it and ride it that way.

[@missmarple4477]

The town you label as Ahsahka is actually Orofino. Ahsahka is on the other side of the river.

[@RobertMerz]

Oops! I really do put a lot of effort into being accurate with the information I give but I mess up sometimes. At least both towns are in Idaho so not a horrible miss I guess. Thanks for watching, and paying attention, and thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@missmarple4477]

@@RobertMerz No worries. :) I just happen to live here so I know the town and was just giving a heads up. No criticism intended. Great video.

[@nwscrew63]

Hey Robert, love the video's! Could you do a video of a walk around of your motorcycle? Hope to see you out on the road, first week of June, my brother and I are headed out on our bike's on a three state brother's tour, I'm riding a Yamaha Midnight Star, and my brother is on a black Yamaha V-Star, gone to be fun!!

[@RobertMerz]

+nwscrew63 I like that idea! I mean I like all those ideas! The walk around, I will try this summer to do something like that! The 3 state tour in June, that will be a great trip with your brother. Which 3 states?, because that would be great to see you guys on the road, and you will be easy to spot, 2 Yamahas stand out in a sea of that other make that everybody is "going their own way" on! So which 3 states? Also glad to hear that you like the videos. We put lots of work into them so it is nice to hear that it was worth it!

[@nwscrew63]

+Robert Merz , We are headed out June 2nd, we will be leaving from Scappoose Oregon, hwy 30, hitting washington, hwy 14, then I84 for awhile, then from LaGrande Or. headed over to Idaho, then south on US95, down to Boise, then back on I84, then cutting up through Washington (mid state), then back over to home, spending 4 days on the road.

[@RobertMerz]

+nwscrew63 Sounds like a great trip. I plotted your trip on Google Maps, what a great tool. Not sure of your route from La Grande, I see a couple great ways to Idaho, both awesome routes. So depending which way you are headed here are some thoughts that might be helpful, or of course you may already know: We really liked the little town of Joseph, check it out if you are near, and the roads in and out are great roads. Through Joseph and on to Hells Canyon at Oxbow is a pretty awesome route. If that is your route, don't miss the ride up to Hells Canyon Dam, the Devil's Tail! Then Highway 71 to Cambridge, really twisty, enjoyable road! If, from La Grande you are heading up toward Lewiston then of course Joseph is on your way. At Lewiston, if time permits, I would rather take Highway 12 east to Kooskia, instead of Highway 95. From Kooskia you can head a bit further south and rejoin 95 at Grangeville. We have been both routes, 12 is way more fun, and way prettier then that portion of 95 that you will miss. Riggins and highway 95 in and out of it is some pretty spectacular road as well! Just looking at the map makes me wish I was joining you on your trip! For a trip another time, don't know if you know about Highway 75 and Highway 93 in Idaho. Basically from Missoula to Salmon to Stanley to Carey. We have rode a lot of spectacular highways over the years, and this is probably our number 1 favorite. Like I say, for another trip, incorporate Lolo Pass from Lewiston to Missoula into it. You will not be disappointed! I will probably get video out by winter of 2016/17 of 75 and 93. Not likely we will see you on the road, we will probably stay close to home. Short trips. Although we have talked about a short run into northern Washington, through Idaho and return through the corner of Montana. Maybe. The good Lord willing, it could happen! Have fun on your trip! Rob

[@אמירדואד]

+Robert Merz dmja.t😊😢

[@brienwalsh1965]

Hey how soon can one ride the Lolo Pass in the spring of the year

[@RobertMerz]

The top of the pass is fairly low level at just over 5,200 feet and I believe is kept open year round so I would expect it to be ridable and snow and ice free on nice days anytime in April and on. Expect it to be a cold ride with high snow banks though until at least early June, and remember mountain passes can get snow any month of the year.

[@mrclean28h]

Did you ever keep a journal on the entire trip?

[@mrclean28h]

mrclean28h.wordpress.com here is ours

[@RobertMerz]

I have kept a notebook with fuel stops motels, etc in it, not much else. Really just for business purposes. I had a look through your journal. Wow, thanks for sharing. It is well laid out, lots of info, and looked like it really wasn't a lot of work. I should do that in the future. It looks like your Alaska trip was a great adventure. You saw some beautiful scenery in my general locale as well, such as the Icefield Parkway, and Liard Hot Springs. My wife and I have talked a couple times about taking the ferry back, a good choice I am sure. Again, thanks for letting me have a look, that gave me some good ideas. It was also nice to put a face to your name, good shots on smugmug!

[@mrclean28h]

No worries love to share and please use it if you can on your next adventure. Ferry now days is to much money so we will ride up and back next time. We also want to see Hyder AK and the bears feeding

[@RobertMerz]

Hyder is worth the visit. The Stewart Cassiar Highway is by far the more scenic route. You may also want to consider a visit into Telegraph Creek (a side road off that same highway). The road is gravel so that might be out, but the views of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine are incredible (something to Google). Further south, consider visiting Barkerville, British Columbia (check it out on Google), one of my favorite places. If you do go, consider a 2 day visit to really get the feel for the place.

[@mrclean28h]

Awesome I will add it to the list thank ya

[@prestonphelps1649]

Something wrong with the bike? Sounds like muffler broken

[@RobertMerz]

Nothing wrong with the bike, it sounds absolutely beautiful. Maybe check your cheap speakers on your audio system.