Washington State--highway 14

[Rose Pink]

As I have traveled on the Oregon side of the Columbia River on I-84, I've seen traffic on the Washington side of the river traveling on highway 14. It appears to be going almost as fast as the interstate.

I will be driving from Prosser to Vancouver and thought I might take this road instead of crossing over the Columbia (twice) to take the interstate.

I want to know more about highway 14 and whether it is a good road and is driveable even in snowy weather.

Also, I would like tips driving from Prosser to highway 14. It appears there are at least a couple of ways one can do it. One road is listed on as "East Road." What kinds of routes are there and which is the quickest?

Thank you.

 

[Passepartout]

Those are my stomping grounds. I have driven this hundreds of times. From Prosser on I-82 take the easternmost exit for Hwy 221. Or Wine Country Road if you are in town. It makes a couple of turns and goes up and out of the valley to Paterson. A mile or so before you get down to the Columbia, you can stop at the Columbia Crest winery for a break. Hwy 221 saves a bit over 20 miles instead of the freeway. Hwy 14 is good 2 lane all weather highway. There is a bit of truck traffic on it though. The views are pretty amazing at some of the higher places. There is a Stonehenge replica overlooking the Columbia at Biggs/Maryhill that's worth a stop. You go through some small communities, and there are 4 bridges to cross to I-84 on the Oregon side if you get in a hurry. I think 14 gets a little tedious after Stevenson, so I usually cross at Hood River and take the freeway to the I-205 bridge into Vancouver, but there's no reason you can't just stay on the Washington side.

Pretty drive, and more interesting than mindlessly motoring down a freeway.

Enjoy.... Jim

 

[Rose Pink]

Thanks! I knew I could count on Tuggers! :whoopie:

 

[easyrider]

The area from Paterson to the Wishram was a beautiful drive until recently when thousands of wind turbines were built along the Columbia gorge. This is also a busier section of truck route on a two lane hwy as is the entire hwy 14.

A different route would be to head to Mabton then Bickleton then down to Roosevelt. This route gives great views of Mt Adams and some lava flows. The road from Mabton to Bickleton has great views of the lower valley and Cascades. From Bickleton you could go to Goldendale or drop down to Rosevelt in the gorge.
I like the Bickleton Hwy to Goldendale. Then you would head to Hwy 97 to Hwy 14 and could still visit Mary Hill Museum and the Stone Henge. Stone Henge has wind turbines all around it now and is just past Goldendale.
The stretch of hwy 14 from below Goldendale to the Ocean is where our fishing holes are. Bingen has a brewery called the Bad Seed Cider House and some nicer restaurants.

 

[Rose Pink]

I will check out all of these routes. My traveling companion is meeting her daughter somewhere on the Oregon side so I need to find out where that is and find a bridge to cross.

 

[Rose Pink]

I think 14 gets a little tedious after Stevenson, .... Jim

Explain "tedious."

 

[Passepartout]

A bit narrower, more rolling up and down, curvier, shorter sight distances, and as one gets closer to Camas/Vancouver, traffic gets a bit heavier. As you noted earlier that looking across the river and seeing similar speeds on both roads, that won't be the case as you get further West. That's why I usually crossed into Oregon at Hood River. Toll is $1.50. At Cascade Locks it's $1.00. U.S.97 & 197 bridges are free.

On the whole, I like highway 14, but not when I'm in a hurry. If course tempering my decision was the fact that highway use taxes are much higher in Oregon than Washington- but that is of no consequence in a car.... Jim

 

[easyrider]

I haven't noticed "tedious" on this stretch of Hwy 14 from Goldendale to Vancouver. This is the most beautiful stretch of the Hwy, imo. Views of lava flows, river canyons, Mount Hood and the Columbia Gorge can be seen on this stretch of hwy on the WA side of the Columbia River.

If your going west to Portland I would cross at the Bridge of the Gods and stop at Multnomah Falls. http://trips.stateoforegon.com/multnomah_falls/

The Bickleton Hwy is going to get the windmill view very soon. By next year the views will be simalar to Hwy 14 from Paterson to Maryhill. Windmills.

This high platuea on the Bickleton Hwy has wild horses, deer and is known for blue birds. This is a very senic road with very little traffic. It is an easy drive.