Guide book or website about steep/twisted/rough roads?

It's worth keeping mind that states vary as to how road responsibility is divided up. In many the DOT maintains and regulates major roads (cooperating with the feds on some), and counties all others. North Caroline is at the other extreme, with everything except roads in towns being the state's responsibility. In western states federal agencies like Forest Service and BLM also maintain a lot of roads.

History, terrain and climate also affect the mix. Some of those restricted California roads look like they were old wagon roads, barely paved over. In western Washington and Oregon a road has to be actively maintained, or else it soon is overgrown or washed away. But in dry eastern parts of those states, an occasional pass with a grader is all that's needed to keep many roads usable.

Thanks again!

Yeah, come to think of it... I can't think of any bad highways either. The worst that I am aware of are in Cali.

Overall, Oregon has pretty dang nice roads. I5 from Hugo north to Cottage Grove is pretty curvy and hilly, but no more so than Redding to the Oregon border.

As far as I know, Oregon doesn't have an DOT maintained roads with restrictions like that. With the exception of 242, McKenzie Hwy. There are a number of paved forest service roads, some scenic byways, that might be uncomfortable in a large RV.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/SCENICBYWAYS/pages/driving_guide.aspx

I don't know of any restricted highways in Washington, though I can name some that big RVs flinch at (e.g. 129 south of Lewiston).

OR trucking strictions - mostly bridge weight and width.

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialVehicle/Restrictions/default.aspx?View=NC
Washington truck restrictions - mostly bridge weight

Hey paulj,

Any other Western states with free maps like that? Haven't been able to find one for Oregon as of yet.

paulj wrote:
California has a good collection of state highways that have length restrictions.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27094079
discusses CA175, Hopland Grade.

This Caldot map of restricted routes is a good resource, especially in the north coast mountains and the Sierras
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/bus-motorhome/45-bus-map.htm

That 175 thread is pretty hilarious. Sure wish I'd a' run across THAT before last weekend.

And that CalDOT page is great help! Thanks!

No more red routes for us unless absolutely necessary.

paulj wrote:

KendallP wrote:
...
Yes. That Bear Camp is the one that a young San Francisco family's GPS told them to take to get to the coast in wintertime. Fortunately the wife and kids made it, but the husband/father was not so lucky.

There was a lot of speculation during the search as to what map led them astray. They did not have GPS. They may have looked at Mapquest before the drive, but when lost they only had a printed state map. After missing an exit to OR43, they saw a route heading west from Grants Pass on the map, and headed off in the dark and rain and snow, without any detailed information.

Jim died because he thought they were much closer to Galice than they really were, and he tried to hike out without adequate protection or food. Even a rudimentary GPS would have given him a more realistic location.

Roger. Thanks for clearing that up. Post edited.

KendallP wrote:
...
Yes. That Bear Camp is the one that a young San Francisco family's GPS told them to take to get to the coast in wintertime. Fortunately the wife and kids made it, but the husband/father was not so lucky.

There was a lot of speculation during the search as to what map led them astray. They did not have GPS. They may have looked at Mapquest before the drive, but when lost they only had a printed state map. After missing an exit to OR43, they saw a route heading west from Grants Pass on the map, and headed off in the dark and rain and snow, without any detailed information.

Jim died because he thought they were much closer to Galice than they really were, and he tried to hike out without adequate protection or food. Even a rudimentary GPS would have given him a more realistic location.

California has a good collection of state highways that have length restrictions.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27094079
discusses CA175, Hopland Grade.

This Caldot map of restricted routes is a good resource, especially in the north coast mountains and the Sierras
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/bus-motorhome/45-bus-map.htm

paulj wrote:
Usually asking for the quickest route avoids these minor roads because they are slow. But in this case it was enough shorter going over the mountains that the choice made the top list.

See, that's the problem.

Google had me at like 6:37 going over treacherous Hwy 175 and 6:42 if I continued West on 20 and then took 101 on down. If you're in a car... going the suggested turn speeds... and don't mind the curves... then 175's a little quicker.

But in an old, tipsy motorhome....

I'm quite certain it added a ton of time while turning my girls green.

Sure would be nice if there was an "RV" setting for alternate routes. Doesn't seem like the software would be that difficult to write. Google already has the terrain mode. If it sees heavy changes in elevation... PLUS some serious curves... and there's another route that is only a few minutes longer... then offer it as a freakin' alternative. Is that so hard?

So... speaking of google terrain... is there anything lbrjet's program can do that google terrain can't?

paulj wrote:
If it is curves that bother you (or your passengers), just zoom in far enough to see them in detail. Or even go to Streetview level.

There are a whole range of difficulties. Some seem to fear anything that is not Interstate. In southern Oregon, US199 to Crescent City gets mixed opinions. It is a Federal #, but the California part along the Smith River is too curvy for some people. For other's that fine, but OR227 north of Shady Grove is too much.

In S Oregon you also have a lot of Forest Service and BLM logging roads. Most are gravel, but some are paved. The most notorious is Bear Camp from Galice to Agness (or Grant's Pass to Gold Beach). Shuttle drivers for river rafters drive it fast, with trailers full of raft. But unprepared people have died on it.

***EDIT***
(For the story below... in a later post, paulj said they had no GPS, just a map. I don't recall, so I have no reason to doubt him.)

Yes. That Bear Camp is the one that a young San Francisco family's GPS told them to take to get to the coast in wintertime. Fortunately the wife and kids made it, but the husband/father was not so lucky.

We just returned via Redwood Hwy 199. Know that one well. It's not a barrel a' monkeys, but it was much easier than the one we got stuck on. It was Cal 175 from Clear Lake to Hopland (wine country.) I don't recommend it. On 199 we never got below 25 mph. 175 was 15 mph most of the way and LOTS more of it.

Yeah. I learned a hard lesson. Just because it's a highway... doesn't mean it's in a straight line. Plan your trips carefully!

I've just been burning the midnight oil these days. Finish work at midnight 7 days a week. Up at 6:30 and doing it all over again. So I didn't take the time to scrutinize the unfamiliar roads. Won't do THAT again.