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Texas_Roadrunn1's avatar
Texas_Roadrunn1
Explorer
Jun 06, 2020

Lolo to Walla Walla, WA

Hello, and thank you in advance for your help/advice. We will be traveling from Lolo to Walla Walla then to Lake Wallowa in Oregon in mid July. It has been some years since we went from Pullman, Wa to Lewiston, Id. I recall that there was a huge drop off Hwy 195 down into Lewiston and thinking, “I would hate to make that pull out of this valley, going the opposite direction..”. We now find ourselves with that exact dilemma. We will be coming across 12 from Lolo. Mt and will continue on to Walla Walla. Will we face that same steep pull up to Clarkston, Wa. from Lewiston Id. I am assuming that we will, just want to be sure. Otherwise we will have to take a much more roundabout route using I 90 to Colfax then across 26 to 127 to 12 to Walla Walla. Thank you again, we are pulling a 24,000 lb fiver , hence my concern. Thanks again for any help.
Roads and Routes

8 Replies

  • Islandman's avatar
    Islandman
    Explorer II
    Jun 07, 2020
    The drive from Lolo Pass all the way to Lewiston is really nice, we especially like the stretch from Powell Rgr Sta to Kamiah this time of the year. Stop at the Visitor Center on Lolo Pass, DeVoto Cedar Grove, and a few other highlights of the trip. Folks at the visitor center will give you some good places to stop and see along your way.
  • jamesu's avatar
    jamesu
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2020
    US-12 all the way to Walla Walla. A good road. A scenic drive.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Jun 06, 2020
    OP is coming over US 12 Lolo Pass.
    He should do fine on US 12, but WA 128 is a different story!
  • TUCQUALA's avatar
    TUCQUALA
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2020
    No, you shouldn't mention 128/3!! If the OP was concerned aboot the Lewiston hill, he would be overjoyed on going that road to Wallowa Lake!!!
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Jun 06, 2020
    US95 north out of Lewiston does climb significantly, though at modern highway standards. Other routes out of the valley climb more gradually. Clarkston is just across the Snake, so there's no climb. US12 on west does climb to the same area plateau level, but takes longer.

    I suppose I shouldn't mention 128/3 south. It's more direct (half the miles cf to Walla Walla. But there is the big twisty drop to the La Grange River (aka Rattlesnake grade). Overall amount of climbing is less.

    Lewiston is 700ft elevation, lowest point in Idaho, Joesph is 4000+ ft, so you'll climb regardless of route.
  • RedRollingRoadb's avatar
    RedRollingRoadb
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2020
    West of Clarkston you will have a 5-6 mile climb of about 4-6% and about a 3-4 mile decent into Pomroy with about the same grades. Couple of corners at the top that are a little sharper than they seem. After that it is nothing to get excited about. Couple of small grades but nothing to worry about.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Jun 06, 2020
    To get to Walla Walla from Lewiston, you should be taking US 12 West, not going north on US/95/195

    edit changed US 91 to US 95

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