Questions of driving US-2 through the west
I've been tossing around an idea to travel from Michigan to Washington on US-2. For some reason I've wanted to travel US-2 just for the adventure of it. This would be in 2019. I have a Silverado ...
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Your first grade will be the Mackinac Bridge which is 200 ft above the water.
Next grade if note is the climb out of Duluth.
Then it's dead flat across MN, ND, and eastern MT. The Red River valley around Grand Forks is especially flat.
US2 around the south side of Glacier NP is one of the lowest passes across the Rockies (and Continental Divide). Hwy 3 in AB/BC is lower.
From there to Washington US2 stays in river valleys.
In central WA there's a surprise grade a Moses Coulee (a bit west of Coulee City), and a bigger downgrade to the Columbia River west of Waterville.
If you take a side trip to Grand Coulee dam expect some grades there as well.
Then Stevens Pass over the Cascades. This has a gentle climb from the east, with a more noticeable and scenic drop on the west side of the summit.
Many like to take WA20 across Washington. That's further north, and more scenic, especially through North Cascades NP. Also more grades and passes. You can pick that up at Newport WA.
Look at the route with Google Maps terrain mode (and streetview) - or other programs that show the mountains. Even on simple print maps, national forests and parks are marked. In the west these usually cover the mountains - wetter terrain that is more conducive to forests than grazing.
Next grade if note is the climb out of Duluth.
Then it's dead flat across MN, ND, and eastern MT. The Red River valley around Grand Forks is especially flat.
US2 around the south side of Glacier NP is one of the lowest passes across the Rockies (and Continental Divide). Hwy 3 in AB/BC is lower.
From there to Washington US2 stays in river valleys.
In central WA there's a surprise grade a Moses Coulee (a bit west of Coulee City), and a bigger downgrade to the Columbia River west of Waterville.
If you take a side trip to Grand Coulee dam expect some grades there as well.
Then Stevens Pass over the Cascades. This has a gentle climb from the east, with a more noticeable and scenic drop on the west side of the summit.
Many like to take WA20 across Washington. That's further north, and more scenic, especially through North Cascades NP. Also more grades and passes. You can pick that up at Newport WA.
Look at the route with Google Maps terrain mode (and streetview) - or other programs that show the mountains. Even on simple print maps, national forests and parks are marked. In the west these usually cover the mountains - wetter terrain that is more conducive to forests than grazing.
