PNW Riders

eric · 03-29-2007, 01:06 PM

Highway 504 - Johnston Ridge
by Eric Anderson

The Road

If smooth, fast sweepers are your cup of tea, Johnston Ridge is for you. This recently completed highway has fantastic pavement and a bare landscape left over from the Mt. St. Helens eruption means great visibility though the corners and few debris. The only downside to this road is ends to quickly, with few corners that require a speed under 70mph the 30 miles to the visitor center will fly by.

The ride begins in Toutle, WA. There's about nothing there except for two gas stations (and only one has premium) and a couple small restaurants, Betty's Place is the best to grab lunch. Take it easy heading out of Toutle, law enforcement often is near the town but usually the highway itself is clear. It doesn't take long to get to the corners, make sure the tires are warm and let it rip! There are two small towns you'll pass through a just few minutes after leaving Toutle where you will want to slow down but other then that the road is open, grippy and smooth.

Weekends will bring heavier traffic but arriving in the morning means you will have the road mostly to yourself. Even if you do get caught behind cars there is plenty of room to pass. Few of the corners are blind and there are decent passing lanes.

Once past the small towns the road is an unrelenting pattern of fast sweepers and faster sweepers. The road is still fairly new and the pavement is in fantastic shape.

If you can manage to slow down long enough to take your eyes off the road the views are fantastic. The road twists through young forest only just starting to grow after being devestated by the eruption of St. Helens. Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams are in front of you throughout the ride, steadily growing larger. Towards the end of 504 the crater of Mt. St. Helens opens up before you as you get to the top of the ridge. On some days you can see steam rising from the vents relieving the pressure pushing up the growing dome.

The road ends at the Johnston Ridge Observatory which has awesome views of the crater being barely over 5 miles away. Should you care to take the time the observatory houses several exhibits about the eruption, but that is best saved for a rainy day, there is more riding to do! The temperatures can be cool up there so give your tires a few minutes to warm up before you hit it hard.

For more on this road, including more photos, maps and downloads, please click here.

Getting Here

The fun part of hwy 504 begins in Toutle, WA. There are backroads you can take to Toutle but the direct route is from I-5. Take exit 49 if heading north on I-5 towards hwy 504. If you are heading south on I-5, take exit 63 on to hwy 505. Head east and it will meet up with 504.

Distances

Toutle to Coldwater Ridge Observatory
31 miles

Seattle to Coldwater Ridge Observatory via I-5
146 miles

Portland to Coldwater Ridge Observatory via I-5
101 miles

More Photos

Sweepers

Fantastic Scenery!

This 180 degree corner is
one of the sharpest on
the road.

.

Oly ZX · 04-20-2007, 05:55 PM

I love that road!!

Djoplin · 04-20-2007, 08:10 PM

This is a GREAT ride.. Especially early in the year when traffic is MINIMAL!!! I cannot tell you how much fun ( well, except the chipsealed area just past the first outlook) we had on this road.. High speed sweepers that you can take at speeds that will blow most people away..

Oly ZX · 05-01-2007, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Djoplin

This is a GREAT ride.. Especially early in the year when traffic is MINIMAL!!! I cannot tell you how much fun ( well, except the chipsealed area just past the first outlook) we had on this road.. High speed sweepers that you can take at speeds that will blow most people away..

Yup...what he said


03-29-2007, 01:06 PM	#1
eric Slow Eric Joined: Mar 2006 From: Seattle Blog Entries: 6 I Ride: Street: Bike #1 Track: Bike #2	WA - Hwy 504 - Johnston Ridge Highway 504 - Johnston Ridge by Eric Anderson The Road If smooth, fast sweepers are your cup of tea, Johnston Ridge is for you. This recently completed highway has fantastic pavement and a bare landscape left over from the Mt. St. Helens eruption means great visibility though the corners and few debris. The only downside to this road is ends to quickly, with few corners that require a speed under 70mph the 30 miles to the visitor center will fly by. The ride begins in Toutle, WA. There's about nothing there except for two gas stations (and only one has premium) and a couple small restaurants, Betty's Place is the best to grab lunch. Take it easy heading out of Toutle, law enforcement often is near the town but usually the highway itself is clear. It doesn't take long to get to the corners, make sure the tires are warm and let it rip! There are two small towns you'll pass through a just few minutes after leaving Toutle where you will want to slow down but other then that the road is open, grippy and smooth. Weekends will bring heavier traffic but arriving in the morning means you will have the road mostly to yourself. Even if you do get caught behind cars there is plenty of room to pass. Few of the corners are blind and there are decent passing lanes. Once past the small towns the road is an unrelenting pattern of fast sweepers and faster sweepers. The road is still fairly new and the pavement is in fantastic shape. If you can manage to slow down long enough to take your eyes off the road the views are fantastic. The road twists through young forest only just starting to grow after being devestated by the eruption of St. Helens. Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams are in front of you throughout the ride, steadily growing larger. Towards the end of 504 the crater of Mt. St. Helens opens up before you as you get to the top of the ridge. On some days you can see steam rising from the vents relieving the pressure pushing up the growing dome. The road ends at the Johnston Ridge Observatory which has awesome views of the crater being barely over 5 miles away. Should you care to take the time the observatory houses several exhibits about the eruption, but that is best saved for a rainy day, there is more riding to do! The temperatures can be cool up there so give your tires a few minutes to warm up before you hit it hard. *For more on this road, including more photos, maps and downloads, please click here.* Getting Here The fun part of hwy 504 begins in Toutle, WA. There are backroads you can take to Toutle but the direct route is from I-5. Take exit 49 if heading north on I-5 towards hwy 504. If you are heading south on I-5, take exit 63 on to hwy 505. Head east and it will meet up with 504. Distances Toutle to Coldwater Ridge Observatory 31 miles Seattle to Coldwater Ridge Observatory via I-5 146 miles Portland to Coldwater Ridge Observatory via I-5 101 miles More Photos Sweepers Fantastic Scenery! This 180 degree corner is one of the sharpest on the road. . __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by eric; 08-24-2007 at 08:39 PM..


04-20-2007, 05:55 PM	#2
Oly ZX Daytime Adventure Seeker Joined: Jan 2006 From: Olympia,Wa. Blog Entries: 2 I Ride: '04 ZX12 '05 ZX10	I love that road!! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


04-20-2007, 08:10 PM	#3
Djoplin Investigates Alternative Destinations Joined: Jul 2005 From: Stanwood I Ride: Faster 2-up than most by themselves	This is a GREAT ride.. Especially early in the year when traffic is MINIMAL!!! I cannot tell you how much fun ( well, except the chipsealed area just past the first outlook) we had on this road.. High speed sweepers that you can take at speeds that will blow most people away.. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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