Posts
64
Joined
1/17/2020
Location
CA
Edited Date/Time
7/16/2025 2:05pm
I’m rained out baling hay and decided to go to my first ever American national this weekend, from Canada.
Doing the 1000 mile ride on my 600, probably hoteling it at hood river and hoping to head to the track first thing Saturday. Looking for any tips if there’s a place to park my bike (and if I am allowed to ride the shoulder to skip traffic on he way out), and what I should pack with me for the day. I see all the pit passes are sold out which bums me out hard, but I couldn’t make the call until just now that I’m going to make it. I see the weather should be perfect for the whole ride down and day of. Super excited, thank you!
E- I see best western right at washougal has open rooms still, will my bike go missing if I stay there?
Leave early, although with a bike you can bypass a lot of the traffic. I like to be onsite by 0700 or so before it really gets crazy. If coming from Hood, cross over there and head west on 14 to Salmon Falls Road and come in from that side. You will enter on NE 412th to Borin Rd and thru the RV gate. Usually you'll head up the hill and park with all the other bikes outside the Pro Pits. Ticket shack will be to your left and then you walk up the hill right into the infield.
Bring sunscreen, chapstick, water, and cash. I like to hang out on the hillside to the right of HP hill, but you'll want to walk the track to see it all. Wear sturdy shoes - lots of climbing and loose rocks there.
Don't be in a hurry to leave. Find some shade and a beer, chill out until 5 or 6 (or later) and the traffic will mostly be done.
Edit: That's a pretty safe area of Washougal. Bike should be fine. There's a good backroute in heading up 32nd street that can be useful, esp on a bike.
Top off with gas before you enter Oregon. Otherwise you’ll feel silly watching an attendant pump 1.5 gallons of gas into your bike.
That’s not a thing anymore, they stopped pumping your gas this year? I believe
Really, really good advice, especially the things to bring. You can survive Washougal with little resources, but those are the ones you need.
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If you’ve been to other nationals you totally understand this but get here early, otherwise the queue of cars can get overwhelming as early as around 8:30. Have an absolute blast
PM'd you my contact info. With such perfect weather, maybe I'll drag my ass out of bed early and meet you at your hotel. We can ride up together.
Get there as early as you can tolerate like everyone says. Leave at the gate drop of moto 4 or plan on hanging around for quite a while before attempting to leave because getting out of the place is insane. I suppose on a bike you might be able to cheat traffic a little so there is that. Do yourself a huge favor and walk around every inch of the track during timedqualifyingpractice and pick out at least a couple favorite spots to watch the motos. I love being up at the very top and somewhere adjacent to horsepower hill as well. It is a beautiful setting and my favorite track to see a national.
I just pm'd you with some info
I've been toying with the idea of making the 9-hour drive from NorCal for this race, and this post might have convinced me!
Never been to Washougal, but it looks like a cool track. I'd love some tips on going there too. The only Nats I have been to are Budds Creek (for many years) and Hangtown. One thing I love about this sport is the totally different vibes at different tracks.
Just got done loading up to leave from Santa Cruz early tomorrow. Will be in Hood with enough time to get a solid mtn bike ride in at Post canyon. Weather is going to be perfect this year
Tell me you’ve never been to Oregon without telling me you’ve never been to Oregon. Even before they passed the law you can pump your own gas, you still had to pump your own gas into a motorcycle.
Can confirm that bike parking is primo. Right next to the pro pits, which is right behind the start gate area. Probably the best parking in the place.
I believe the law is they have to offer full service but it isn’t mandatory. I believe NJ is the only state that still has mandatory full service.
“We don’t pump our gas, we pump our fists!”
Good shoes/hiking boots, the hill is steep, many friends have gotten blisters by the end of the day. As mentioned, go early.
Temps look perfect.
Hood River is a way better place to stay then coming in from the west on the morning of. Plus HR is a cooler town then anywhere on the i-5 corridor. Double Mtn downtown HR has good beer and great pizza.
PIR tomorrow night is a must if you can make it..
Coming from HR, take 14 and then head to the track via Salmonberry. Skips "most" of the backup coming up Washougal River Road. The bike parking is at the very top of the parking lot just outside the pits. In the past they haven't taken cards for a ticket at the gate, so bring cash as their ATM machine can have a bajillion people waiting to pull cash.
Walk around a bunch, learn the tunnels. Head up to the road jump for practice. The road jump is after the triple and wall jump/sand pit. You cant see much of the track from any one place, so move around. The shade will be on the hill, the rest of the track is pretty much in the sun. Its not supposed to be too hot, so probably not an issue. If you're one of the people that don't like getting wet, avoid the screaming fans between motos because you'll get soaked.
Leaving the track is a complete SH&% Show. There are 3 ways to do it.
1. Leave when the last moto starts and you'll miss a good chunk of the traffic.
2. Leave after the last moto and it will take you a while to get out, but on a bike you can skate through a little.
3. (my chosen option) is to watch the last race, maybe head over towards the podium, hang out and talk to people for like an hour. Let the chaos subside and you'll pretty much cruise right out.
See you up there, I'll be flagging!
Thank you guys so much! This has been a tremendous help, will be stocked with the essentials and ready to go.
This! Ive been 30+ times. Arrive early at the track, and leave after the last holeshot.
Trust me
Bring sunscreen
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