Originally Posted by
CliffordK
The pass is much higher from the west side, traveling eastward, and lower from the east side traveling westward.
I'd say the pass is at the same height not matter which direction you ride up.
As for difficulty, west to east is definitely harder than east to west. Did both directions during two different Cycle Oregons. Both days were quite beautiful at the summit in mid-September. Descending the west slope can be tricky. Despite a warning from the the ride organizers to exercise care I still saw a few people, including a tandem couple, extricating themselves from the woods along the switchback section.