[Krein]

Hi there,

I'm looking for a little help in connecting rides for an imminent singletrack-ish tour.

The general idea is this:

Start in Eugene.
Ride ~east.
Hit as much fun singletrack as possible.
Keep fingers crossed for no poison oak outbreak.
Burn zero gas.
Head back.

We'll carry minimal camp gear and hopefully restock on food in a few spots. Setup looks something like this:

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Trails I'd like to cover include (and perhaps in order):

North Umpqua River Trail
Middle Fork Willamette
Loops in Oakridge (Alpine, Bunchgrass?)
Waldo Lake / Twins
Edison Ice Cave
Phil's Complex
Deschutes River out of town
Cache Mtn / Suttle Lake
Mackenzie River Trail
Back to Oakridge (or Eugene?)

Any problems you might foresee in a route like that? We're OK riding some highway, but would prefer not, especially if it's 2 lane and without a shoulder. I know snow is an issue, but it'll be more than two weeks before we hit any of the high country (not starting for at least a week or so). I know about the bugs at Waldo Lake, too.

Specifically I'm looking for advice on how to connect:

1. Waldo to Phil's area. Anyone ever ridden the Edison Ice Cave Trail? Other than that, it looks like it's going to be forest roads to get over there. Other ideas?

2. Bend to Cache Mtn. Again, a network of forest roads, but are there any trails hidden in there, or something not to be missed along the way (or even out of the way)?

3. MRT to Oakridge or Eugene - possible?

4. Considering throwing in a side trip to Newberry Crater. Is there any way to get from the crater to Bend besides the highway?

5. Any other must-do rides in the general area I might be missing?

Any help or suggestions much appreciated...

Thanks!

 

[Brandon]

Rough plan:

Go south from Eugene to Cottage Grove, go up past Dorena over the top up Sharps Creek Rd, down into Steamboat on the Umpqua, work your way up stream at the top then you can jump over windigo pass into the Crescent lake trail system, connect over to Timpanogas from Crescent, take Middle fork all the way down to Sand prarie ride into Oakridge, spend a few days do a few loops in Oakridge, take aufderheide over to Mckenzie, ride the trail then head up over the pass to sisters, cut through to cache Mt/Suttle Lake if you want then take the gravel roads over to Bend/Phils system. Then head south on cascade Lakes, up over Wilamette pass, ride Waldo, etc.. take Bunchgrass all the way back into Oakridge...

That should only take a month or so.

 

[1996cc]

MRT to Mckenzie Bridge, LTD to Eugene

 

[Krein]

Rough plan:

Go south from Eugene to Cottage Grove, go up past Dorena over the top up Sharps Creek Rd, down into Steamboat on the Umpqua, work your way up stream at the top then you can jump over windigo pass into the Crescent lake trail system, connect over to Timpanogas from Crescent, take Middle fork all the way down to Sand prarie ride into Oakridge, spend a few days do a few loops in Oakridge, take aufderheide over to Mckenzie, ride the trail then head up over the pass to sisters, cut through to cache Mt/Suttle Lake if you want then take the gravel roads over to Bend/Phils system. Then head south on cascade Lakes, up over Wilamette pass, ride Waldo, etc.. take Bunchgrass all the way back into Oakridge...

Thanks, a few new names in there.

That should only take a month or so.

Perhaps. Perhaps no.

 

[Krein]

MRT to Mckenzie Bridge, LTD to Eugene

...LTD?

Yeah, there better not be any climbing on these trails...

 

[cazloco]

...LTD?

Yeah, there better not be any climbing on these trails...

LTD=bus ride back to eugene for like $1.50. The bus stop is at the ranger's station. Only two racks on the bus. Some drivers will let you take the bike on the bus but if it gets full....ya get tossed.

Caz

 

[Albee]

Hey, Scott, Albee here. You must be the Scott I'm thinking of. We rode Flat Creek, Salmon Creek, Aubrey Wall and Eugene to Crest the day you bought that $200 singletrack-worthy bike in Oakridge.

And if this is you, and knowing how you ride, this is what, three days worth?

Brandon has a pretty good plan. No singletrack until you hit the North Umpqua trail (unless you hit the Ridgeline Trail in Eugene), but you can take the Row River Trail (paved rail-to-trail) east of Cottage Grove to avoid any car traffic, until you're only a mile away from Sharp's Creek road. Aufderheide (Forest Road 19)is a paved road but is definitely worthy both for its scenery and relatively car-free riding.

Sounds like an awesome trip. Have fun!

 

[Krein]

LTD=bus ride back to eugene for like $1.50. The bus stop is at the ranger's station. Only two racks on the bus. Some drivers will let you take the bike on the bus but if it gets full....ya get tossed.

Caz

Ah, that LTD! LOL.

Not a bad option to know about, thanks!

 

[Krein]

Hey, Scott, Albee here. You must be the Scott I'm thinking of. We rode Flat Creek, Salmon Creek, Aubrey Wall and Eugene to Crest the day you bought that $200 singletrack-worthy bike in Oakridge.

And if this is you, and knowing how you ride, this is what, three days worth?

Brandon has a pretty good plan. No singletrack until you hit the North Umpqua trail (unless you hit the Ridgeline Trail in Eugene), but you can take the Row River Trail (paved rail-to-trail) east of Cottage Grove to avoid any car traffic, until you're only a mile away from Sharp's Creek road. Aufderheide (Forest Road 19)is a paved road but is definitely worthy both for its scenery and relatively car-free riding.

Sounds like an awesome trip. Have fun!

Hey Albee,

Good to hear from you. Glad you remember the $196 bike! It's come in quite handy for Ridgeline rides in subsequent visits. And, that was a good ride you took me on.

Thanks for the further info - all very helpful.

Thanks to Alan's GPS collection and motionbased, here's the rough route so far:

<img src=https://topofusion.com/maps/ORST_v1.jpg>

It's only 511 miles. Probably going to take a little more than three days. Actually, the missus is along for this trip, and we're going to take our time in a few spots. Just don't want to run out of trail to ride...

It's still missing a lot of singletrack near Oakridge. I'm sure we won't ride the highway all the way back to Eugene.

 

[Snake Muesl]

There's a higher route from Bend to Cache. Get up to Todd Lake and up over to Three Creek Lake and catch Petersen's Ridge down to Sisters. Somebody else can probably connect you with the trails behind Black Butte that can get you up to Suttle Lake and Cache

 

[SS4life]

If you are interested in taking a side trip to newberry crater there are dirt roads that lead out of the china hat area from bend to paulina peak.

 

[Albee]

Back to Yoo-Gene

Once you're in Oakytown, on the way back to Eugene, you can get to the Red Covered bridge in Westfir, ride North Fork Trail, then up 1910 to Alpine, to Tire Mtn. Trail, Winberry Divide, North Shore Tie, and North Shore Trail to the Lookout Point Dam. Takes you off Highway 58, gives you a bunch more climbing.... .....but much more killer singletrack.....:thumbsup:

Keep us posted as the time draws near. Maybe some of us can connect with you.

Cheers!

 

[Krein]

Once you're in Oakytown, on the way back to Eugene, you can get to the Red Covered bridge in Westfir, ride North Fork Trail, then up 1910 to Alpine, to Tire Mtn. Trail, Winberry Divide, North Shore Tie, and North Shore Trail to the Lookout Point Dam. Takes you off Highway 58, gives you a bunch more climbing.... .....but much more killer singletrack.....:thumbsup:

That sounds good -- hopefully in that direction as opposed to the other.

Coonskins is helping big time with the route, with the biggest variable being snow. We'll just take it as it goes, I guess.

I was hoping for some more Bend area help, but maybe there aren't many Bend riders here on the forums.

Thanks everyone that took the time to write.

 

[SeenYour Crash]

Bend.....

The Vulture and I did a supported 2 day trip from Bend to Oakridge on 99% singletrack several years back and I've done a fair amount of local touring w/ BOB trailers on trails around here.

I'll start you from Hwy 58/Willamette Pass area and work you north through Central O. to Sisters.

Gold Lake Trail, east side of Waldo Lake, Charlton Lake, Lemish Lake, Cultus Lake....legally you have to take a little dirt/paved road from here to Lava Lake. Lava Lake to Bachee parking lot (skip Edison Ice Cave and go clockwise...more/better singletrack) Metolius Windigo trail across to Trail 99 down to Peterson Ridge. Welcome to Sisters.

You could of course drop much further into Bend/Phi's area, but if your going at the time of year when the high country is open...why would you (dust!)? From Sisters you could go Mckenzie Pass Scenic Hwy which is closed this year...or stay on the Metolius Windigo trail to Suttle Lake, I hear that's really horsey in places. From Santiam Pass I hear the Santiam Wagon Road exists and comes out right at the top of the McKenzie River Trail. I haven't done it, don't know where it starts on the eastside.

Have fun, report back.

 

[Krein]

The Vulture and I did a supported 2 day trip from Bend to Oakridge on 99% singletrack several years back and I've done a fair amount of local touring w/ BOB trailers on trails around here.

I'll start you from Hwy 58/Willamette Pass area and work you north through Central O. to Sisters.

Gold Lake Trail, east side of Waldo Lake, Charlton Lake, Lemish Lake, Cultus Lake....legally you have to take a little dirt/paved road from here to Lava Lake. Lava Lake to Bachee parking lot (skip Edison Ice Cave and go clockwise...more/better singletrack) Metolius Windigo trail across to Trail 99 down to Peterson Ridge. Welcome to Sisters.

You could of course drop much further into Bend/Phi's area, but if your going at the time of year when the high country is open...why would you (dust!)? From Sisters you could go Mckenzie Pass Scenic Hwy which is closed this year...or stay on the Metolius Windigo trail to Suttle Lake, I hear that's really horsey in places. From Santiam Pass I hear the Santiam Wagon Road exists and comes out right at the top of the McKenzie River Trail. I haven't done it, don't know where it starts on the eastside.

Have fun, report back.

Hey, thanks for the info. I've been puzzling over the Central Oregon Trails map and this really helps.

We would probably drop into Bend for the services -- food namely. But it might make sense to climb back up and follow the route you described. Snow dependent.

We're starting in a few days, but it will be a while yet before we get up into the high country, So I'm planning / hoping on the high stuff, but we'll play it by ear once out there.

Interesting that Mackenzie Pass is closed -- for construction? But bikes are OK?

 

[Snake Muesl]

Interesting that Mackenzie Pass is closed -- for construction? But bikes are OK?

'Fraid not.

 

[SeenYour Crash]

oh, refuel options...that's good beta to know....

There are a couple general stores and lodges along the way that would be really helpful for refuel supplies and real dinners as well.

Crescent Junction has several general stores and restaurants, Cultus Lake Lodge has restaurant and couple basic supplies, Lave Lake Resort basic store only. Nothing really outside of Bend or Sisters, you're either in town or your not.

The "town" of Crescent Junction not to be confused w/ Crescent. Has several small stores that will get you fully restocked. With that in mind my route from Oakridge would be up the beautiful Middle Fork trail to Timpanogas lake, past Summit Lake, past Crescent Lake to Crescent Junction. From Crescent Jct. you can route find to Waldo Lake area. That'd be a more "rideable" route than going up or even down Bunchgrass. Besides what's a couple 30 to 50 more miles to someone with goals like yourself?

 

[Krein]

oh, refuel options...that's good beta to know....

There are a couple general stores and lodges along the way that would be really helpful for refuel supplies and real dinners as well.

Crescent Junction has several general stores and restaurants, Cultus Lake Lodge has restaurant and couple basic supplies, Lave Lake Resort basic store only. Nothing really outside of Bend or Sisters, you're either in town or your not.

The "town" of Crescent Junction not to be confused w/ Crescent. Has several small stores that will get you fully restocked. With that in mind my route from Oakridge would be up the beautiful Middle Fork trail to Timpanogas lake, past Summit Lake, past Crescent Lake to Crescent Junction. From Crescent Jct. you can route find to Waldo Lake area. That'd be a more "rideable" route than going up or even down Bunchgrass. Besides what's a couple 30 to 50 more miles to someone with goals like yourself?

Thanks, this is exactly the info I've been trying to research today... seems there are a lot of lodges around. :thumbsup:

Definitely no bunchgrass -- your route sounds better.

 

[Krein]

Just wanted to thank everyone that offered info and advice on this thread.

We had an awesome trip out there and thoroughly enjoyed everything but the mosquitoes!

I'm so jealous of your river trails as they are ideal for this kind of touring.

I posted some pictures over at Passion:

https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=442054

At the bottom of the post are some links to detailed writeups on the trip, in case you want to figure out exactly where we went.

We never did make it anywhere near Bend, not wanting to deal with buggies on the way over (or back). But it was still a heckuva trip with plenty of singletrack.

Special thanks for the suggestion of LTD - the bus ride home. Quite a service that LTD offers, and it worked out really well for us.

<img src=https://topofusion.com/images/diary/ORST13p_resize.jpg>
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