What's rideable between here and Seattle?

Not exactly PNW but...

There is always Redding. Whiskeytown offers a lot of camping, some really nice trails that drain exceptionally well. Whiskeytown is about 20min off the I-5.

Whiskeytown
Ashland
North Umpqua
Eugene/Oakridge (45 minutes off of I-5)
Bend (couple hours off 5, but a good alt route to Seattle)
Black Rock
Hood River (1 hr off of 5)
Not sure about Washington

Bring fenders once you leave CA.

I would definitly take a side trip over to Bend. They have awesome trail networks all over the place, with more trails being carved out everyday. Bend is an example of how things should be done when it comes to trail construction and land management:thumbsup:
If the trails west of town, near Mt Bachelor, are snowed under, there is a ton of trails to the east of town that will be bone dry.

Excellent! For the moment it looks like I'm hauling ass to get to Seattle before New Year's Eve, then taking my time on the way back. I'm thinking of Colonnade bike park on the way out of town, Capitol Forest if it's dry, maybe Three Corner Rock, then cut down to Bend. Whiskeytown and maybe Boggs on the way home as long as my laundry holds out. I looked at a slope cam for a ski resort somewhere near Oakridge, and they're socked in, so that may be out this time.

Thanks for the info. Blurry self-timer pics to come.

Rsquared...nice handle. :thumbsup:

Just looked at Colonnade under I-5 yesterday. She teased me to no end, as I didn't have a bike with me. Should be a worthy stop once you get up here.

Much of the bend riding is under snow now and it is below freezing there right now. Bend is awesometacular in the summer but less so in the winter. Eugene area has some really nice stuff. With 3 days you can hit North Umpqua, some of the Eugene area stuff, and maybe the lower parts of the McKensie River Trail (MRT) will be ok. The MTR is listed as a spring through fall and I'm not sure if it will have snow or not.
Ask on the Oregon boards about trails which might be open...

fat_weasel said:

Excellent! For the moment it looks like I'm hauling ass to get to Seattle before New Year's Eve, then taking my time on the way back. I'm thinking of Colonnade bike park on the way out of town, Capitol Forest if it's dry, maybe Three Corner Rock, then cut down to Bend. Whiskeytown and maybe Boggs on the way home as long as my laundry holds out. I looked at a slope cam for a ski resort somewhere near Oakridge, and they're socked in, so that may be out this time.

Thanks for the info. Blurry self-timer pics to come.

Rsquared...nice handle. :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

Blackrock is really good right now. There are a few closures for trail work but the trails are in good shape.

0gre said:

Much of the bend riding is under snow now and it is below freezing there right now. Bend is awesometacular in the summer but less so in the winter. Eugene area has some really nice stuff. With 3 days you can hit North Umpqua, some of the Eugene area stuff, and maybe the lower parts of the McKensie River Trail (MRT) will be ok. The MTR is listed as a spring through fall and I'm not sure if it will have snow or not.
Ask on the Oregon boards about trails which might be open...

Click to expand...

Thats a killer new word to add to the list -
awesometacular..... I'll have to remember that one. I hope it didn't cost too much at the big word store.
I had a chance to ride a couple of days in Bend after MBO this past July. We had a very knowledgable local that helped us out with riding their awesome trails.
What I understand of Bend is that it is that the town is the limit for winter storms. Five mile to the west of town = 360" of snowfall anually. In town = 34" of snowfall anually.
Five miles to the east = <15" of rainfall anually. Check out the trails east of town for dry trails. Our trail guide said he rides year around out of his garage in Bend.
Not saying it won't be cold, but considering the time of year, the OP should already be prepared for that.

What ever the OP decides to do - make sure you enjoy some of Oregons many wonderful breweries.
In Bend, of course you have to hit the Deschutes Bond Rd Pub.
In Eugene, go to Rogue Brewing.