Touring - Touring Oregon - Need advice

Hi, I plan on taking a 10 day tour of Oregon starting in Hood River at the end of June. My friend and I were thinking of heading south toward Bend and Crater Lake. I have gotten the Oregon DOT highway map which is nice, but I thought it would be good to get some first hand advice of routes, things to see, etc. All advice is welcome. Thanks...

Hi! Glad to know you'll be coming this way, as it seems 95% of tours of "Oregon" are actually just the Columbia gorge and the coast. Those are nice, to be sure, but they're far from being a good representation of what Oregon is.

If you are starting in Hood River with 10 days and want to see Crater Lake, you should first head into the Blue Mountains, going east and then south, through the John Day river area. It's the high desert, but it's quite mountainous. Heading west from there will put you near Bend, or if you really want an adventure and want to see the real high desert, keep going south to the Burns area before heading back west. It's an Oregon that few know exists; it's the least-populated area in the continental USA. Crater Lake is very nice, and if you've been through the desert then you should keep heading west from Crater Lake, and see the dramatic change in climate and terrain from high desert to forested Cascades to the coast. If you have to be back in Hood River in 10 days, you probably won't have time for all that unless you can pull off super centuries every day, so realistically you should aim for a good taste of the high desert (some of the sights in the Bend area) and a good taste of the Cascades in the Crater Lake area.

I'll be doing some of that route this July; riding from my home here in Southern Oregon past Crater Lake, then through the high desert to Yakima before heading west to Seattle to ride the STP (http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/index.cfm), then back home from Portland probably via the coast. Take pictures and keep a travelogue if you can; your memory will appreciate the help in 20 years.

Alex

Thanks for the advice. That area looks enticing on the map because of the limited traffic, but I wasn't sure. I've bicycled the Gorge a couple times and seen (windsurfed) the coast as well. So I was hoping for something different. I plan on light touring. I'll have a sleeping bag and tent, but would like to motel it occasionally and eat out. Is that possible in the John Day / Burns area?

Sure, there are full amenities in both towns. The John Day area is very beautiful, especially east of town in the mountains (great, inexpensive camping) Also, the ride between John Day and Burns is quite pretty but it gets very hot and dry after that.

Great. Alex, you're right, I'm going to be pressed for time. Seems like two full weeks or more would be better. In your mind, if you were to prioritize between the Blue Mountains, John Day/Burns, Bend area, Crater Lake and of course the coast, what would you recommend. Assume about 700 miles total. Thanks...

Go south through Bend and on to Crater Lake. Crater Lake is NOT to be missed. Quite a sight. Good lodging can be found nearby at Diamond Lake. That round trip alone is about the mileage you're talking about. Plenty of ways to add side trips if you find you have extra time.

-Don