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09-10-07, 02:59 PM
hey all...just wanted to offer some words of advice if you're taking Smith River Road to Eugene from the coast. My gf and I just rode the route a few weeks ago and it was a bit confusing and a little harrowing (ran out of drinkable water).
Smith River is a nice scenic way to get to Eugene. The road starts as a nicely paved road with little traffic. After a few miles, the road hits BLM land and it turns into more of a paved gravel that will rattle you all the way to Eugene.
You will hit a small Pub/Grocery in North Bend. Stop there and buy water. Lots of it. This will be your last chance for drinkable water for another 80miles, the last 30 of which are pretty hilly. We made the mistake and only bought one gallon, thinking that we could get water from campgrounds along the way. All the camp grounds you will pass only have pit toilets and none have any running water.
Continue along Smith River Rd about another 30 miles and you will hit the first of a few confusing forks. You will see a sign that says Vincent Creek campground. If you want to break the trip up into two days and don't want to free camp, this is the last campground you will pass, so camp there. If you plan to push forward, take the LEFT fork.
After about 20 miles you will hit another terribly designed sign. It will be in a clearing and you would have passed a small RV pull off on your left. The sign will look as if it is directing you to the right into the woods to follow Smith River.
DON'T go right. We went right and hit another sign about 8 miles later, telling us Eugene was in the other direction (16 extra credit miles).
Instead, go LEFT at that sign and you will be going on Sisters Rd. From there it becomes a little more straight forward. Continue what seems like the main road.
This is where the work begins. There are essentially 3 long climbs after this point. The second of which seems like it goes on forever, hopping from hill to hill even while you are near treeline. You will pass Alma a small work/detention facility and will see people in orange jumpsuits doing labor. It is NOT a town.
After Alma is the last and windy climb that will take you down the otherside to about 14 miles from Eugene. The nearest town with a gas station/liquor store to get water and food is Crow. Once you're in Crow the signage is pretty clear and it should be smooth level ride the rest of the way.
Smith River is a nice scenic way to get to Eugene. The road starts as a nicely paved road with little traffic. After a few miles, the road hits BLM land and it turns into more of a paved gravel that will rattle you all the way to Eugene.
You will hit a small Pub/Grocery in North Bend. Stop there and buy water. Lots of it. This will be your last chance for drinkable water for another 80miles, the last 30 of which are pretty hilly. We made the mistake and only bought one gallon, thinking that we could get water from campgrounds along the way. All the camp grounds you will pass only have pit toilets and none have any running water.
Continue along Smith River Rd about another 30 miles and you will hit the first of a few confusing forks. You will see a sign that says Vincent Creek campground. If you want to break the trip up into two days and don't want to free camp, this is the last campground you will pass, so camp there. If you plan to push forward, take the LEFT fork.
After about 20 miles you will hit another terribly designed sign. It will be in a clearing and you would have passed a small RV pull off on your left. The sign will look as if it is directing you to the right into the woods to follow Smith River.
DON'T go right. We went right and hit another sign about 8 miles later, telling us Eugene was in the other direction (16 extra credit miles).
Instead, go LEFT at that sign and you will be going on Sisters Rd. From there it becomes a little more straight forward. Continue what seems like the main road.
This is where the work begins. There are essentially 3 long climbs after this point. The second of which seems like it goes on forever, hopping from hill to hill even while you are near treeline. You will pass Alma a small work/detention facility and will see people in orange jumpsuits doing labor. It is NOT a town.
After Alma is the last and windy climb that will take you down the otherside to about 14 miles from Eugene. The nearest town with a gas station/liquor store to get water and food is Crow. Once you're in Crow the signage is pretty clear and it should be smooth level ride the rest of the way.