Suggestions for route from Portland to Southeastern Oregon?
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Suggestions for route from Portland to Southeastern Oregon?
I am very interested in doing a desert tour sometime soon. I currently live in Portland, OR and am thinking I want to cut diagonally through the state towards the Alvord Desert and Alvord Hot Springs. I am very interested in isolated areas and hot springs, but haven't seen a lot of info on a good route out that way. Does anyone have some good suggestions, maybe road conditions, awesome places to check out, etc? I am an experienced touring cyclist and comfortable in the outdoors, but I haven't traveled in the desert before, and am new to Oregon.
Thanks in advance!
Joey French
Thanks in advance!
Joey French
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i don't know how soon you meant, but eastern oregon is high desert and could be cold/have snow up until may. i did a trip down through southeastern oregon last march and we ran into tons of snow and freezing nights. just something to think about.
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We rode from Boise to Portland a few years ago. Followed the highway to Nyssa, Burns, and on to Bend - VERY remote!!! Be sure to carry TONS of water! From there we cut up to the gorge and went through the gorge to Portland. Through the gorge follow the old road whenever possible - there are some parts where you have no choice but to get on the interstate.
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How long do you have? Are you going to do a loop? What time of year, etc, etc. We rode some of that country and have driven quite a bit of it. Might be able to offer some suggestions.
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if you get far enough south east, the steen mountains are really cool
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I have an open schedule at this point, but will probably not go until it gets a bit warmer in the southeast. I might try to do a loop if I can get a good route together. The Steens are right in the area where I am heading, actually the area between the Steens and the Alvord Desert.
Would anyone suggest that I follow the TransAmerica until I get into Eastern Oregon and then leave it and head south, maybe at Burns? The Gorge is beautiful, but I have traveled that way many times and am looking for maybe a different route.
Would anyone suggest that I follow the TransAmerica until I get into Eastern Oregon and then leave it and head south, maybe at Burns? The Gorge is beautiful, but I have traveled that way many times and am looking for maybe a different route.
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I've made a loop around the state, and I would highly recommend it. Though if you've done the Gorge, maybe skip that section. Here's a rough, but pretty accurate map of the route. The Eastern half of the route was about as "middle of nowhere" as you can get. Still one of the few places I've heard total silence. And needless to say, the skies are very dark.
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-97+N&daddr=Fremont+Hwy%2FUS-395+N+to:W+Main+St+to:John+Day+Hwy%2FOR-19+N+to:John+Day+Hwy%2FOR-19+N+to:John+Day+Hwy%2FOR-19+N+to:Locust+St+to:Evergreen+Hwy%2FWA-14+E+to:E+Main+St+to:N+Maple+St+to:W+Main+St+to:NW+Nestucca+Access+Rd+to:Blaine+Rd+to:Cape+Lookout+R d+to:US-101+S+to:W+Central+Ave+to:N+Bank+Rd+to:OR-138+E+to:Crater+Lake+North+Hwy%2FState+Hwy+209+to:OR-62+E+toead+Indian+Rd%2FDead+Indian+Memorial+Rd+to:42.210363,-121.789742&hl=en&geocode=FepIhAIdOpe9-A%3BFVSGhwIdNKnU-A%3BFezKpQIdDs_o-A%3BFYLpqgIdBnje-A%3BFciQrgIdEsrV-A%3BFfb6sQIdMjHW-A%3BFdiYuQIdttXV-A%3BFVLKuAIdeN-7-A%3BFeSetgIdUlqr-A%3BFVDbswIdnk2o-A%3BFYIiswId9HSo-A%3BFW5oswIdsvGk-A%3BFSDfsgIdcpKe-A%3BFcL6swIdikqc-A%3BFV7mmgIdYlaa-A%3BFe4FlgId6Pul-A%3BFR7_lAIdWxmn-A%3BFaKtlAIdHnyp-A%3BFVo9kQIdjp24-A%3BFdgfjgId3NC3-A%3BFXx0hQIdVqC2-A%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=17&mrsp=21&sz=11&via=1,16,18&sll=42.126747,-121.896744&sspn=0.372267,0.611801&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=US-97+N&daddr=Fremont+Hwy%2FUS-395+N+to:W+Main+St+to:John+Day+Hwy%2FOR-19+N+to:John+Day+Hwy%2FOR-19+N+to:John+Day+Hwy%2FOR-19+N+to:Locust+St+to:Evergreen+Hwy%2FWA-14+E+to:E+Main+St+to:N+Maple+St+to:W+Main+St+to:NW+Nestucca+Access+Rd+to:Blaine+Rd+to:Cape+Lookout+R d+to:US-101+S+to:W+Central+Ave+to:N+Bank+Rd+to:OR-138+E+to:Crater+Lake+North+Hwy%2FState+Hwy+209+to:OR-62+E+toead+Indian+Rd%2FDead+Indian+Memorial+Rd+to:42.210363,-121.789742&hl=en&geocode=FepIhAIdOpe9-A%3BFVSGhwIdNKnU-A%3BFezKpQIdDs_o-A%3BFYLpqgIdBnje-A%3BFciQrgIdEsrV-A%3BFfb6sQIdMjHW-A%3BFdiYuQIdttXV-A%3BFVLKuAIdeN-7-A%3BFeSetgIdUlqr-A%3BFVDbswIdnk2o-A%3BFYIiswId9HSo-A%3BFW5oswIdsvGk-A%3BFSDfsgIdcpKe-A%3BFcL6swIdikqc-A%3BFV7mmgIdYlaa-A%3BFe4FlgId6Pul-A%3BFR7_lAIdWxmn-A%3BFaKtlAIdHnyp-A%3BFVo9kQIdjp24-A%3BFdgfjgId3NC3-A%3BFXx0hQIdVqC2-A%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=17&mrsp=21&sz=11&via=1,16,18&sll=42.126747,-121.896744&sspn=0.372267,0.611801&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11
#8
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Wow, thanks fantom1, much appreciated. I like the idea of going to Crater Lake, the Coast -AND- Alvord Hot Springs in the middle of nowhere... now, how can I talk my girlfriend into letting me take off for a 1,000+ mile tour?
;-)
How long did you take to finish the trip, fantom1?
;-)
How long did you take to finish the trip, fantom1?
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Wow, thanks fantom1, much appreciated. I like the idea of going to Crater Lake, the Coast -AND- Alvord Hot Springs in the middle of nowhere... now, how can I talk my girlfriend into letting me take off for a 1,000+ mile tour?
;-)
How long did you take to finish the trip, fantom1?
;-)
How long did you take to finish the trip, fantom1?
#10
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We rode from Boise to Portland a few years ago. Followed the highway to Nyssa, Burns, and on to Bend - VERY remote!!! Be sure to carry TONS of water! From there we cut up to the gorge and went through the gorge to Portland. Through the gorge follow the old road whenever possible - there are some parts where you have no choice but to get on the interstate.
Yeah, I was thinking that myself. The coast seemed to be quite busy when I was riding there a few weeks ago, can only imagine what it's like in warmer weather...
#11
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I've ridden several legs of this route, and driven all of it. If you want to go to the Steens this might be a route to consider. There is also a lot of room for serendipity and improvisation along the way.
Starting in PDX you could work your way south in the Willamette Valley until you hit Hwy 22. Head east to Bend. We rode Hwy 20 across the US, so we rode the stretch from Bend to Burns. A lot of open high desert. Take a lot of water and refill at Brothers. There is camping in Hampton and Riley. The Riley store is a great place to camp and the owners will probably let you take a shower at a nominal price. You can also pull off the road almost anywhere in that country and set up camp. There is just not much shade. From Burns go south to French Glen and the Steens. After cruising around this area there might be a little back tracking to Burns and Hwy395 north to John Day. If you want to head back to PDX go west on Hwy 26- you are now on part of the Trans Am route. Head west to Prineville, and stay on 26 to PDX.
A longer loop could be made by taking 20 east from Burns to Ontario, where it intersects with 26 and just head back west on 26.
I've ridden this section in the opposite direction, and while it has a fair amount of traffic; it also has some incredible scenery.
There are several variations from the Austin Junctionn (Hwy 7), John Day and Dayville area on roads north of Hwy 26 that will eventually get you back to PDX.
Good luck in your venture. You can hardly go wrong in that country. It is all really great!
Starting in PDX you could work your way south in the Willamette Valley until you hit Hwy 22. Head east to Bend. We rode Hwy 20 across the US, so we rode the stretch from Bend to Burns. A lot of open high desert. Take a lot of water and refill at Brothers. There is camping in Hampton and Riley. The Riley store is a great place to camp and the owners will probably let you take a shower at a nominal price. You can also pull off the road almost anywhere in that country and set up camp. There is just not much shade. From Burns go south to French Glen and the Steens. After cruising around this area there might be a little back tracking to Burns and Hwy395 north to John Day. If you want to head back to PDX go west on Hwy 26- you are now on part of the Trans Am route. Head west to Prineville, and stay on 26 to PDX.
A longer loop could be made by taking 20 east from Burns to Ontario, where it intersects with 26 and just head back west on 26.
I've ridden this section in the opposite direction, and while it has a fair amount of traffic; it also has some incredible scenery.
There are several variations from the Austin Junctionn (Hwy 7), John Day and Dayville area on roads north of Hwy 26 that will eventually get you back to PDX.
Good luck in your venture. You can hardly go wrong in that country. It is all really great!
Last edited by Doug64; 02-12-10 at 12:01 AM.
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Check out some of the old cycle oregon routes. This one might suite you in particular
https://www.cycleoregon.com/week-ride...ycle-oregon-2/
https://www.cycleoregon.com/week-ride...ycle-oregon-2/
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