I'll have a week off in early May and I'm thinking about spending it in Oregon. I'll be driving from Reno, so I'd like to limit my options to the southern half of the state. What's the best place to pick as a base? I want to camp in one spot (or maybe switch once if it's not too far of a drive) and do most of my rides from there. A good variety of routes is probably my main priority. I'll be doing long rides every day and don't want to be riding the same road the whole time.

We've had very low snowpack this year (similar to your area). Some of the more 'famed' mtn routes near Bend might be open and available that early. Like the Cascade Lakes Hwy around Bachelor, McKenzie Pass, maybe even the rim of Crater Lake. I think McKenzie is open now (to bikes only).

I'm not familiar with places/rides further south (like K-Falls or Ashland).

In southern Oregon the Ashland area has several rides, two of which I've done that are outstanding.

The ride up to the Mt. Ashland ski area is a long climb with good views near the top. The Lakes Loop was really nice, did it fairly early in the morning (counter clockwise) and the main climb was really scenic and traffic was light.

Siskiyou Velo has a lot more rides on their website including group rides if you want comrades.

A few hours away is Crater Lake. It is approx 45 miles from the Mazama Campground and back to do the loop. Do it it both directions, it is spectacular both ways. You can add mileage by starting further afield or riding down one of the entry roads and back. We did the century from Fort Klamath.

Down south around Shasta are some of the best road climbs I've ever done, Shasta itself, Park Creek Summit, Mumbo Summit & Castle Lake are all part of the Shasta Super Century. I've ridden all of them at least twice and in different combinations and would do any of them again in a heartbeat next time I'm in the area. Shasta is the most scenic. There seem to be countless other low-traffic paved roads in the area, many of them forest service..

My in-laws live in Klamath Falls and I have to say there's a myriad of routes in the area. K-Falls is not what most people would consider beautiful, but it is beautiful in a wide open views type of way. There is variety if you know how to find it. If I were camping anywhere near Crater Lake (and it was free of snow), I'd spend one of the days riding around the rim. Depending on your preferences, there are boondocking possibilities.

There's options on the west side of the Cascades near Ashland and Medford.

Further east there aren't as many paved routes, but I did notice some paved roads near Gearhart Mt. that looked promising.

Bend area/Century Drive possibly has the best scenery and the most diversity, but it's a further drive from Reno. Here's a link to site put together by the Bend Chamber of Commerce. If I was interested in both mountain biking and road cycling, I'd highly recommend Bend.

Crater Lake would be nice but it doesn't look like all the roads will be open by then. Bend isn't too far, but that's probably the limit. Klamath Falls was actually the town I had in mind, but I'm definitely open to other ideas.

Post exact routes if you have some. I'll do up to 125 miles and am not afraid of climbing.

Some things at Crater are opening already:
Crater Lake National Park begins opening early for summer season | OregonLive.com

You could probably ride up to the rim (if nothing else).

Here’s some possible rides. I’ve been on all of these roads. Some of them are a little rough so a 28/32 width tire can be nice. Many can be made shorter or a bit longer.

• 95 mile loop Bonanza/Sprague or Basically the same loop, at 77 miles
• Keno to Howard Prairie Reservoir 80 miles
• Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge 90 miles
• 95 mile loop around Klamath Lake (Hwy 97 and 140 are busy and narrow in spots)
• Silver Lake out and back 104 miles
• 80 mile Ft Klamath to Crater Lake/ Union Creek out and back(Projected opening for West Rim drive is late May)
• 97 mile loop OC&E Rails to Trails: Sprague and Chiloquin (Hwy 97 is busy and narrow)

Based i out of Ashland

Featured Rides | Siskiyou Velo

Less the two hour drive from Klamath Falls.

The Lakes Loop, 52 miles/4,900' (do it as an out and back and you get 100 miles and close to 10K climbing)
The Lakes Loop | Siskiyou Velo

Options to extend this ride up to 136 miles.
Find The Best Bike Rides, Routes and Cuesheets in Your Area


Several other rides on their site up to 100 miles.