Riding routes in Bend OR area

[Smellyhound]

So it's been settled. We are taking our annual 5 day family riding trip to the Bend area this coming June. I have driven through but never been riding there. Crater lake is obviously on the list, but other than that I'm clueless. Any suggested or must-see routes to take. We prefer loops but doesn't have to be. There will be two Spyders with us so we are looking for primarily paved routes (a little bit of graded gravel should be fine).. I believe we will be staying near Sisters. I know getting lost is part of the adventure, but it helps to ask people who have been there to at least point in the right direction to get lost in. Thanks in advance for any advice anybody can give.
Paul


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[NorthwestCajun]

Highway 242 thru the Lava fields are a MUST! from Sisters to the Belknap Hot Springs. You won't regret it!
Also China Hat Rd/ FR 18/Cabin Lake Rd from Bend to Silver Lake. I think some of it is dirt, not sure how much, we will be doing it later this year w/the Giant Loop guys on their ride to Summer Lake Hot Springs. Here is the report from last years ride http://giantloopmoto.com/3rd-annual-giant-loop-ride-june-7-8-2014/
It will be June 6/7 2015 this year

 

[S_Palmer]

From prineville 380 through Paulina to John Day return on 26 makes a great day loop.

There is a little road from Detroit lake north to Government Camp that is beautiful and has a couple options
For loops.

 

[Smellyhound]

Awesome! This is exactly what I need! Thank you! I've been on that a short stretch of that road to Government Camp a few years ago. Beautiful area. Belknap hot springs, are those the ones over near Fossil?


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[Hungry Tiger]

This would be all pavement, but for what it's worth, the Feb '14 issue RoadRunner magazine has a multi-day clover leaf road tour based around Salem, OR.

 

[NorthwestCajun]

Belknap HS is between Sisters and Eugene on highway 126
http://www.belknaphotsprings.com
We have camped there, not too bad, the upper pool is nicer.

 

[markjenn]

It's hard not to have a great ride out of Bend. Old McKenzie Pass to the W of Sisters is a must do. The roads around Detroit Lake are stupendous, including the paved goat trails up to Government Camp. And there is great stuff to the E towards John Day (e.g., Prineville > Paulina > Seneca > Unity) and to the SE into the Oregon Outback (e.g., Silver Lake > Lakeview). There is a designated scenic that loops to the SW of Bend (forget name, but pretty obvious on a good map). Some of these E/SE loops will get long for a day but it is such great stuff, you really ought to consider an overnight away from Bend. But if you can stand a 450-mile day, I think you could do the backroads over to Unity and then cruise home on 26. Again, you really can't go wrong.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/SCENICBYWAYS/pages/driving_guide.aspx

Many roads are not plowed and open very late in the season, so even in June, you need to check for snow closures at the OR web site.

- Mark

 

[Smellyhound]

Thank you guys. All good info. Keep it coming. The weather issue I was a little concerned about. Looks like this will be around the last week in June.. We originally planned on going to Glacier but we realized it probably wouldn't be open on the GTTS road even that late.


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[markjenn]

The weather issue I was a little concerned about. Looks like this will be around the last week in June.. We originally planned on going to Glacier but we realized it probably wouldn't be open on the GTTS road even that late.

Even GTTS is usually open by late-June (it averages early-June), and I think this winter is below average on snowpack so far. Virtually everything in Oregon, except perhaps the Crater Lake rim road, should be open by late-June, but always worth checking. But I'd say you're 90% sure to be able to go wherever you like.

Bend itself is often super-hot by late-June (often getting into the 90's), although as the old saying goes, "it is a dry heat".

- Mark

 

[Smellyhound]

M'eh, we live in the GFD (GodForsakenDesert) of central WA. We are used to heat. Or trip to McCall ID a couple years ago, we found ourselves stuck at construction in 118 degrees, no shade. THAT was misery. Yeah we just based the Glacier thing off of previous trips. Sister in law went there on June 23rd a few years ago. They hadn't even started digging it out yet. She said they finally had it open in July. I know out here the snow has been pretty scarce. Wasn't too certain about what it was doing over thataway. One if the downfalls of planning a trip in December/ January.


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[markjenn]

MYeah we just based the Glacier thing off of previous trips. Sister in law went there on June 23rd a few years ago. They hadn't even started digging it out yet. She said they finally had it open in July. I know out here the snow has been pretty scarce. Wasn't too certain about what it was doing over thataway.

One possible resource for Glacier snow pack conditions:

http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/ftm_snow.htm

Some other sources said that early-June was the typical opening date, but this says June 19th is the earliest for 2015, so perhaps they've decided not to try so hard each year.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/gttsrfaq.htm

- Mark

 

[pgeller]

My favorite day loop out of Bend; Cascade Lakes Byway south past Mt. Bachelor to 58. West on 58 to Oakridge. Stop at the Local 180 brew pub for real ale and excellent pub fare. West a bit to Westfir. North on the Auferheide Memorial Drive (Mr Toad's Wild Ride) to Rainbow. East on 126 to 242 McKenzie Pass. East to Sisters, and back to Bend. If McKenzie Pass is still closed, just take 126 to 20. There are dozens of great diversions off this loop.

Try to avoid 97 to Crater Lake. Many miles of straight road and nasty traffic.

pg

 

[markjenn]

Try to avoid 97 to Crater Lake. Many miles of straight road and nasty traffic.

Agree. The one road in the area that's a real bummer. Herds of deer too.

- Mark

 

[Smellyhound]

Good to know. I've been through there a few times (all on 97) no deer. I figured I would grab my Gazeteer, and look for some side routes. We almost always try and find the unbeaten path. Thank you PGeller for the route. It's on my list for certain.


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