7 days of 40/60 back country riding. We will catch all of the hidden sweet spots of South Central Oregon and the Northern tip of The Great Basin. These are places that are visited by few because of their back country and remote qualities. About 60% of this ride is off Hwy National Forest Routes and Gravel roads. It is a great ride no matter what level of off road experience you may have. We will visit places like. Thompson Reservoir, The Summer Lake Rim,  The Northern most segments of The Great Basin, The Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge, Rock Creek - Antelope Hotsprings, The Steens Mountain Loop, The Alvord Desert, The Silvies, The Malhuer and Ochoco National Forest and The Crooked River, just to name a few. Each year is different based on Fire Season, Road Closures, Weather, and other factors.  This ride has something for everyone and covers over 951 miles. Below is our detailed information page. It includes Rever Maps, Detailed mileage information on fuel stops and locations, camping options, Group medical information forms, Guides for preparation, Photos, Pre-Tour preparation Guides, and How to prepare for a National Forest visit. Also will be updated with Road Closures, Weather info and How to pack for the Back Country! All this and much, much more!

Day 1. 149 Miles

SYNOPSIS: Day 1  we will leave at 7:00 am. We will travel through Rocky Point with a stop at the resort for a quick meal and then on to the Crater Lake Travel Center for Fuel. From here we will cut across country out of Chiloquin and up the Sprague and Wiliamson River to Hawks Lake and right into the newly designated area for the Silver Lake Wolf Pack. Thompson Reservior has a real nice campground on the East side for our first night!

The majority of our ride is on pavement today and the last 35 miles are gravel with some old chip seal as we approach the East Bay Campground. You can expect to experience washboard on these roads and it is recommended that you keep your speed up to stay on top. We will spread out until the dust settles and ride two at a time, beside one another on these types of roads stopping at road changes to assure everyone makes it to the next point. The Lake and Campground are a beautiful reward in the back country.​​

DISTANCE AND FUEL POINTS

  • This day totals approximately 166.43 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 166.43 miles.​
  • On full tanks we will travel 112.00 miles to  our first fuel destination at the Crater Lake Junction Travel Center.
  • From here it is 53.0 miles to East Bay Campground and 50 miles to our next fuel stop in Paisley, OR.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 103.0 miles.

CONSIDERATIONS

  • September can have extreme  temperature fluctuations. Prepare for potential freezing temperatures.
  • Fill your water supply at Crater Lake Junction. The Water at East Bay is High in Iron and mineral content.
  • We are smack in the middle of Wolf Country! Wolves in this area are typically evasive but any wolves are also known to be apex predators.
  • I pack a side arm for personal protection. 

Photos
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​541-621-8814

​East Bay Campground Thompson Reservior

Ride Description

Total Miles

This day totals approximately 166.43 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 166.43 miles.

Fuel

  • On full tanks we will travel 112.00 miles to  our first fuel destination at the Crater Lake Junction Travel Center.
  • From here it is 53.0 miles to East Bay Campground and 50 miles to our next fuel stop in Paisley, OR.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 103.0 miles.

Considerations

  • September can have extreme  temperature fluctuations. Prepare for potential freezing temperatures.
  • Fill your water supply at Crater Lake Junction. The Water at East Bay is High in Iron and mineral content.
  • We are smack in the middle of Wolf Country! Wolves in this area are typically evasive but any wolves are also known to be apex predators.
  • I pack a side arm for personal protection. 

DAY 2  - monDAY - 09/12/2016

Ride Description

SYNOPSIS: Day 2 is a fun ride that starts out on chip seal from Thomson Reservior. We will fuel in Paisley, OR and grab some great breakfast there. From Paisley we will encounter gravel back roads across the Big Basin between Summer lake and Lake Abert to the Hogback road that leads us to Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge and The Hot Springs where we will camp.

After packing up we will head south over NF-28 to Government Harvey Camp Rd. Not much further east and we will crest the Summer Lake Rim at 7,111 ft in elevation, winding our way down to the lake edge and Hwy 31 into Paisley for some fuel and a hot meal. From Paisley its gravel back roads across the Big Basin between Summer lake and Lake Abert to the Hogback Road. This will take us clear into Plush, OR or give us a cutoff that leads us into Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge Where the Hotsprings and camp grounds are. This is 95% back roads and gravel but is also incredibly scenic. We never get tired of this route at IRR.​

Total Miles

This day totals approximately 126.76 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 293.19 miles.

Fuel

  • On full tanks From Paisley, OR. We will travel 75.8 miles to our Camp at Rock Creek, otherwise known as Antelope Hotsprings. 112 miles.
  • From here it is 52.20 miles to our next fuel stop in French Glen, OR.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 128.0 miles.

Considerations

  • September Brings a host of Antelope and Elk hunters to this area so camp spots are at a premium but the good old boys are not shy about sharing with some adventure bike riders!
  • Fill your water supply in Paisley, OR.
  • We have seen Big Horn Sheep and Antelope frequently in this area.
  • Swim Trunks and a towel will guarantee a good soak in the Hotsprings so don't forget!

DAY 3   - tuesDAY - 09/13/2016

Ride Description

SYNOPSIS: Day 3  Leaving the Hotsprings we will travel across the refuge continuing east to French Glen to refuel and get supplies like snacks and water for camp. From French Glen we will enter the Steens from the South entrance and  see how far we get after sight seeing. Page Springs would be the most desirable camp location.
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The majority of our ride is gravel this day. The tracks across the Big Basin between Summer lake and Lake Abert are well used and are conducive to traveling at a good pace. The Roads across the Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge can change frequently. I suspect that they will be considerably washboarded out with deeper gravel outside of the travel paths. Stay in the tracks and dial it up a notch to navigate this segment. Packing Loctite! is a good idea!  Once we fuel and get into the southern segments of the Steens, things change rapidly and we will go up significantly in elevation. Be prepared to dress warm if needed.​

Total Miles

This day totals approximately 105.70 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 399.0 miles.

Fuel

  • Having traveled 75.8 miles on a tank, we will continue on for52.2 miles to French Glen for a top off at 128.0 miles for this tank.
  • From here it is 10.1 miles to the South entrance of the Steens Mountain Loop 53.0 miles total to our first camping opportunity at Fish Lake. Our next and most preferable camp spot will be Page Springs Campground at 66.9 miles and just another 4.0 miles to our next fuel stop again in French Glen, OR.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 70.5 miles.

Considerations

  • Water is good in the campground.
  • Page Springs offers better shelter and protection from the weather.
  • The French Glen Mercantile will provide ample goodies for camp if needed when we fuel up!
  • There is a Hot Spring nearby but I have never taken the time to lacate it. It may require a short hike and exploration.

DAY 4  - wednesDAY - 09/14/2016

Ride Description

SYNOPSIS: Day 4 The first half of this day is paved into Hines, OR. After fueling and grabbing some Subway we will continue on Asphalt and Chip-sealed roads past Delintiment Lake and out Swamp Creek, up to the Izzy Hwy that runs from Seneca in the East and Paulina and Prineville in the west. After a short ride west on the Izzy Hwy, we will head up Beaver Creek into the Ochoco's to the Buck Hollow Rd following it west over to Deep Creek Campground.
 (CLICK FOR THE ALTERNATIVE ALVORD DESERT SEGMENT).

Much of our morning time will be centered around making good time so that we can enjoy the later part of the day busting through the Ochoco's. There is a unique beauty to this region that encompasses Mountains, Rimrock, Gullies, Prairie's, Streams and Wildflowers, not to mention the occasional yellow and orange Aspen's. We will travel at a pace that let's us take it all in and even discover some new stuff along the way.​

Total Miles

This day totals approximately 165.0 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 564.00 miles.

Fuel

  • On full tanks we will travel 59.6 miles to our first fuel destination at the Sinclair Station in Hines, OR for a top off.
  • From here it is 105.0 miles to Deep Creek Campground and 46.6 miles to our next fuel stop in Prineville, OR.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 151.0 miles.

Considerations

  • From June on, The Ochoco's are bursting with color June and in September it is likely that we will witness the Aspens getting their Fall colors.
  • Always remember to fill your water supply when the opportunity arrises.
  • This is Elk country! Keep your eyes open!
  • The Majority of the roads through the Ochoco's are gravel but there is a large amount of surprise chip-sealed roads in the middle of nowhere.

DAY 5  - thursDAY - 09/15/2016

Ride Description

SYNOPSIS: Day 5 we will exit the Ochoco's and finding paved roads in short order. It has always amazed me that such nice roads can be found in the middle of nowhere! Our travels take us into Prineville for fuel, water, supplies, and an early lunch and then it is on to the Crooked River Canyon. Once hitting The Central Oregon Hwy we will track slightly Northwest to Milcan and head south over the Pine Mountain Observatory. From pine Mountain we will pick our way across Oregon High Desert Forest to China hat Road and slip up the back side of the Newberry Crater into East Lake.

The trip out of the Ochoco's is scenic, teaming with history and views of a time when life was much simpler.  The Crooked River Canyon can be warm but offers a completely different venue providing a curvy and paved segment with lots of stopping points for pictures. Pine Mountain offers yet another change in terrain. The great back roads and high elevations offer views of the Central Oregon Great Basin along with Cinder Cones and Volcanic Activity that has left an indelible mark on this part of the country. From here we can see into Fort Rock country to the South and the Landscape of the Caldera that we are about to encounter.​

Total Miles

This day totals approximately 134.61 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 699.00 miles.

Fuel

  • From Camp at Deep Creek we will travel 46.6 miles to our fuel destination in Prineville,OR. 
  • After fueling, re-supply, and early lunch it is 88.3 miles to our Camp at East Lake in the Newberry Crater and 120.0 miles to our next fuel in La Pine, OR.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 120.0 miles.

Considerations

  • In Prineville we will re-provision with anything we need for camp.
  • Fill your water supply.
  • We will grab some lunch. 
  • The Crooked River Hwy is fun, twisty and will provide some photo op's.
  • A dip in the Prineville Reservoir may be in order!
  • A trip to Paulina Peak is one to remember!
  • We will stop at Paulina Falls on the way out.

DAY 6  - friDAY - 09/16/2016

Ride Description

SYNOPSIS: Day 6 Takes us up into the highest point on the Caldera Rim and past Paulina Falls down into LaPine where we will refuel once again. From LaPine we will traverse some of the most scenic tarmac in Oregon called The Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway. From here we go north for just a bit to catch the back roads around Little Cultus Lake and through the woods around major cinder cones, alpine like lakes, lava flows and scorched forests that have a beauty all of there own. Moving on to the Willamette Hwy where we will fuel. We will continue around the west side of Crescent Lake and check out Contorta and Spring Campgrounds or ride up to Summit Lake for camp from there.

​There is a big wow factor heading into our last evening. Fall will be trying hard to push on our weather patterns and there is always the possibility that snow could come early throughout the whole trip. We do try to have backup plans in place but it is important to be able to ride in the rain and exercise good judgment if we have to cut the trip short and head for the barn. Hopefully the weather holds out and we can take in the mountain lakes and waterfalls that come into play on our return to the valley.  Most of our day will be spent on pavement and will have a couple of hour long off road diversions that will not disappoint. Crescent Lake will have the best camping. But! ​We will leave our last night wide open for discovery. We have options at Crescent or Summit Lake for a return through the mountains home and prior to even getting there are some interesting, old, forestry campgrounds near the end of the 517 Rd on the Taylor Burn above Waldo Lake.

Total Miles

This day totals approximately 103.81 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 803.00 miles.

Fuel

  • After fueling at the Shell in LaPine OR and Grabing some Subway We will travel over to Little Cultus Lake and across the Taylor Burn on the Waldo lake Road. Finally, reemerging onto pavement at the Willamette Hwy where we will grab fuel at the Odell Sportsman Center.
  • From here it is 9.7 miles to Contorta Flat Campground and 18.3 miles to Summit Lake.
  • Total  miles between fuel = 73.3 miles.

Considerations

  • Because this day offer flexibility in our camping choices, we will decide as we go. Decisions based on aesthetics , mosquito's in these mountain lakes, amenities, and wether or not we are dragging our tails will all factor in!
  • The other option is to Stay in the Newberry Crater take a lake day and gather steam for about a 3 hr trip home.
  • We can do what ever we want!!!

DAY 7  - saturDAY - 09/17/2016

Ride Description

SYNOPSIS: Day 7. The first part of our ride will be centered on gravel roads and getting out of the woods for a short segment of pavement and then right back into the woods and across NF-37 through Fish Creek. Shortly after, we will come out on Diamond Lake Hwy where we will make our way down to Union Creek and some Grub and Pie! From here we will break and head to our perspective abode's.
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Total Miles

This day totals approximately 133.23 miles and makes our total mileage for the trip 936.00 miles.

Fuel

  • Having fueled on the Willamette Pass Hwy, our fuel range will get everyone back into the Rogue Valley for there next fuel choice on the way to our homes.

Considerations

  • Sometimes we like to stop at Beckys at Union Creek for a good meal and recap on our ride!
  • We may grab a Waterfall or two while on the Umpqua Hwy.