Blue River
When We Like to Ride This
Early to mid summer (early June to late July) when the flowers are in full bloom. With an early start, this is a doable ride on a hot day, as a lot of the route is shaded. But … there are several sectors along the route that are exposed to the sun and could be quite warm.
Terrain & Riding
Miles 0 to 2.5 / McKenzie-Clear Lake Trail / Single-track
A wide, loamy single-track trail that meanders along Clear Lake and through ancient old-growth forest of Douglas-fir, red cedar, and hemlocks. Few routes have such a great start. Stop, take pictures, and enjoy this wonderful sector.
Miles 2.5 to 10.5 / The Up (in the Forest) / Gravel
From the parking area at Clear Lake, continue on the one-way paved loop road. It is steep almost “brutal”! Cross the highway (the sno-park here can be used as an alternative start) and continue on the gravel road, NF 2672. The route makes a few early turns in the first several miles, gradually climbing through the Willamette National Forest. The roads are gray gravel (mostly) and hard-packed. It is pleasant riding, mostly forested with 20 to 40-year-old pine trees with green undergrowth and scattered flowers. [micro-video] These 8 miles gains 1000+ feet, with a loss of 300 feet.
Miles 10.5 to 12.5 / The Dip with Views / Gravel
Just after the 1.5-mile point, you get your first big views of the day. [micro-video] The road dips down, but the views continue for the next several miles.
Miles 12.5 to 35
Description to be written.
Miles 34 to Finish / Blue River Lake, Flat / Paved
The last 14 miles are “flattish”, on pavement, and along Blue River Lake first and then the McKenzie River. Spin easy and enjoy!
The Start
Horse Creek Lodge. This is where you will catch the shuttle service. Contact them directly to reserve a spot. You want the McKenzie River Trail shuttle. These guys provide great service including an end of ride shower.
You can arrange your own shuttle service also. If so, consider ending at the Lookout Boat Launch area on Blue River Lake (~ mile 44.5).
Food & Water
- ~ mile 2.4 / Clear Lake Lodge
Route Notes
This route is one of the few Point to Point routes in the Dirty Freehub catalog. For this ride, we recommend using a shuttle service. In this version of the route, we have marked the start at Horse Creek Lodge. They provide shuttle service to the start of the ride near Clear Lake.
Love Where You Ride! Learn More
This route starts and finishes along the McKenzie River; the middle sector takes you high into the mountains. For about 8,000 years, the McKenzie River and the surrounding lands were home to Native Americans. In more recent history, Kalapuya and Molala tribes lived nomadically here in the summer and spent winters in the lower valley. This way of life continued until the mid-19th century, when many natives died of disease or were relocated to reservations. Much of the McKenzie River area remained largely unvisited by white settlers and explorers until October 1853, when a group of Oregon Trail settlers became lost trying to cross the Cascades into the Willamette Valley via the Elliott Cutoff.
Keep it Local! Learn More
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