This route reimagines the classic Aufderheide bike ride (read a great recap of that ride from M Jackson) as a mixed-surface adventure—building on the iconic classic road ride while pushing deeper into the surrounding mountains. It follows roughly 90% of the traditional Aufderheide route (marked in black on the map below), periodically branching off onto remote Forest Service roads that climb high above the river corridors and into quieter, more rugged terrain. The result is a true backcountry experience. While technically a lollipop with a short stick, it rides and feels like one big, immersive loop.

Tucked deep within Oregon’s Cascade Range, Aufderheide Drive (Forest Service Road 19) is a quiet ribbon connecting the McKenzie River (Highway 126) to Oakridge (Highway 58). Winding through the heart of the Willamette National Forest, the route traces cold, clear rivers and slips beneath a dense canopy of towering fir and cedar, offering a rare sense of immersion in the natural world. The Aufderheide reveals a landscape shaped by water and time—mountain peaks, hidden lakes, cascading waterfalls, and rushing creeks unfold along the route.

Our gravel variation adds a new dimension. Steeper climbs lead to higher elevations, broader views, and a deeper sense of solitude—places the classic road ride never reaches. It’s a more demanding version of the Aufderheide, but also a more expansive one.

We will be adding to this route guide (we have ridden the entire route, it is 5-Star) over the next several months, but we wanted to publish this it when the riding is great. As of March 20, 2026 it is snow free and they have just graded many of the gravel roads. With this said, we would appreciate your insights on where to stay, where to eat. We are super preferential to places that are locally owned.

See the Notes tabs for different ways to ride this route: as one big day, as a two-day, etc.

On the map, we have designated the classic Aufderheide FS-19 road in black. In red, are other paved roads along the route but are not part of the Classic road bike route.