Spring (when the creeks are flowing). The Roberts road section is closed Nov 15 to Apr 15.
Beyond the history lesson, the route is scattered with tumbleweeds, big cattle ranches, rolling hills and bold vistas. Places you are sure that good ole Little Joe came to retire. This ride is 100% gravel with very little traffic. When we mapped this route, the gravel was in excellent condition … but in the rain, the roads have enough clay to clog up your bike so be careful with the weather.
This route covers part of Meek’s Lost Wagon Train – some history behind it.
…Cooley’s group of wagons went a different route than the others of the Tetherow group after reaching Little Bear Creek. On reaching the site of the Coffelt Barn, instead of going up Little Bear Creek past Sheep Rock, he turned down Little Bear Creek to Bear Creek and then again hit the Tetherow group trail near the Dunham Ranch. Cooley mentions returning to the same creek they had been on a few days earlier …
The Coffelt barn site is the picture with the caption “Go right!”. Keep your eyes peeled for the Lost Blue Bucket Gold Mine:
…single nugget was eventually recognized as gold, another version holds that when the Stephen Meek Wagon train stopped along the trail in present-day Crook County near Bear Creek, children went to gather water at some distance from the camp. They returned with a bucket filled with shiny pebbles…
More information can be found at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meek_Cutoff
http://www.oregonhistorictrailsfund.org/trails/meek-cutoff-1845/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meek%27s_Cutoff
At the end of the pavement at the intersection of Camp Creek Road and Merrill Road, approximately 12 miles northeast of Brothers, Oregon.
Lat / Long: 43.872818, -120.488759
The roads are wide and easy to navigate. The route rides equally well in both directions. The route description and pictures detail the route in a clockwise direction.
Counter Clockwise: RideWithGPS
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