Big Lava
5 Star Route
Hood River, Washington
What makes this ride so special? Fun to ride roads and several “one of a kind” natural features: the Big Lava Bed, the magical disappearing lake within South Prairie, Goose Lake and one of the most impressive falls in the Columbia Gorge region, Panther Creek Falls.
Route: Loop | 54 mi
Gain: 5,200 ft
Surface: 65% gravel, 35% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Big Red
5 Star Route
La Pine, Oregon
This ride is easy like Sunday morning. But it’s well worth the drive to La Pine for the river views … and the visit to Big Red (the oldest and largest Ponderosa tree in Oregon).
Route: Loop | 17 mi
Gain: 500 ft
Surface: ~ 70% gravel road / singletrack, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Big, Big Red
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A longer version of Big Red that is easily accessible from Bend. We really like this route before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. During the summer, it has a “pinball wizard” feeling as you navigate through Sunriver during the height of tourist season.
Route: Loop | 48 mi
Gain: 1,500 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 25%single track, 15% bike path, 25% paved road
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
CheddarHead
5 Star Route
Tillamook, Oregon
Tillamook. Synonymous with dairy. This ride explores what makes Tillamook what it is. Mountains, valleys, rivers, bays, and farms, oh my! But be warned, this is one of the most difficult and demanding rides that we have ever posted! Read this guide in detail.
Route: Loop | 90 mi
Gain: 10,900 ft
Surface: 60% gravel / 20% single-track / 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Extremely Remote
Options: Shorter, Credit Card Tour, Backpacking
Creek to Peak
5 Star Route
~ Bend, Oregon
A spectacular (and demanding!) ride with all kinds of colorful natural wonders: the many waterfalls and cascades of Paulina Creek, Paulina Lake, Paulina Peak, and Newberry Crater. Shorter Option (see Notes & Options tab): 22 miles / 2100 feet of gain.
Route: Tootsie Roll | 32 mi
Gain: 3,800 ft
Surface: 25% gravel, 25% single track, 50% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Dinner with Brice
5 Star Route
Eugene, Oregon
A perfect ride for "roadies", only 10 miles of gravel. A big climb, deep forests, a creek with some of the best swimming holes in the state, and a super fun (paved) descent!
Route: Lollipop | 49 mi
Gain: 4,900 ft
Surface: 25% gravel, 75% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Double Go!
All Access Route
~ Coos Bay, Oregon
An excursion to two of the largest waterfalls on the Oregon coast and an exploration of the historic Allegany-Scottsburg Pack Trail. This is an easy rural ride with little traffic.
Route: Out & Back | 19 mi
Gain: 953 ft
Surface: ~ 60% gravel road + short hike, 40% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Rural
Drift Creek Falls
5 Star Route
Central Coast, Oregon
A bike and hike route. (Not hike-a-bike!) The reason to do this route is for the skinny single-lane paved forest service road and the hike out to Drift Creek Falls (~ 3 miles total), which has you crossing a 250-foot suspension bridge above the falls. So, so much fun! The falls are really special, especially in springtime. However, don't underestimate the route,
Route: Lollipop | 30 mi
Gain: 2,900 ft
Surface: ~ 20% gravel, 80% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Remote
Dropbar
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A ride that strings together some of the best drop-bar-gravel-riding mountain bike trails in the area. The Mrazek section is a “frickin” fabulous flowy downhill. This route is not subject to extreme moon dust like some of other mountain bike trails in the dead of summer.
Route: Loop | 28 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 40% gravel, 40% single track, 5% bike path, 5% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Honeyman
5 Star Route
Florence, Oregon
A captivating ride with a waterfall, lake-adjacent skinny roads reminiscent of bike trails, sand dunes, a historic boathouse, rolling farmlands, and a logging road climb. A must do! (With shorter option - 45 miles, 4500 feet.)
Route: Lollipop | 54 mi
Gain: 5,300 ft
Surface: ~30% gravel, 70% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Extremely Remote
Options: Shorter
Liffey Falls
5 Star Route
~ Launceston, Tasmania
A route with big variety that road cyclist should love. Rolling farmlands. Wooded forests. A rain forest. Small creeks. A beautiful falls. A river. And … more farmlands.
Route: Loop | 45 mi
Gain: 3,400 ft
Surface: ~ 35% gravel, 65% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Minnehaha Loop
Development Route
Klamath County, Oregon
This remote route weaves together pavement and gravel roads to include stunning views of Mt. Thielson and a quick hike to see National Falls.
Route: Lollipop | 24 mi
Gain: 2,876 ft
Surface: ~ 60% Unpaved, 40% Paved
Technical Difficulty: Unknown
Locale: Extremely Remote
Oktoberfest
Development Route
Bend, Oregon
Meander through the logging roads out to Tumalo Falls and back. Our favorite way to see the fall colors.
Route: Loop | 29 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 80% gravel / dirt roads, 10% single-track, 10% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Panther Creek
5 Star Route
~ Columbia River Gorge, Washington
The Panther is just one cool cat … and so is this ride which includes meandering along and past Panther Creek, Panther Creek Falls, a whole lot of lush forest including the Wind River Experimental Forest and … a stop along the Pacific Crest Trail.
Route: Loop | 21 mi
Gain: 2,600 ft
Surface: 25% gravel, 75% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Remote
Pipeline Track
5 Star Route
Hobart, Tasmania
Get ready for fern trees and a mossy, vibrant, green forest as you ride along the gravel track of an old water pipeline that gradually climbs to the Wellington Falls trail head.
Route: Out & Back | 15 mi
Gain: 1,200 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Remote
Punchbowl (Oregon)
5 Star Route
Hood River, Oregon
A “short but sweet” tour of the Hood River county managed forest. A big climb, a cool paved descent (steep) and “killer” views of Mt. Hood and the Hood River. And a real treat … a dip in the river (cool, cool river) near Punchbowl falls.
Route: Loop | 18 mi
Gain: 2,700 ft
Surface: 85% gravel, 15% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Redmond Farm Ride
Development Route
Seattle, Washington
A mixed gravel bike ride exploring the urban beauty of the historic Redmond farm lands and the eastside of Lake Sammamish. Includes some of the best trails in the area and the scenic Snoqualmie Falls.
Route: Loop | 79 mi
Gain: 5,100 ft
Surface: ~ 40% gravel, 10% single track, 30%, paved multi-use path, 20% paved road
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Urban Backcountry
St Columba Falls
5 Star Route
St Helens, Tasmania
A roaring waterfall set in a rainforest. A cheese factory that dates back to 1885, with a cafe and cheese samples. Scenic farmland mixed in with logging roads. That’s the gist of this ride.
Route: Loop | 20 mi
Gain: 2,300 ft
Surface: 40% gravel, 60% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Tidbits
5 Star Route
~ Eugene, Oregon
A point to point ride, with more elevation loss than gain. This route offers up beautiful views of the mountains, quiet forest roads, two beautiful lakes, a roaring river, and a hidden waterfall. We saw loads of blooming bear grass and wild rhododendrons.
Route: Point to Point | 57 mi
Gain: 4,600 ft
Surface: 70% gravel, 5% single-track, 25% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Topsy Grade
Development Route
NorCal, California (North)
A rugged route into the upper Klamath River canyon that is full of wagon train history and treachery. River and mountain views. Remote.
Route: Out & Back | 41 mi
Gain: 3,500 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Tour of the Brobdingnagians
5 Star Route
~ Victoria, British Columbia
A gigantic loop through the forests of southwest Vancouver Island to see some of Canada's largest old-growth trees, including Big Lonely Doug. This route can be ridden in 1-3 days.
Route: Loop | 86 mi
Gain: 10,900 ft
Surface: 65% gravel, 35% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Tygh My Shoes
5 Star Route
Dufur / Maupin, Oregon
Loop up and through the White River Wildlife area, into the ghost town of Friend, around the east side of the Badger Creek Wilderness area via a one-lane paved Forest Service road and back down to Tygh Valley on a gravel road with expansive views near the end.
Route: Loop | 30 mi
Gain: 2,800 ft
Surface: 50% gravel, 50% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Extremely Remote
White River Loop
5 Star Route
Dufur / Maupin, Oregon
An amazing mixed gravel route that circumnavigates the White River, meanders along the Deschutes river for 10 miles, and offers up big mountain views. And an impressive water fall.
Route: Loop | 50 mi
Gain: 3,100 ft
Surface: 30% gravel road, 70% tarmac
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
