When We Like to Ride This

To see the most number of bird species go mid May to mid June. But, we really recommend you take a look at this guide by Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for when to see what birds.

Terrain & Riding

The route is mainly flat, with the part through the national refuge on gravel and the return on paved. While on paper, this all seems like it might be a super easy ride, let us offer up two bits of caution: the national refuge had some fresh gravel and some washboard sections which slowed us down a bit. And this area is famous for wind. Also, make sure you look at the hill profile: there’s a rolling hill at the end which rewards you with a “no brakes needed” downhill.

From the starting point, the Narrows RV park, the route heads east on a good paved road that sees little traffic. You pass by ranches and have distant views of Steens mountain. At ~ mile 6 is the Malheur National Wildlife refuge headquarters where the standoff occured. There’s a pull out just past it (you’ll see a big tower) which provides an expansive view of the area below you. The visitor center is also a worthwhile stop to for information on the the area including flora, animals and the history. Be sure to get the Blitzen Valley Auto Tour Route guide.

From the visitor center, go south into the refuge on the gravel road (“bird nerd alley”). This sector is the highlight of the ride. Big views. Thousands of birds. Rabbits. Antelope. And mostly easy riding. You will also cross the Blitzen river several times.

… scan the cottonwood trees for various songbirds, great horned owls, and porcupine. Other species in the area include the cinnamon teal, coyote, deer mice, gadwell, garter snake, great egret, great horned owl, long-eared owl, mallard, mule deer, Northern oriole, Northern shoveler, pied-billed grebe, porcupine, and trumpeter swan. [US Fish and Wildlife Service]

At ~ mile 22.5 make a right onto a gravel road that cuts across the wetland. As you pass by a set of buildings to your left, look for the road leading up to Buena Vista overlook. Go! It has a sweeping birds eye view of the refuge.

After the overlook, make your way onto Highway 205. Yes, it is a state highway, but with little traffic. The views are still good, but diminishing as you get closer to the start / finish. Near the very end, you do the only climb of the day, 300 feet of gain at 3% grade. But you shortly get that all back as you descend easily into the finish.

We have classified this route as a Bandit Route – it has just a bit to much pavement without much payback for our liking. [We have ridden the entire route.] However, if you are a “bird nerd” and you catch the route in prime birding season, you will probably love this adventure.

The Start

Narrows RV Park. Store. Flush toilets.

Lat / Long: 43.258045, -118.958199

Food & Water

• None.

Route Notes

1. The route starts at the Narrows RV park, which may seem a bit odd. Some may think that the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge visitor center may be a better starting point, but this makes the last half of the ride long and tiresome as you have a 21 mile sector of pavement. By starting at the Narrows, you get a flat 5 miles of pavement for warm up, before taking on the gravel sector. With that, the last paved sector does not seem so long.

2. If you go during birding season, carry mosquito repellent with you … or move really, really fast!

3. We recommend a red blinky light for the highway section on the back half of the route.

Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!