Located near the start of the ride, the Heryford Brothers Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time it was built in 1913 it was the largest and most expensive structure in Lakeview. The commercial building provided 54,000 feet of interior space and had its own generator, central steam heat, elevators, electric lights, hot water and telephones. It has often been described as the cornerstone of Lakeview and is still one of the city’s most important commercial buildings housing several small businesses.

In 1909, as Lake County prepared for the arrival of the railroad and anticipated a population boom, optimism ran high. That March, the Lake County Examiner declared the region “the future garden spot of the Northwest.”

To support this expected growth, an elegant multi-story courthouse was constructed, pictured here. A defining feature of the building was its prominent clock tower, which housed a four-faced clock and a set of chimes crafted in Baltimore.

In 1954, the original courthouse was replaced by a modern, single-story structure made of steel and concrete. Sadly, the historic clock and chimes were not preserved during the transition.

Bullard Canyon is named for M.W. Bullard who settled along Bullard Creek in 1869.

In 1874 Lake County was created and in 1876 an election was held to determine the county seat. Prior to the election Bullard offered to donate 20 acres in Goose Lake Valley for a county courthouse. Following the election, which moved the county seat to the newly created town of Lakeview, Bullard sold 300 acres to John Moon who filed a town plat with the state and officially created the town of Lakeview.

Located only two miles from Lakeview is a 35 foot tall sluice gate dam officially titled Bullard Canyon F.R.S. The dam’s name relates to its primary purpose with F.R.S. standing for Flood Retention Structure.

The importance of the dam was never more apparent than in 2019 when snow melt and heavy rainfall caused water to crest the spillway. Water and debris washed down Bullard Canyon and onto Center Street into Lakeview. Numerous roads in Lakeview were closed due to the flooding but thanks to community members’ efforts through the night damage was limited.

Nestled between Drake Peak to the north and Crane Mountain to the south, Camas Valley comes into view on the initial climb of the ride. At ~ mile 8.6 you descend into the valley.

This forest is primarily composed of Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), a species uniquely adapted to thrive in fire-prone environments.

Thick, Fire-Resistant Bark: Mature Ponderosa pines develop thick, corky bark that insulates the vital cambium layer from heat damage during low-intensity surface fires.

Self-Pruning Lower Branches: These trees naturally shed their lower branches as they mature, reducing the risk of fire climbing from the ground into the canopy.

High Canopies and Open Crown Structure: The open crown structure and elevated canopies allow for better air circulation and heat dissipation during fires, decreasing the likelihood of crown scorch.

Fire-Adapted Regeneration: Ponderosa pine cones can release seeds in response to the heat from fires, facilitating regeneration in the nutrient-rich, fire-cleared soil.

The Oregon Timber Trail (OTT) is a premier long-distance mountain biking route that spans the state of Oregon, running from the southern border near California to the northern border near Washington. Covering approximately 670 miles, the trail is divided into four tiers—Fremont, Willamette, Deschutes, and Hood—each with its unique landscapes, challenges, and highlights. It traverses a mix of rugged singletrack, gravel roads, and forest trails, offering riders an immersive journey through Oregon’s diverse ecosystems, including high desert, dense forests, alpine lakes, and volcanic terrain. It crosses our route at the top of the climb and again at mile 15.

Visible to the northeast is Drake Peak an 8,399 foot mountain in the Warner Mountain Range. Drake Peak is part of a volcanic complex that last erupted over 5 million years ago.

Just to the west of Drake is Light Peak on which the US Forest Service maintains a fire lookout named Drake Peak Lookout. The lookout sits at 8,222 feet and has views over Oregon, Nevada and California. The lookout is the highest in Oregon that can be driven to and is the destination of another Dirty Freehub ride which can be found at this link.

Crane Mountain, the tallest peak in Lake County, stands southeast of Lakeview and can be seen to the south from Drake Peak Lookout and along parts of the return on this route.

On its western side, overlooking Goose Lake, Crane Mountain reveals its two main rock types. The mountain is primarily composed of basalt, a dark volcanic rock. Beneath this basalt layer lies the John Day rhyolite tuff formation, a lighter-colored rock created from hardened volcanic ash. Both rock layers became visible when fault block movement tilted the formations, giving shape to the mountain.

The Ruby Pipeline, completed in 2011, is a 680-mile natural gas pipeline transporting gas from Wyoming to Oregon, designed to meet growing energy demands in the West. Developed by El Paso Corporation, it later faced challenges when its operator, Ruby Pipeline LLC, filed for bankruptcy in 2022, leaving the project’s future uncertain. The pipeline’s struggles deeply impacted Lakeview, Oregon, where it brought initial economic benefits but left the town grappling with the financial fallout and a loss of local investment. Listen to this Oregon Public Broadcasting story from July 2011 for some initial perspective.

Lake County Historical Museum and Schminck Memorial Museum are near the start / end of this ride, just south of the courthouse on South E Street. The Lake County Historical museum is located in a house built in 1927 by Mr. and Mrs. Ike Kent. All the cement blocks were hand made by them. The adjacent Schminck museum served as a residence for a couple who has lived in the community since 1922.

“These museum are the best kept secret in town! There are many artifacts including ones found in an ancient cave over 6000 years old. The Modoc history room has a unique display of baskets & quill work. Not to be missed if you’re in town!” LindaH