Cannibal 5
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DownloadCredits & Acknowledgements
This route is an adaptation of the Oregon Coast Gravel Epic (Abomination route) by , but instead of the start / finish in Waldport the start / finish is halfway between Waldport and Yachats at Tillicum Beach.
This route is an adaptation of Mudslinger Events’ Oregon Coast Gravel Epic (Abomination route). Instead of starting and finishing in Waldport, this version begins and ends at Tillicum Beach, roughly halfway between Waldport and Yachats.
When We Like to Ride This
This route will ride most of the year. With a high point just under 1,700 feet, it can even be a great winter option when the weather is warm and sunny. Our favorite time is late spring when the flowers are in bloom.
Terrain & Riding
The riding is deep within Oregon’s Coast Range, where the road network disappears into thick Siuslaw National Forest and the sense of solitude builds quickly. Much of the day is spent beneath a canopy of Douglas-fir, Sitka spruce, and hemlock, with moss, ferns, and salal crowding the roadside. Don’t come expecting constant big views. The forest is the view — sometimes dark and enclosed, sometimes opening briefly across a recently logged slope or from a high ridge.
This is relentlessly hilly country. Rather than one long climb, the route repeatedly climbs out of creek bottoms and valleys, crosses a ridge, and drops steeply back down before doing it again. The route has five major climbs, with the high points reaching roughly 1,100 to 1,700 feet. The result is a ride with very little flat terrain and a steady rhythm of climbing and descending.
The roads tell the story of timber in the Coast Range. You transition between gravel haul roads and narrow stretches of pavement originally built to move logs through these mountains. Some of that pavement is aging and rough; the gravel ranges from smooth, fast hardpack to more rugged forest road. These transitions add character to the ride — pavement does not necessarily mean easy, and gravel does not necessarily mean slow.
For long stretches, it can feel like you have the forest entirely to yourself. But remember that this is still working timber country. Logging activity and trucks are possible, so ride alert, especially on blind corners and descents. Otherwise, settle into the quiet. This is classic Coast Range gravel: big forest, stout hills, old logging roads, and miles where the loudest sound may be your tires on the gravel.
The Start
Day use area alongside the Tillicum Beach Campground. Flush toilets. Fee required.
Food & Water
- None.
Route Notes
This area is an active working timber forest, so expect logging traffic on any given day at any given time. Stay alert, listen carefully, and watch for signs of active logging, such as recently graded roads, fresh gravel, posted radio channels, heavy tire tracks, mile-marker signs, etc.
For more information on riding safely and responsibly in working timberlands, visit our resource page, Timberlands Riding Etiquette.
After your ride, make sure to walk the beach at Tillicum. It is so gorgeous and relaxing.
Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!