Major Enoch

5 Star Route / ~ Prineville, Oregon / Published June 2019 / Version 1.1 / Directions

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Riding out on a hard-packed gravel road in the Ochocos.

Leading out on hard-packed gravel.

Big views just beyond Harvey Gap.

Looking east - the Twin Pillars in the distance.

After climbing 2300 feet ... you find tarmac!!

When the pavement ends ... you back on the historic Summit Trail.

Riding through and around water puddles.

Early season conditions.

A majestic prairie along the historic Summit Trail.

The prairie turns to mature forest along the Summit Trail.

Get ready for some downhill fun! 1800 feet down.

Just after leaving Highway 26.

Deep into the lush forests of the Ochocos.

The Big Summit wild horse heard.

Nearing the second, and final, crossing of Highway 26.

Spring time = Flowers!!

Beginning the last climb of the day. 1350 feet over 6 miles.

The sharp left onto primitive road.

One of the short, steep pitches.

Riding good gravel in the Ochoco Mountains.

Back to "good" gravel!

The entrance to the abandoned section of road.

The exit!

Rolling into the finish. Steins Pillar.

Some history of the area.

The parking area.

Route:

Loop | 54 mi

Gain:

5,900 ft

Surface:

85% gravel/primitive roads, 15% paved

Technical Difficulty:

Moderate

Navigation:

Attention Required

Locale:

Remote

Tire Suggestion:

40 mm+

Options:

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“Like much of Central Oregon, the Ochoco Mountains were born from a violent past that includes massive mudslides, volcanic eruptions and storms that left the land piled with ash up to 1,000-feet deep. Today, it’s a place of secluded canyons, dancing creeks, whispering meadows and open forests that invite exploration. The only thing missing is the crowds.” by Eric Flowers / Bend Magazine.

Yes! That is this ride. A geological journey through the Ochocos where the riding is never too demanding, never too steep, but still makes for a big day in the saddle.

The ride circumnavigates the 40 million-year-old Wildcat Mountain Caldera. Within the caldera lie two eroded volcanic spires: Twin Pillars to the north, rising 200 feet above the forest and Steins Pillar to the south, rising 400 feet above the forest. Within the caldera boundary is the Mill Creek Wilderness.

In 2000, a lightning-caused wildfire burned over half of the 17,400 acre wilderness. Though much of the fire burned at a high intensity, the area is quickly recovering and there are still some examples of a climax forest (one that has reached its peak of growth) of ponderosa pine, providing habitat for elk, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, and the occasional black bear.

Along the ride, you will also see signs for the Lucky Strike Mine. It is one of the most famous locations for mining and collecting thundereggs in the Ochoco Mountains. The thunderegg is the state rock of Oregon.

Map

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Ride Details

When We Like to Ride This

Late spring through fall. Especially beautiful in the late spring / early summer with the creeks running full and the wild flowers.

Terrain & Riding

From the start, at the Steins Pillar overlook, you get several miles of “flattish” gravel for a good warm up. The route then “kicks up” as you climb to Harvey Gap … and beyond to NF 27, a paved forest service road. Along the way, to the right, you can see the Twin Pillars in the distance. In the first 12 miles you climb ~ 2300 feet.

NF 27 is paved, rolling and fun and leads into the next sector of gravel, historic Summit Trail. The road feels more like a forest road than a gravel road. It has a tendency to hold water (and / or be a drainage for spring runoff) and sections of it have been filled with shale rock. Pick your line carefully to avoid the dreaded sidewall cut.

After traversing along high prairies and beautiful, mature forests the road returns to pavement. Yippee!! Get ready for a fast, but not to fast descent. The grades are initially 4 to 6% downhill, but back off to 1 to 2%. Look out for debris (i.e. rocks and sticks) on the road but don’t forget to look left for the big views! A descent of 1800 feet over 7 miles.

At mile 26, turn west on Highway 26. After a quick, slightly downhill mile, it is a left turn back into the National Forest and soon back to gravel.

For the next 14 miles, the route traverses through lush forests with a moderate climb of ~ 1000 feet and a similar descent. This area is home to the Big Summit wild horse heard. In the spring of 2019, we were lucky enough to see the heard, 12 horses and 2 foals.

At ~ mile 35 you can make a 3-mile detour (with 350 feet of loss and 750 feet of gain) to the old Ochoco ranger station to get water. The ranger station no longer exists, but there is a hand pump on the south side of the parking lot for water.

Cross Highway 26 and begin climbing, again! About 1350 feet over 6.5 miles. Just beyond mile 45, there is a sharp left onto a decommissioned road. The first and last 150 yards are tilled and soft. Maybe rideable on the edge, maybe not. You will also need to dismount several times to hop over trees. Very easy to do. But, 90% of the old primitive hard-packed road is in place. The sector does roll up and down with several short, steep pitches of 15%.

After ~ 1.5 miles the road transitions back to “good” gravel and then at mile 50, it looks as if the road dead ends. It does not! Ride into the thicket, you will find an old abandoned road … possibly decommissioned due to rock fall. This sector lasts for about 300 yards and then you pop back onto good gravel. From here it is mostly downhill (1650 feet lost in 4.5 miles). At Mill Creek road, turn right, spin the legs and take in the great views of Steins Pillar.

The Start

Lat / Long: 44.417175, -120.618701

Steins Pillar viewpoint. No services.

Food & Water

~ mile 35 / Old Ochoco Ranger Station. ~ 3 mile diversion off course (750 ft gain / 350 ft loss).

Notes & Options

Route Notes

Bonus points: Why the name “Major Enoch”?

Route Options

An alternate start that adds about 2 miles and 300 feet of additional climbing is the old Ochoco Ranger Station. Some people find this start a little less remote. Lat / Long: 44.396166, -120.426081

Comments

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Ridden and Reviewed by:

KevinE / Team Dirty Freehub

He should have “Never Stop Exploring” tattooed on his chest! He loves adventures on bikes and is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.