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 herd. 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 5.5-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. (We have reports that the turn is now at a green gate, just beyond what we have mapped in the GPX file.) 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

Designated dirt parking lot. No services.

Some people find this start a little less remote. There is no longer a ranger station here, just a paved parking lot, water and pit toilets. To connect with the route take NF 2610 Coyle Creek road to the north. This start adds about 5.5 miles and an additional 750 feet of climbing.

Food & Water

• ~ mile 35 / Old Ochoco Ranger Station parking lot. ~ 5.5 mile round trip diversion off course (750 ft gain / 350 ft loss). There is a hand pump on the south side of the parking lot. Potable water.

Route Notes

1. This route had significant fires in 2026. If you do ride this route, please post pictures and comments on the Ride Guide so we can all benefit.

2. Bonus points: Why the name “Major Enoch”?

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