When We Like to Ride This

Late spring to mid summer when the flowers are in bloom and the fields are green or fall when the colors are changing.

Terrain & Riding

The route starts at the Post General store and heads southeast along the Crooked River for 5 miles on good pavement, with light traffic, and great views. Turn right onto Pine Creek Road / NF 17, a gravel road. This is a public road, but it is bounded by the Shotgun ranch on each side. The “No Trespassing” signs can be a bit deceiving. At ~ mile 9, you enter the Ochoco National Forest which is marked by a prominent sign.

Ponderosa pine is the dominant tree species in most parts of the Ochocos. These pines are common at elevations from 3,000 to 6,000 feet (910 to 1,830 m) above sea level. Manzanita, antelope bitterbrush, and ceanothus are common shrubs in the pine-dominated areas with Idaho fescue and Ross’ sedge as the main ground cover. [Wikipedia]

NF 17 marks the beginning of the climb. 7 miles and 1900 feet. It is quite consistent in grade, 4 to 6%, but does pitch up to 8% or more for a couple of short sections. Follows Pine Creek.

NF 17 follows along Pine Creek from the start of the gravel until a left hairpin bending turn at mile 10. Keep an eye out for wildlife near the creek. There is also a small waterfall that flows in the spring at mile 8.

After crossing Pine Creek, there are scattered views across the valley to the Ochoco mountains. (Note – this ride is in the Ochoco National forest, but in the Maury mountains. The Ochoco National forest is a non-contiguous forest with several ranges of mountains.)

Just before mile 13, go right onto NF-300. This is a more primitive forest service road that drops 200 feet, but then begins to climb, 750 feet over 4 miles, with a couple of short pitches in excess of 10%. It offers up some sneaker views to the right of the Post-Paulina valley.

At mile 18.3 junction with NF-1750, the Maury Mountain road. The route goes right on NF1750. However, if it is wet and has standing water, continue straight on NF-300 and in about a mile junction with NF-16. Take this west and reconnect with the original route in 4 miles. Trust us on this, NF-1750 can be a sticky, muddy mess denigrating into a hike-a-bike fiasco.

NF-1750, in the right conditions, is a blast to ride. An undulating, but downhill trending, primitive forest service road with loamy soil, through forest, but with some big views. The green Wolf moss and the black Wila moss in the trees creates an eerie, almost haunting site if the light is right.

Wolf moss is another lichen that had a very practical application. Because of its unique colors, it was often used to make yellow dye. In addition, it was also used to make poison. It was from one of the uses for this poison that its name was derived, as it was often mixed with glass and meat before being fed to wolves in an attempt to cleanse an area of the wolf population. [Garden Guides]

At mile 24, make a right hand turn onto NF 16. The road descends 2000 feet over 11 miles with some fantastic views back over the valley and into the Ochoco mountains. If the conditions are right, this is almost a brake free descent. Near the bottom of the downhill, you will pass by a few ranches and watering holes. When you reach pavement, go left and ride the last mile in along the Crooked River.

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Fire scarred terrain.

The Start

The Post General store, Highway 380, 25 miles south east of Prineville. Park at the far east end of the parking lot. This is a private parking lot, so it is imperative that you get permission from the store management to park there. Also, for the courtesy or parking there, we recommend dropping some coin in the store. Maybe getting one of their shakes, or a meatloaf sandwich, or a ballcap!

Food & Water

• None.

Route Notes

1. We made a significant revision to the route in May 2020, starting at mile 13 until the beginning of the big downhill on NF-16. Mile 24 on the map below. This eliminates a lot of the washboard and the views and riding, we think, are better.

2. We recommend a red blinky light for the section on the highway, even though the traffic is light.

3. In the fall this is an active hunting area, thus we recommend the following:

   • Wear bright, high viz colors like orange.
   • Carry a whistle to alert hunters to your presence.
   • Ride in a group, keeping your group relatively close bound.

4. This ride this was formerly listed as Post 35.

5. The roads are a mix of Forest Service maintained gravel roads and unmaintained dirt roads.

6. There are no difficult to interpret turns, but a missed or wrong turn at the southern leg of the route can make for a very long day.

7. Wildlife Impact. Our ride +
   Riders in this area commonly see:

   Mule deer moving between timber and open flats

   Pronghorn antelope in lower, open sections

   Raptors (red-tailed hawks, golden eagles) riding thermals above the ridges

   Ground squirrels and coyotes near road edges

8. Much of this ride crosses or skirts open range, meaning:

   Cattle may be on or near the road

   Gates and cattle guards are common

   Roads exist primarily to serve ranch access, not recreation

   This is living history — the same land-use patterns that shaped central Oregon over a century ago are still active today.

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