Winding through some of the most remote and rugged terrain in the state, the gravel version of the Oregon Timber Trail offers a wild and unforgettable journey deep into the heart of the Cascades. This is not your average gravel tour—it’s a backcountry odyssey that threads together forest roads, alpine lakes, volcanic landscapes, and charming mountain towns, all while tracing the backbone of Oregon from south to north.

What makes this route special isn’t just the sheer beauty—it’s the sense of adventure. You’ll ride beneath towering firs, past lava flows frozen in time, and alongside crystal-clear creeks where solitude reigns. The gravel version of the trail opens up a more rideable and accessible experience compared to the singletrack original, but it doesn’t sacrifice the spirit of exploration.

Whether you’re seeking a multi-day bikepacking trip or planning to ride it in sections, the Oregon Timber Trail (gravel edition) invites you to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect with wild Oregon—its landscapes, its stories, and the quiet joy of traveling by bike.

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This is Dirty Freehub’s edition of the Oregon Timber Trail – Gravel. The original OTT was “designed with mountain biking in mind – about 60 percent is mountain biking trail.

We’ve taken on this iconic route in cooperation with the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance to provide a long-distance point-to-point ride that can be done as a Credit Card Tour, on a gravel bike. This version of the route emphasizes sustainability and positive community impact. It is designed to support the rural towns and businesses along the way. A secondary goal is to maintain the route as close to the original OTT as possible.

The Southern Tier from Lakeview to Oakridge is the most physically demanding sector of the route. There are few services for food, water or lodging making the days riding usually in excess of 70 miles. Beyond Oakridge, there are a number of stops along the way, where a long day can be broking up into two riding days.

If this guide helps you plan your ride, please consider making a contribution to Dirty Freehub—and tag it “Oregon Timber Trail.” Your support helps us develop and improve this route and route guide for future riders.

This route guide is currently published as “In Development“. We need to develop detailed and accurate information for this sector. We are still investigating miles 24 to 30 and 40 to 60.

If you do ride this, please give us feedback on what you find. You can do so in the Comments block. And … we would love to receive pictures!

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The OTT should be built around the Oregon Forest and timber. Types of trees, salvage logging, disease and beatles, threats to the forest, the history of timber, etc. Talk about the economic impact of timber, what took place in the 70s and 80s with the spotted owl, the transition of communities from timber communities to recreationally based communities so that they are less reliant on timber.