Tidbits
Route closed due to Lookout Fire. Expected opening Spring 2023.
Highlights & Remarkable Spots
McKenzie River Trail & Old Growth Forest / Miles 0 to 2.5
The McKenzie River Trail is one of the absolute best mountain bike trails in North America. The first 2.5 miles, of which you will ride (mountain bike easy), meanders through an old-growth forest of majestic conifers – giant Douglas-firs, hemlocks, and cedars. But look for the other “layers” of the ecosystem – shrubs and ground cover plants – which form the forest framework. This sector is best described by words like ancient, massive, diverse, beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Clear Lake / ~ Mile 2
Clear Lake, the “lake born of fire”, is the headwaters of the McKenzie River and was formed 3000 years ago when lava from Sand Mountain reached the river and backed up water to form the lake. The original forest that had lined the river banks was submerged (see photo). Remnants of some of these submerged trees still stand under 120 feet of water and are visible from the trail. Osprey and bald eagles, and native cutthroat trout call the lake home. Non-native rainbow and brook trout are also found in the lake. [Photo credit: Paul Furnari]
HJ Andrews Experimental Forest / ~ Mile 44
At mile 44 just to your east is the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest.
“The Andrews … is the most studied primal forest ecosystem on this continent, and perhaps the planet. That does not mean that scientists here have found every cog and wheel, much less every relationship between them. But here they have discovered a host of species previously unknown to science, and interactions in the forest ecosystem that no one previously imagined. Here, in the shadows of this woods, in its rivulets and streams, under its soil, and high overhead, they have discovered a hidden forest.” John Luoma, from the book, “The Hidden Forest” 2006.
Blue River Lake / ~ Mile 45
Blue River is a beautiful, clear tributary to the McKenzie River that starts high up in the Cascade foothills and terminates near the town of Blue River, Oregon. On the way, the river is harnessed into a gigantic reservoir formed in 1968 when the Army Corps of Engineers installed Blue Lake Dam and Saddle Dam. [Outdoor Project]
Holiday Farm Fire 2020 / ~ MIles 44 to 51
This area was decimated by the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020, ranking among one of the largest wildfires in Oregon history, burning a total of 173,393 acres.
Beginning near the Holiday Farm RV Resort in Rainbow on the evening of September 7, 2020, possibly due to fallen power lines, the fire spread rapidly down the McKenzie valley and up into the densely wooded foothills on both sides of the river and Oregon Route 126. Driven by unusually strong winds from the east during the often-driest time of year in western Oregon, the fire grew exponentially in the first 36 hours to 105,000 acres. [Wikipedia]
Belknap Covered Bridge / ~ Mile 52
Lane County was the first in Oregon to build covered bridges on a large scale. Today, the county has more surviving covered bridges than any other county west of the Mississippi River, a total of 17 bridges, including 14 that are still open to traffic. There has been a covered bridge at the Belknap Bridge site since 1890 as four different bridge structures.
The original Belknap Bridge was built in 1890 by Mr. T. Thomson. It was named for a pioneer family that settled in the McKenzie River area, Rollin S. Belknap, who discovered and developed Belknap Springs approximately nine miles upstream from the bridge. [Wikipedia]
When We Like to Ride This
Early summer (late June to early July) when the flowers are in full bloom. With an early start, this is a doable ride on a hot day, as a lot of the route is shaded. But … there are several sectors along the route that are exposed to the sun and could be quite warm.
Terrain & Riding
Miles 0 to 2.5 / McKenzie-Clear Lake Trail / Single-track
A wide, loamy single-track trail that meanders along Clear Lake and through ancient old-growth forest of Douglas-fir, red cedar, and hemlocks. Few routes have such a great start. Stop, take pictures, and enjoy this wonderful sector.
Miles 2.5 to 10.5 / The Up (in the Forest) / Gravel
From the parking area at Clear Lake, continue on the one-way paved loop road. It is steep almost “brutal”! Cross the highway (the sno-park here can be used as an alternative start) and continue on the gravel road, NF 2672. The route makes a few early turns in the first several miles, gradually climbing through the Willamette National Forest. The roads are gray gravel (mostly) and hard-packed. It is pleasant riding, mostly forested with 20 to 40-year-old pine trees with green undergrowth and scattered flowers. [micro-video] These 8 miles gains 1000+ feet, with a loss of 300 feet.
Miles 10.5 to 12.5 / The Dip with Views / Gravel
Just after the 1.5-mile point, you get your first big views of the day. [micro-video] The road dips down, but the views continue for the next several miles.
Mile 12.5 to 18.5 / More Up (in the Forest) / Gravel and a Little Pavement
At mile 12.5, you return to the forest and begin climbing again with moderate grades, usually less than 6%. This is the longest singular climb of the day, gaining 1000 feet in 6 miles. At mile 15.1, the gravel road gives way to a one-lane paved road for the next 2 miles. At mile 16.1, turn right onto NF 1509. This is a beautiful section of forested riding on loamy soils. The trees are older and taller. [micro-video]
At mile 17.9, the peaks to your north are Iron Mountain and Cone Peak, across highway 20 about 10 miles away. This is where we remarked, “the climbing hasn’t been too bad today. Pretty moderate.” Oh, the remaining 2000 feet of gain is nothing like that! It is short steep up and downs. Undulating! A lot of pitches above 10%.
Most of the 300+ species of wildflowers in the western Cascades are found on Cone Peak and Iron Mountain. This area also offers one of Oregon’s most diverse and abundant butterfly viewing opportunities and 17 species of tree, more than anywhere else in Oregon. [The Mountaineers]
Miles 18.5 to 33.5 / Contouring Traverse: Forest, Flowers, and Views / Gravel
This sector of riding is absolutely stunning. Sections of deep, green forest. Wildflowers. And big views (The Three Sisters, Three Fingered Jack). [micro-video] Mile 18.5 is the high point for the day, at an elevation of 4600 feet. In the next 15 miles, there are a series of small climbs and descents with pitch. Nothing over 300 feet in gain and nothing over 500 feet of descent. You will not find a spinning rhythm; over time, it is very demanding.
It feels as if you are riding a ridge, but you are not. Instead, you are following the 4000 ft topo line from col to col. This was also our favorite sector of the day.
Miles 33.5 to 42.5 / The Big Downhill / Gravel
At mile 33.5, the big downhill of the day begins, 2700 feet of loss in 9 miles. [micro-video] The grade continuously changes, with some downhill pitches over 10%, even 12%. There are also a couple of ups that gain 50 to 100 feet. Just before mile 40.5, Tidbits Creek comes into play on your right-hand side. When the descent gives way to a bit of flat, look to your left to see a hidden waterfall. (There is a brown vertical marker in the scrub with W1529 on it.)
Take the next 2 miles slow, ride the right-hand lane. [micro-video] The beauty and force of Tidbits Creek is not to be missed.
Miles 42.5 to Finish / Blue River Lake, Flat / Paved
The last 14 miles are “flattish”, on pavement, and along Blue River Lake first and then the McKenzie River. Spin easy and enjoy!
The Start
Horse Creek Lodge. This is where you will catch the shuttle service. Contact them directly to reserve a spot. You want the McKenzie River Trail shuttle. These guys provide great service including an end of ride shower.
You can arrange your own shuttle service also. If so, consider ending at the Lookout Boat Launch area on Blue River Lake (~ mile 44.5).
Lat / Long: 44.171940, -122.168443
Food & Water
- ~ mile 2.4 / Clear Lake Lodge
Route Notes
This route is one of the few Point to Point routes in the Dirty Freehub catalog. For this ride, we recommend using a shuttle service. In this version of the route, 2.0, we have marked the start at Horse Creek Lodge. They provide shuttle service to the start of the ride near Clear Lake.
This ride is entirely doable on 40 mm tires, but we prefer a bit more contact patch (50+ mm) for the steep and long downhill (9+ miles) beginning at mile 34.
For technical difficulty we have rated this route as “Demanding” due to:
- A number of short steep pitches up and down above 10%
- The beginning single-track sector through the old growth forest
- The remote nature of part of the ride and
- Limited cell phone reception
Love Where You Ride! Learn More
This route starts and finishes along the McKenzie River; the middle sector takes you high into the mountains. For about 8,000 years, the McKenzie River and the surrounding lands were home to Native Americans. In more recent history, Kalapuya and Molala tribes lived nomadically here in the summer and spent winters in the lower valley. This way of life continued until the mid-19th century, when many natives died of disease or were relocated to reservations. Much of the McKenzie River area remained largely unvisited by white settlers and explorers until October 1853, when a group of Oregon Trail settlers became lost trying to cross the Cascades into the Willamette Valley via the Elliott Cutoff.
Keep it Local! Learn More
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