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Oregon Coast: Insider View of Gravel Cycling
Oregon is famous for a rugged coastline with empty beaches, quaint fishing villages, sand dunes and outrageous seafood. But what’s so special about riding gravel? We just love the overall green experience, riding quiet forest roads among trees that seem taller than skyscrapers. And while little of the riding is near the beach, there’s no […]
Gravel Opportunity Offers Economic Opportunity for Lake View
Last weekend, Dirty Freehub (www.dirtyfreehub.org) hosted their first ever “Popup Event” where they invited twenty cyclists to Lakeview for three days of gravel riding. Cyclists loved the perfect weather, the great hotels, the restaurants, the local bike shop, and the quiet gravel roads. One of the participants, Susan Hopkins who traveled to the event from […]
The HooDoos and Lake Billy Chinook Cliffs
Two stunning geological formations in Central Oregon offer a wealth of insights into the beauty and complexity of these balancing or “ghost” rocks. Shaped by volcanic activity and erosion over millions of years, our resident “rock doctor” Dr. Kim Ely explains how the cliffs were formed, highlighting four distinct geological formations. Dr. Ely also gives advice on how you can find and visit these natural wonders of Oregon.
Samurai in the Oregon Sky (Trailer)
In 1942, Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita bombed the U.S. mainland during WWII. He later peacefully reconciled with American civilians from the area. Watch this powerful film in its entirety.
Neskowin Ghost Forest on the Oregon Coast
Uncover the fascinating history behind this unique landmark with Ryan Parker, a beach ranger from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. In this episode, we discover how a massive Cascadia earthquake in 1700 led to the preservation of ancient trees, whose stumps now emerge from the sand at low tide. Through these geological processes, the ghost forest was born. Ryan shares about the best times to visit for a glimpse of these remarkable stumps covered in marine life, essential tips for safely exploring, and tide considerations surrounding Neskowin.
Timberlands Riding Etiquette
During your ride, you may encounter active timber harvesting operations. To ensure your safety, the safety of the timber workers, and to avoid conflicts, please familiarize yourself with the following guidelines. Signs of Active Logging Operations Signage (i.e., CB channels, mile markers, etc.) New brushing and mowing alongside the road Gates open Tire tracks Fresh […]
The Biscuit Fire (2002)
A quick 2-minute video about the 2002 Biscuit Fire, one of the largest wildfires ever in Oregon: learn how it impacted the lands and people. By Oregon Public Broadcasting.
The Story of Bayocean
This 30-minute OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) video explores the history of the township that intended to rival Atlantic City but fell into the Pacific Ocean.
Spencer Reynolds – The Artist
Creating illusions with color, we delve into the world of local Pacific Northwest artist, Spencer Reynolds, whose stunning coastal paintings are a reflection of the raw beauty and power of the Oregon coast. We speak with Spencer about his unique artistic style and the inspiration he draws from the rugged landscapes of the Pacific Ocean.
Spencer describes the Oregon coast as one of the most beautiful coastlines in the United States, with its dramatic cliffs, powerful storms, and resilient flora that have shaped the landscape over time. His art captures the essence of this untamed beauty, blending elements of impressionism with subtle surrealism to create captivating and vibrant pieces.
Spencer Reynold’s Website: https://www.artandsurf.com/
The Ride! Elk River Ramble
A quick 2+ minute video of what to expect on your ride and a quick tour of the historic Coast Guard Lifeboat Station in Port Orford.
The Waters of Port Orford
An in-depth look at the waters of Port Orford and their importance to the community. A great 9-minute watch. Highly recommended!
Port Orford Lifeboat Station
An ~ 7-minute video narration of the Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Museum in Port Orford, Oregon.
Oregon Sand Dunes
Dr. Win McLaughlin, a geology professor at Southwestern Oregon Community College, provides us with a deep understanding of the geology, history, and ecology of the Oregon coast. The Oregon coast is filled with unique geology which is characterized by its young age and the presence of sand dunes formed during the ice ages. She describes how the sand dunes are formed, ecosystems within and nearby, potential impacts of climate on the dunes, and the salty terrain to consider as a cyclist! She also talks about the Whisky Run mountain bike area.
Launch! Oregon Coast Gravel Guide
From Brookings to Astoria, the Oregon Coast offers amazing gravel cycling. At Dirty Freehub, we are launching the Oregon Coast Gravel Guide which is a pocket paper booklet with the following: Beautiful art from a local Oregon Coast artist. Photos that have been stylized to match to the artist. 10 highlighted gravel routes that vary […]
Weather Watching (the Oregon Coast)
We delve into the intricacies of weather patterns along the Oregon coast with Dr. Paul Loikith, an Associate Professor of Weather and Climate Science at Portland State University. Dr. Leuketh provides valuable insights into heavy storms called atmospheric rivers–powerful storms that bring heavy rain and strong winds to the region. He highlights the importance of monitoring weather forecasts, particularly for cyclists planning trips to the coast, to avoid getting caught in hazardous storms.
August Newsletter
The August newsletter from Dirty Freehub which includes a list of our latest Ride Guides and Podcasts.
Navigating Landlocked Public Lands: Insights from a GIS Specialist
Join us as we explore the intersection of gravel cycling and public land access, uncovering the untapped potential of landlocked areas for outdoor enthusiasts. Our GIS Specialist, Ben Purcell, who has been working with the Bureau of Land Management since 2017 happens to be a bit of a map enthusiast himself and delves into the potential benefits and consequences of opening up these landlocked parcels for recreational use.
Making Ice Cream
Take a peek behind the scenes at the Tillamook Creamery and learn how they make their delicious ice cream!
The Tillamook Creamery
A quick 3-minute video tour of Tillamook Creamery’s 38,500-square-foot visitor center and processing plant on the Oregon coast. Watch, learn, and get ready to go!
The Ride! CheddarHead
A quick 2+ minute video of what to expect on your ride in the Tillamook State Forest. North Coast of Oregon.
Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland
In this episode of The Connection, we delve into the rich history and cultural significance of the Nez Perce homeland through the insightful perspectives of Katie Harris Murphy, Vice Chair / VP of Board, Wallowa Band Descendant and Joshua Sigmund, Facilities and Grounds Director at the Nez Perce Valhalla Homeland. Located in Eastern Oregon, the Nez Perce Homeland holds a special place in the hearts of those who have been displaced from the region.
Katie and Joshua emphasize the mission of the homeland, which aims to deepen the connection between the Wallowa country and its people, both local and distant. They highlight the importance of providing opportunities for descendants to reconnect with their ancestral land and heritage, share about the Tamkaliks celebration, and the opportunities to engage with the Homeland as gravel cyclists.
$1.1M For Oregon Coast: Funding to support Accessibility and Inclusion Initiatives
Dec. 13—Oregon Coast organizations have received $1,109,761 in competitive grants from Travel Oregon to fund accessible and inclusive tourism projects in the region. Across Oregon, 56 grant recipients were awarded $3.6M aimed at enhancing local economies and communities through visitor industry improvements and promotion. Dirty Freehub received $96,660 to create a pathway to off-road cycling […]
Deschutes Trails Coalition Announces 2024 Small Project Grant Awards To Support Local Trail Stewardship
The Deschutes Trails Coalition announced awards totaling $22,062 for their annual Small Projects Grant program. This program funds trail-related projects within the Deschutes National Forest. Now in its seventh year, the program has cumulatively funded nearly $250,000 since its start in 2018. Project work will occur between June 2024 and September 30, 2025. Congratulations to […]
Log Trucks: Rider Safety Part II
This episode is part of our logging series which covers topics in safety, education, and what we need to know as recreationalists in active logging areas. In this episode, we connect back with Jennifer Beathe, Forester and Outreach manager of Starker Forests and Austin Finster, owner and operator of Finster Forestry. We have an open discussion about recreating around logging equipment and what recreating around these areas look like.
Our guests today provide stories and topics about one of the most important things that we can do as recreational users which is to know where we are and whose land we are on and whether or not we have permission to be there.
Starker Forests: https://starkerforests.com/
Finster Forestry: https://finsterforestry.com/
Recreation Permits: https://starkerforests.com/land-access/
