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Connecting ACA Routes / Umpqua-Crater-Rogue alternate, southwestern Oregon

« on: January 17, 2010, 06:21:22 pm »

Do you have plenty of time and want to add spice to your Pacific Coast bike tour?  If so, here is a route that bypasses a mostly inland section of the Pacific coast route in southern Oregon.  This route has MUCH LESS TRAFFIC than the coastal route and offers spectacular rivers, waterfalls, and mountains.  Best of all the route goes on the rim drive at Crater Lake.  About 80% of the bypassed coastal route is miles inland with no ocean views.  The only truly scenic sections that this route bypasses are the 3-mile Bandon beach loop and 25 coastal miles from Port Orford to Gold Beach.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/12990

This route leaves the coast at Reedsport and follows the Umpqua river upstream into the high Cascades, topping out at 7500 feet elevation on the Crater Lake rim drive.  Then the route goes down the Rogue river to Grants Pass, and across the Siskiyou mountains to return to the coast at Otter Point recreation area just north of Gold Beach.  The route climbs up to 7500 feet elevation on the Crater Lake rim drive and the return to the coast climbs up to 4600 feet elevation in the Siskiyou mountains.  You can bypass the last climb by taking US 199 from Grants Pass (Oregon) to Crescent City (California).  The Umpqua-Crater-Rogue route is all paved except for 2.6 miles of level well-graded gravel.  The state highways on this route have much less traffic than US 101 on the coast.  The route from Elkton to Glide is mostly on no-traffic county roads, and the route from Grants Pass to Gold Beach is mostly on no-traffic National Forest roads.  Most of the route is sparsely populated with abundant opportunities for free camping.

This route connects the Pacific Coast bike route to the new Sierra Cascades bike route.  The road through Crater Lake is only open from early June to early October.

Wayne Estes
Oakland, Oregon

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Routes / Re: Western Express - NV - early June

« on: January 17, 2010, 05:42:34 pm »

You might find this tour journal to be helpful.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=ax9Un&doc_id=5045&v=z1

Free camping in the desert is only practical if you carry a lot of water.  Most cyclists spend the night in towns (motel or camping) because the towns are the only places where water is available.  East of Fallon you will find lodging and dining at Middlegate, Austin, Eureka, Ely, and Baker.  East of Fallon the only "out of town" campground with water is at Bob Scott summit just east of Austin.  You could possibly free camp near the creek on the Carroll Summit alternate (hwy 722), but there is no designated campground.

Weather in June shouldn't be terribly hot because the elevation is in the 4000-7000 feet range.  Expect highs in the 80's and lows in the 40's.  But even in cool weather the sun can wear you down when there is no shade whatsoever.  Obviously you will need to carry water and snacks to fuel you through the day because there will be no water or services between each day's start and end points.

Starting in early May I plan to bike a modified Western Express route (Sacramento to Denver via 10 national parks).  I will be equipped to haul 2.5 gallons of water if necessary.

Wayne Estes
Oakland, Oregon