Netarts Hiway Detour

[coetcher]

Hello all.
Planning to bike Tillamook south towards Monmouth along the Netarts Hiway in July but came across an advisory to take the detour towards Eckloff Road then on to Whiskey Creek Rd. Are the detours loose gravel roads? Should I worry about the tires on our road bikes?  Is a support vehicle allowed through the detours?

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[JHamelman]

The detour was sent to us by a touring cyclist who did it. There is only 0.5 mi. of gravel, I don't recall reading that it is particularly loose gravel. The detour is entirely on roads so a support vehicle should be able to drive it also.

This is the note posted on the Map Updates & Corrections for Pacific Coast Route Section 3:

(Nov 2017) ROUTE CHANGE DUE TO SAFETY: A local cyclist has notified us that the Netarts Highway Alternate is extremely dangerous and cyclists have had close calls and there has been one cyclist fatality. It is mentioned in the Riding Conditions that this alternate has no shoulders, limited sightlines and fast traffic. Additionally, The Three Capes Scenic Route has been closed since January, 2013, due to a landslide. We've been advised by county officials that the landslide is unstable and continuing to shift. While we have been alerted some local cyclists are riding through the Road Closed signs, we advise heeding the closure and using an alternate route. To avoid both the Netarts Highway Alternate and the The Three Capes Scenic Route, the suggested routing is 8.7 miles long, includes 0.5 miles of gravel, about 2 miles of rough pavement with some potholes, and a steep hill.

Here is a link to a map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26473282

Jenn

[coetcher]

The detour was sent to us by a touring cyclist who did it. There is only 0.5 mi. of gravel, I don't recall reading that it is particularly loose gravel. The detour is entirely on roads so a support vehicle should be able to drive it also.

This is the note posted on the Map Updates & Corrections for Pacific Coast Route Section 3:

(Nov 2017) ROUTE CHANGE DUE TO SAFETY: A local cyclist has notified us that the Netarts Highway Alternate is extremely dangerous and cyclists have had close calls and there has been one cyclist fatality. It is mentioned in the Riding Conditions that this alternate has no shoulders, limited sightlines and fast traffic. Additionally, The Three Capes Scenic Route has been closed since January, 2013, due to a landslide. We've been advised by county officials that the landslide is unstable and continuing to shift. While we have been alerted some local cyclists are riding through the Road Closed signs, we advise heeding the closure and using an alternate route. To avoid both the Netarts Highway Alternate and the The Three Capes Scenic Route, the suggested routing is 8.7 miles long, includes 0.5 miles of gravel, about 2 miles of rough pavement with some potholes, and a steep hill.

Here is a link to a map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26473282

Jenn

Thank you for that much needed and detailed info!

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[jrswenberger]

While we haven't ridden this alternative route, my wife and I have ridden the Cape Meares Loop a number of times recently.

Yes, it is posted as a closed road. There are a couple of places where the pavement has slid making passage by car impossible. This has not, however, affected bicycle passage in the least. It does make for a very quiet and peaceful climb up from Bayocean Rd. By not having another way out, there is only local traffic on Bayocean while all the cars heading to the coast continue on Netarts Hwy.

If you want to visit Cape Meares or ride the loop, don't let the signs put you off. A support vehicle can take the available route to the coast and meet you anywhere beyond the lighthouse at Cape Meares.

Jay

[coetcher]

While we haven't ridden this alternative route, my wife and I have ridden the Cape Meares Loop a number of times recently.

Yes, it is posted as a closed road. There are a couple of places where the pavement has slid making passage by car impossible. This has not, however, affected bicycle passage in the least. It does make for a very quiet and peaceful climb up from Bayocean Rd. By not having another way out, there is only local traffic on Bayocean while all the cars heading to the coast continue on Netarts Hwy.

If you want to visit Cape Meares or ride the loop, don't let the signs put you off. A support vehicle can take the available route to the coast and meet you anywhere beyond the lighthouse at Cape Meares.

Jay

Our small  group we're so stoked at the prospect of riding the Three Capes especially going up the Cape Meares Loop and so was a bit of a downer for us coming across the advisory. This bit of information will no doubt put the smile back on their faces! And that piece of advice where to meet up with the support vehicle certainly makes sense. Support can certainly take the Netarts Hiway towards Oceanside and meet us there. Thanks Jay!

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