Author Topic: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville  (Read 5247 times)

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Offline Rob Mc

Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« on: May 14, 2024, 04:38:55 pm »
Need to get from Portland to Prineville to start Trans Am on Road Bike pulling a Burley. Never did this section.  Instead of heading South from Portland to Eugene then East and getting a 10 mile Cat 1 @ South Sisters.  May I have your thoughts on either alt Route (views, logistics, traffic relative difficulty):

1. Take 224 to 20 to Cloverdale then on Holmes Road up to Eagle rock and pick up 370 somewhere after Terrebonne https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/269763962

OR

2.  Go out towards HOOD but use side roads trails like Spingwater Corridor then at @ Hood take 26 south all way to or get off  at Skyline Snopark and take Oregon Skyline Road (if traffic too bad on 26)  https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/269774206

Best - Rob

Offline davidbonn

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2024, 10:09:58 am »
I'd say basically route #1, but with the modification that you can use bike infra most of the way from Portland to Estacada.

You can use parts of the Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway and the Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway to put together the trip:

https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/bicycling/road-biking/cascading-rivers-scenic-bikeway/

https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/bicycling/road-biking/sisters-to-smith-rock-scenic-bikeway/

You definitely should call around before the trip.  Due to the 2020 wildfire there will probably be some challenges between Estacada and Detroit, and much of Detroit was wiped out in the fire and I do not know what services will actually be open there.

If you cross over Santiam Pass expect heavy traffic, but normally a decent shoulder.  There are large grates in the shoulder over the pass which are scary and hazardous for bicycles, so you might be forced to swing into the heavy 65mph+ traffic to avoid them.

The section E from Sisters is pleasant and mostly on quiet roads past llama ranches and marijuana farms.  Crossing busy US 97 at Terrebone might be challenging.

Offline Rob Mc

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2024, 10:45:45 am »
Thanks.  Given the fire damage etc.  Should I just take the Trans Am route Portland to just north of Eugene then out 126 over McKenzie Bridge and east on 242/126? 

Much apprecated 

Offline davidbonn

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2024, 11:23:06 am »
If it were me I would try to make the route from Estacada to Detroit work, as it is much less traveled and much more pleasant cycling.

Also, do call the Forest Service Ranger Stations in both Estacada and Detroit and get their read on the situation, although I'm pretty sure they will tell you the road is open and not much else.  You can also look at Google Street View (at least some of the images on the lower part of 224 and on the highway past Detroit are post-2020.  From what I saw there once you are highway 22 E of Detroit you are out of the burned area.

Apparently the markets in Detroit and Idanha are both open which will be important resupply points.

In October of 2019 I made the ride from Estacada to Sisters in two long days in very poor weather, cool and rainy and some sleet at the higher elevations.  I'd recommend splitting that up into three days if you can.

Offline Rob Mc

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2024, 11:46:31 am »
We are on road bikes - Boone 5 for me w 32's on  and an old Madone 4.9  with gatorskins for my son (who has done the northern tier) pulling a burley. If that doesn't change your advice will look at the Estacada to Detriot (after calling stations) to be our route.  If your travels ever find you in Maryland area - happy to return the travel advice.

R

Offline Rob Mc

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2024, 03:03:01 pm »
Called the Ranger station at Detroit (503) 854-3366) parts told the parts of 46 will be closed for 4 more months and to use 22 from Salem to Prineville

Offline Rob Mc

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2024, 02:05:08 pm »

David:

I called the Ranger station at Detroit and part of N46 is still closed.  Do you know if I can take N47 instead just south of RippleBrook and take it under Timothy lake then Skyline to get to 26S and go through the Res down to Prineville?

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/275564328

If not thoughts on Take Columbia Historic Trial East to Hood River then South on 35 to 26/side roads to Prineville as a second choice?

Thanks,

R

Offline davidbonn

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2024, 09:52:40 am »
I don't know.  I do not think the 2020 fires that closed roads further south got that far, but I'd call the USFS (most likely the office in Estacada would know) and find out.

The trail through the gorge (Historic Columbia River Trail) is interesting and scenic but sections are on busy, narrow roads with a great deal of traffic and poor sight lines.  Although it is extremely popular.

Once you get to Hood River or The Dalles there are a lot of options for cutting south to the Trans Am.

You can encounter some very interesting country in Eastern Oregon:

https://www.omtm.cc/rajneeshpuram-roundup

Offline jamawani

Re: Trans Am Alt Route from Portland to Prineville
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2024, 10:26:10 am »
When are you doing this?
How old, how experienced riding is your son?

Mitchell Point Tunnel was supposed to open this past April,
but like so much of ODOT stuff, they are late.
And they don't appear willing even to post a new target date.

If Prineville is not a destination Hwy 19 to Dayville is fantastic.
From Hood River to Dayville is sweet riding with almost no traffic -
including the best sections of the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail.

The stretch from Troutdale to Hood River is fair.
I would avoid weekends on the Multnomah Falls section.
East of the falls the trail is good all the way to Viento S.P.
Then you have to use the I-84 shoulder to Hood River.

If the Mitchell Point Tunnel is opened in time -
it may require an out-and-back because there are no links eastwards.

Have fun. - - J

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46958664