Eugene to Baker City

[tzarriello]

Trying to fiqure out our next segment in trying to get across the US. Our next trip will be Eugene to Baker City anyone out there have any suggestions for what time of year to travel this path? Also, anything we should know about the path.

[staehpj1]

We did it between June 15th and June 20th and had good weather.  The only thing is that McKenzie Pass may not be open that early some years.

If your schedules is flexible, I'd say to try to catch McKenzie Pass when it is open to bikes, but not yet open to cars.  It is fun to catch it before cars are allowed.

If you have to pick a date ahead of time, I'd try to pick a date when McKenzie is likely to have recently opened and then if it is closed use the less desirable Santiam Pass alternate route,

Check out http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/McKenzieHighwayClosure.shtml for the dates when McKenzie has opened in the past.

[John Nelson]

I did it between July 7-11. The weather was great, although a bit hot going over Ochoco Pass--that stretch between Prineville and Mitchell can be long, hot and dry. McKenzie Pass had only been open two or three weeks. I heard one couple assert that McKenzie Pass from the west is the toughest climb on the TransAm, although I'm not sure I buy that. It is beautiful, however, and I wouldn't want to miss it.

[staehpj1]

I heard one couple assert that McKenzie Pass from the west is the toughest climb on the TransAm, although I'm not sure I buy that. It is beautiful, however, and I wouldn't want to miss it.

Definitely far from the hardest IMO.  It was very pretty and also interesting with a wooded climb, big lava field, good vistas, and the observatory at the top.