Photo by Jim Moore

The Twin Bridges Loop derives its name from the two bridges along the route that cross the Deschutes River, both showcasing the river’s middle section with lovely wetlands and surrounding ranches. The route passes through the charming town of Tumalo, a good place to break before returning back to Bend.

From Drake Park, ride over the Deschutes River/Mirror Pond on Galveston Avenue and follow the route west. Four miles into the route, cross Tumalo Creek at Shevlin Park. Full of old-growth ponderosa pines, the 652-acre, mostly undeveloped park is a natural haven and a perfect location for hiking, jogging, fishing, cross-country skiing and picnicking. The explorer John C. Fremont and his party camped in Shevlin Park in 1843.

Be ready for the corresponding climb and enjoy the rest at the top of the hill as you head north and west to Tyler Road for huge breathtaking views of the Cascades. You’ll pass by horse pastures and climb a short hill just before stopping and turning directly west on Tumalo Reservoir Road and through the rural county landscape. Your right turn onto Collins Road will bring you more mountain views. Look for the llama farm and chickens in the hayfields before turning right, or east onto Couch Market Road.

Photo by Jim Moore

After turning right on Couch Market, ride approximately one-quarter mile, then turn left on Tweed Road. At the end of Tweed Road, turn left on Highway 20 for .3 miles, before turning right on Innes Market Road.

After you stop at Cline Falls Highway, as you continue straight, the road name changes to Marsh Road. As you swing around to the right onto White Rock Loop you’ll be heading south and then west before taking the left onto Twin Bridges Road and heading down the hill to cross the Deschutes River (CAUTION: REDUCE YOUR SPEED ON TWIN BRIDGES ROAD AND BEWARE OF HEAVY MULTI-USE TRAFFIC).

At the top of the road, head right on Swalley Road. Turn right down the hill onto Tumalo Road, across the flats and across the Deschutes River just before the stop at Cline Falls Highway/Cook Avenue. Turn left into the charming town of Tumalo.

In Tumalo, take a rest stop at one of the several cafes, coffee shops, fruit stand or convenience store/gas station. You’ll feel refreshed as you turn right on 7^th Street in downtown Tumalo and cross Highway 20 using the bike/pedestrian crossing median. After you cross Highway 20, continue straight on Bailey Road and climb gradually for .9 miles to Tumalo Reservoir Road, where you turn left. After you turn left on Tumalo Reservoir Road, enjoy a fast descent to the intersection with Johnson Road. Turn right on Johnson Road and climb up the long hill on Johnson Road. At the 2-mile mark of the gradual climb, you’ll recognize the “Y” at Tyler Road where the route rejoins. Stay left on Johnson Road and cycle back to Downtown Bend (continuing straight as Johnson Road becomes Shevlin Road, then changes names again to Newport Street). As you approach downtown Bend, turn right onto Brooks Street at mile 35.7, then continue .2 miles into Drake Park where you started.

Download a turn-by-turn cue sheet for this route: Twin Bridges SB Cue Sheet

Download a detailed overall map of the route: Twin Bridges SB Map

Download an inset map of the start/finish in Bend: Bend Inset Map

Photo by Greg Lee

From parking areas in downtown Cottage Grove at the Community Center or Bohemia Park, visitors can travel 17 miles of smoothly paved off-street path along the lake’s north side, passing three of the six covered bridges on the route. All three of these bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dorena Bridge is a popular wedding site, for those visitors wanting a bit of romance in addition to scenery. Four bathroom stops, seven parking areas, and three picnic areas along this part of the route provide many rest opportunities and a chance to get off the bike and enjoy the scenery. A store in the modest community of Dorena provides snacks and refreshments.

Visitors comfortable riding on the shouldered roadway can ride the 17 miles back to Cottage Grove on the road, and view another covered bridge. Bicyclists wishing to bypass the Garoutte Road hill can return to the bike path at the western end of the lake. Two campgrounds and one bathroom stop provide recreational and rest opportunities.

Photo by Jim Moore

Within Cottage Grove, visitors share low-speed Main Street with cars through the National Register-listed Downtown Commercial Historic District. A number of coffee and ice cream spots, restaurants, pubs, shops, and a bike shop face Main Street and offer refreshment or services. At the western end of downtown, the Bikeway includes views of two more covered bridges and a footbridge. Of note is the Chambers Bridge, the only covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi also listed on the National Register.

Download a turn-by-turn cue sheet for this route: Covered Bridges SB Cue Sheet

Download a detailed map of the overall route: Covered Bridges Map

Download an inset map of the start/finish in Cottage Grove: Cottage Grove Inset Map

This is easily connected to the Eastbank Esplanade downtown – simple head south on the Esplanade on the east side of the river, past OMSI, and follow signs to the “trailhead,” which is actually just a post where an industrial-area street transitions to dedicated path.

For the most part, the trail is well separated from the public road. The route is a scenic one, encompassing wetlands, buttes, agricultural fields and pastures, residential and industrial neighborhoods. Close to Johnson Creek, one of the last free-flowing streams in Portland’s urban area, the trail criss-crosses the stream on its course to the Willamette River. The corridor connects several parks and open spaces including Tideman Johnson Nature Park, Beggars-Tick Wildlife Refuge, the I-205 Bike Path, Leach Botanical Garden, Powell Butte Nature Park and Gresham’s Main City Park.

The Springwater Corridor is a multi-use trail. The paved surface is generally 10-12 feet wide with soft shoulders. The hard-surface trail is designed to accommodate walkers, joggers, hikers, bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers.

Construction of the initial Portland segment was completed September 1996. The trail through Gresham was built in 1996 and an additional mile east of Gresham was built in 2000. With the completion of a three-mile segment from SE Ivon to SE Umatilla Streets (known as Springwater on the Willamette) in 2005, the part of the trail within Portland is nearly complete.

Seasons: All

Click here for more information, and to download a trail map.

Ride Info: Start at either the cove on the South end of Seaside, the water treatment plant on the North end of Seaside, or the the Seaside Visitor Bureau (where this version starts from). Head west along Broadway (there are crossing lights at the Visitor Bureau to Holladay Drive). At Holladay, head north to the Estuary across from the high school. The Estuary is a great place for bird watching and sitting in a peaceful surrounding, where you can walk down the steps onto the sand at the water’s edge.

After the Estuary head back south to 12th Avenue bridge where you might catch a glimpse of people crabbing and fishing. Head west across the bridge to take in the excellent salmon mural. Head south down Necanicum Drive to the museum, where you can visit and see how things used to be, before heading back up Necanicum Drive to head west again (toward the ocean) on 11th. At the end of 11th you can then pick up the famous “Prom” and ride your bike the 1.5 mile to Avenue U. Along the prom you can visit the Seaside Aquarium, see the Lewis & Clark statue looking out over the ocean, and take in some ocean-view dining.

At Avenue U, you will take a left and then a right to head toward the cove along Beach Drive. At the cove you can watch the waves roll by, watch the surfing or maybe glimpse a whale at the right time of year. After the cove head north along Ocean Vista Way and then Beach Drive until you reach Avenue A. At the Avenue A bridge you can get views of downtown Seaside to the north and the Coast Range mountains to the south, as well as great views of the river with all manner of things happening on it. After the Avenue A bridge head east and then north to the crosswalk at Hwy 101 and the Visitor Bureau.

The 108-mile Blue Mountain Century is one of Oregon’s Scenic Bikeways, a breathtakingly beautiful loop starting and ending in Heppner, a full-service community with secure places to leave your vehicle while you ride.

The route is rich in history (Heppner itself was founded by Irish immigrants in 1887), and initially follows the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, following valleys before climbing east through the Umatilla National Forest and then offering a thrill-ride descent to Highway 395, near Ukiah.  There the route travels north, transitioning from forest to rangeland before heading west along Highway 74 through more of Eastern Oregon’s rolling hills and back to Heppner.

This route offers plenty of climbing – the top of the Umatilla Forest section is more than 3,000 feet above Heppner. Bt take your time and enjoy the ride, because you’ll have plenty to look at.

This ride can be accomplished in one day by more advanced cyclists – or in two days for those who like to stop and smell the sagebrush, with nice camping options in or near Ukiah.

Motorized Vehicle Traffic: Low except for Highway 395, which is busier with a minimal shoulder at best

Seasons: Late spring to fall

Download a turn-by-turn cue sheet: Blue Mountain Century Cue Sheet

Download a detailed map of the entire route: Blue Mountain Century Route Map

Download an inset map of the start/finish in Heppner: Blue Mountain Heppner Inset Map

Here’s a rugged piece of the Old West that you can check out by bike – a route spectacular enough to be designated an Oregon Scenic Bikeway. This two- to three-day route offers a cornucopia of terrain and scenery, from rushing rivers to hot springs to fossil beds – and some attention-getting climbs.

Start in John Day – the biggest town around these parts – heading east on Highway 26 through picturesque Prairie City, after which you’ll ascends to the turnoff at Austin Junction. Here you’re on truly rural backroads, passing through the tiny but friendly Long Creek, Monument and Kimberly before heading south to the John Day Fossil Beds, where you reconnect with Highway 26 back to John Day, through Dayville and Mt. Vernon.

This works well as a two-day or a three-day trip; there are three state parks, five other campgrounds and two bike hostels along the route.

Motorized Vehicle Traffic: Light on the backroads; moderate on the main highways

Seasons: Spring through fall

Download a turn-by-turn cue sheet of the route: Old West Scenic Bikeway Cue Sheet

Download a detailed map of the route: Old West Route Map

This planned bike/ped trail, paved all the way, stretches from Ashland at the south end to Central Point at the north terminus, connecting with Talent, Phoenix and Medford along the way. It runs nearly 17 miles one-way, with numerous access points for getting on or off the trail.

The suggested starting point is in Ashland (as mapped here), where the trail is prettier and more isolated. The trail is generally flat, although there’s a slight south-to-north downhill overall. Bear Creek Park in Medford is a highlight, and there are multiple restrooms and parks along the route.

Motor Vehicle Traffic: Virtually none; only at occasional road crossings

Seasons: All

This route is one of the four routes that are part of the Metolius Loops Scenic Bikeway.

The Lower Bridge Spur begins and at the Camp Sherman Store and heads north up Forest Road 14 to the Lower Bridge Campground, where Road 14 crosses the river – a very pretty spot. The road turns to gravel just beyond the bridge, so this is the turnaround point. On the way back to Camp Sherman you can get a little variety by connecting to the Camp Sherman Main Loop – a quick jog Forest Road 900 just past the 12-mile mark. You can also extend this ride by taking the Allingham Bridge across the river between mile 13-13.5 and looping out to the west on the Allingham Loop.

As mapped here, it’s a fairly easy 14.6-mile ride with great views of the river along the way.

For an overall look at the Metolius Loops and the Sisters Country Scenic Bikeway, check the Scenic Bikeways page.

Vehicle Traffic: Low

Seasons: Spring to Fall

Download a route map for this loop: Lower Bridge Spur Route Map

Download a route map for all the Metolius Loops options: Metolius Loops All Loops Route Map

For more information on the area: www.sisterscountry.com.