The Wolf Creek Century
If you would like to read about a GEARs Member’s first ride of the Wolf Creek route CLICK HERE.
The Wolf Creek Century starts out by climbing up Fox Hollow Rd, around the back of Spencer Butte to an exhilarating descent down McBeth Rd. From there you will continue west and then south past the farms and vineyards of the scenic Lorane Valley. The first food stop is in Lorane, at mile 27. Enjoy a delicious snack and fill your water bottles. From there the route turns west up Siuslaw River Rd. The terrain starts with gently rolling hills and ends with the strenuous Wolf Creek climb and exciting descent. At the end of Wolf Creek Rd the route turns North on Territorial Hwy toward the small town of Crow. The Century route joins with the Metric and Crow loop routes shortly before the Crow Food Stop at mile 57. After the Crow Food Stop the two century rides head west on Vaughn Rd, a gently rolling road where you can push the pace and enjoy riding a lightly traveled road. You will pass through the small town of Noti on your way to Poodle Creek Rd, where you will encounter rolling terrain along Poodle Creek. From there the route turns east on Hwy 36 to Lawrence Rd. There will be a water stop at the turn from Hwy 36 onto Lawrence, at mile 78. There is a short downhill on Lawrence before the last climb of the day, up part of Lawrence and then left onto Butler Rd for the rest of the climb. One of the fastest downhill sections in the area, on Butler Rd, will take you back down to Territorial Rd. A left on Kirk Rd and a left on Clear Lake Rd will take you along the Fern Ridge Dam to the final food stop on the route, Orchard Point, at mile 85. After enjoying the food at Orchard Point and filling your water bottles a final time you will finish with a flat ride through the south western part of the Willamette Valley, usually with a tail wind to assist the weary. The ride ends at the Amazon Park where delicious blackberry pie, ice cream, a cold beer and the Bike Celebration will be waiting. If you like you’ll be able to take a shower or go for a swim after your ride.
The Poodle Creek Metric Century
The Poodle Creek Metric Century Starts with a Climb out of town up Lorane Hwy. After the climb up you a rewarded with a fun 4 mile downhill section where you can stretch your legs a little. Near the bottom of the descent you will meet up with the century ride for a short way. Be sure to continue straight onto Spencer Creek Rd at the stop sign (the century ride will turn left). Heading west on Spencer Creek Rd you will encounter a couple of gently rolling hills with a short steeper section just before turning right onto Pine Grove Rd. Enjoy the ride down the hill on Pine Grove Rd, but don’t miss the left turn onto Erickson Rd at the bottom. Erickson Rd is another gently rolling road that takes you to Crow Rd. Go south on Crow Rd and then turn left onto Doane Rd. There is a nice climb on Doane Rd and a pleasant descent to Territorial Rd. The route heads north on Territorial Rd, where you will shortly meet up with century ride. The Crow Food Stop is just ahead, at the top of the next hill, in the small town of Crow, at mile 19. After the Crow Food Stop the two century rides head west on Vaughn Rd, a gently rolling road where you can push the pace and enjoy riding a lightly traveled road. You will pass through the small town of Noti on your way to Poodle Creek Rd, where you will encounter rolling terrain along Poodle Creek. From there the route turns east on Hwy 36 to Lawrence Rd. There will be a water stop at the turn from Hwy 36 onto Lawrence, at mile 40. There is a short downhill on Lawrence before the last climb of the day, up part of Lawrence and then left onto Butler Rd for the rest of the climb. One of the fastest downhill sections in the area, on Butler Rd, will take you back down to Territorial Rd. A left on Kirk Rd and a left on Clear Lake Rd will take you along the Fern Ridge Dam to the final food stop on the route, Orchard Point, at mile 48. After enjoying the food at Orchard Point and filling your water bottles a final time you will finish with a flat ride through the south western part of the Willamette Valley, usually with a tail wind to assist the weary. The ride ends at the Amazon Park where delicious blackberry pie, ice cream, a cold beer and the Bike Celebration will be waiting. If you want you’ll be able to take a shower or go for a swim after your ride.
The Orchard Point 40 Miler
This route will head west through Eugene and out on the Fern Ridge Multi-use Path which follows the Amazon Creek for most of its length. The western portion of the Fern Ridge Path offers native prairie, wetlands, and wildlife viewing. You will then head further west and north on roads with many small farms. Around mile ten and a half of the route on Fir Butte Road you will find the Bison Ten-Yall Ranch on your right where you can glimpse buffalo grazing in the field. The route will then go north and loop through Alvadore and back around via beautiful Kirk Road (where the photo on the left was taken) to the Orchard Point rest stop at mile 25 on the northeast edge of Fern Ridge Lake before returning to the celebration.