July 20-24
A 4 night trip through Cottage Grove, Oakridge, and Fall Creek. This tour includes the Row River Trail, two long climbs up ridges followed by fast gravel descents, and a day of riding along Lookout Reservoir and Aufderheide Drive. This trip is ideal if you have done a few self-supported bikepacking trips, and want to try something longer or more adventurous.
| Date | Start Time | Start Location | Ride Pace | Ride Leader | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, July 20 – Friday, July 24 | 9:00 AM / 10:30 AM | Alton Baker Park/Pleasant Hill | 10-12 mph | Sam McCamant |  |
Departure Options
The main departure is from Alton Baker Park. There is an option to start from Mark LaPage’s house in Pleasant Hill, leaving at 10:30 AM instead of 9:00 AM.
Cost and Capacity
The cost of this tour is 35 dollars. It is limited to 12 riders.
Campground Information
This route stops at several different campgrounds: Rujada, Sand Prairie, Kiahanie, and Broken Bowl. Only Kiahanie has potable water (from a pump), at the other campgrounds we will need to filter water. The ride leader will have a water filter available for use, but riders are encouraged to also bring their own. There is no trash service at Rujada, so be prepared to carry your trash until we get to Sand Springs. There is no electricity available at any of the campgrounds, so if you have a device that you need to keep charged you must bring a spare battery or power bank. While I did not hear about bear issues from the campground hosts I talked to, it is strongly recommended that riders secure their food in some way, either by hanging it or storing it in an animal proof container.
Route
| Date | Start Time | Start Location | Distance & Grade | Surface | Route Link for Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, July 20 | 9:00 AM | Alton Baker | 51 Miles 2371′ Gain | Pavement | Coming soon |
| Tuesday, July 21 | Rujada Campground | 31 Miles 3450′ Gain | Pavement climb, gravel descent | Coming soon | |
| Wednesday, July 22 | Sand Prairie | 42 Miles 2550′ Gain | Pavement and gravel | Coming soon | |
| Thursday, July 23 | Kiahanie Campground | 40 Miles 3190′ Gain | Gravel climb and descent, rough pavement | Coming soon | |
| Friday, July 24 | Broken Bowl Campground | 37 Miles 1560′ Gain | Pavement and gravel | Coming soon |
Days 1, 3, and 5 are relatively flat, and do not have major climbs. Days 2 and 4 both involve large climbs and long descents. If you are not sure about them, I suggest trying a mixed surface ride with 4,000 feet of climbing or more unloaded and seeing how it feels. A good option for this is Marys Peak, 740a, which Mid Valley will be riding on July 4th. While most of this route is paved, much of it is in poor shape, and 40mm+ tires are strongly suggested. The section of pavement on day 4 along Fall Creek is particularly bad. As with any tour involving substantial climbing, low gears (sub 1:1) are also strongly recommended.