Start your epic adventure on the Oregon Timber Trail
Crane Mountain
Oregon Timber Trail,
Ride Ambassador
Length 22 Miles
Difficulty
Challenging i
The Oregon Timber Trail is epic – so if you’re the type who likes to stretch parameters in search of singular adventures, start with this segment that begins across the border in California. (This ride as mapped is an out-and-back, but it can be the first stage of a Timber Trail odyssey.)
From Tall Town Bike & Camp in Lakeview, drive 15 miles south on Highway 395. Turn left on Pine Creek Canyon Rd. (County Road 2) just past the Welcome to California sign. Follow the signs for Cave Lake up the rough gravel road (a high-clearance vehicle is recommended); at mile 6.3, stay straight for another 1.3 miles to the 4-way intersection. Park on the shoulder and ride north/left on 48N21. Cave Lake and neighboring Lily Lake could both serve as a great spot to spend the night before starting out. Cave Lake campground has vault toilets and potable water.
You’ll pedal north from the jump, passing historic ruins of old gold mines early on. The gravel road will successively devolve into a jeep road, then a double-track, and then single-track before you came upon a rusty old sign nailed to a tree welcoming you back to Oregon. The trail undulates up and down but manages to stay right on the ridgeline, with intermittent views off to either side. You may find it difficult to keep your eyes focused ahead, because the panoramic views can be a little distracting. After a bit the forest thins, and alpine grasses take its place. Look for large birds of prey circling on updrafts, and a rich palette of green, red, yellow and purple exploding from the rocky ground anywhere a bit of moisture has seeped to the surface. The few remaining trees are scraggly and windswept; who knows how long they’ve been clinging to this ancient rock. After a few hours of increasingly beautiful views, you’ll climb fairly steeply between miles 6 and 10, gaining nearly 1,000 feet before arriving at Crane Mountain. Welcome to 8,300 feet!
There are remains of an old lookout to check out, and the views abound in every direction. The Warner Range stretches south, far into California; giant Goose Lake and Mount Shasta sit in the distance to the west; Hart Mountain and the Sheldon Antelope Refuge are far in the distance to the east; and the rest of Oregon and the Timber Trail lay to the north.
This is your turnaround point if you’re heading back to a vehicle where you started. Take a little time to soak in the views and maybe grab a snack, eventually rising from the flat rocks and pointing your wheels back toward where you came from, looking forward to that 1,000-foot drop… and maybe a refreshing dip in Cave Lake after you finish.
Or, take a deep breath of high-mountain air and keep rolling north.
A quick note: The trail is intermittently rough, rocky and sandy; it may take you longer than you think to cover the 11 miles each way. Make sure you have plenty of liquid with you.
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In Oregon, a bicycle is legally considered a vehicle, and the same Oregon road laws apply. Please “be seen” and practice safe riding. Vehicle traffic, farm equipment and narrow shoulders exist on many Oregon roads, and you may find that construction projects, traffic or other events may cause road conditions or signage to differ from the map results, ride descriptions and directions. For travel options plus weather and road conditions, visit tripcheck.com, call 511 (in Oregon only), 800.977.6368 or 503.588.2941. Routes listed on this website are for informational purposes and intended as a reference guide only.
About The
Ambassador
Oregon Timber Trail
The Oregon Timber Trail is a world-class bikepacking destination and North America’s premiere long-distance mountain bike route. It runs south to north and travels through a variety of landscapes, communities, ecosystems, terrain, and, most importantly, mountain bike trails. Divided into four unique tiers, the Oregon Timber Trail is approachable by a wide variety of cyclists. If it sounds familiar, you’re not mistaken: the Oregon Timber Trail is inspired by the Pacific Crest Trail and other trails in the National Scenic Trail system. What sets it apart is that it’s designed for mountain biking in mind and consists of more than 60 percent singletrack.
Start scheming, plan carefully, rope in some friends and have fun exploring the varied wild landscapes that have enthralled generations of Oregonians before you.
