Bite off as much as you want to chew on this lush, rolling river trail
Middle Fork
Oregon Timber Trail,
Ride Ambassador
Length 29 Miles
Difficulty
Challenging i
It doesn’t get much more quintessentially Oregon than riding alongside a fork of the Willamette River, far up in the Cascades and deep in the forest. This ride showcases the picture-postcard nature of so much of the riding in this state.
Oakridge is the base for starting this ride. Gas up – and get your own fuel – in town, and then enjoy the long, winding drive from town. If you want to camp near the ride, there are any number of campgrounds along the way, as well as Timpanogas Lake (you can also reserve the Timpanogas Cabin at the headwaters.
From Oakridge, head east on Highway 58 for a couple miles and turn right on Hills Creek Rd. (NF21). After half a mile, turn right again to stay on NF21, and travel for 11.6 miles until you see Sand Prairie Campground on your right. There’s a day-use parking area near the back of the campground; a Northwest Forest Pass is required.
The entire length of the Middle Fork Trail extends nearly 30 miles, stretching from Hills Creek Reservoir all the way to Timpanogas Lake, slowly gaining elevation and ruggedness. This route is mapped for an out-and-back, starting at Sand Prairie Campground just upstream from the reservoir.
The trail is a superbly fun ribbon, undulating along the bank of the river through giant old-growth cedars and past fields of wildflowers. The scale, the colors, the lights… the scents, the sounds… you can’t help but feel deeply connected to the landscape when you’re pedaling a bike through this. It’s a steady climb, never a punishing one; you’re gaining less than 1,000 feet over 15 scenic miles.
You’ll crisscross the cascading river several times, along with walking (or riding?) over a plethora of small feeder creeks. You’re surrounded by mountain slopes that rise above you, and eventually you’ll pop out into Rigdon Meadows – a unique natural clearing in the forest ringed by towering ponderosas and blanketed with purple lupine.
Besides being a natural spot for a snack or lunch break, it’s also the turnaround point for this route. (Of course, the beauty of an out-and-back route is that you can turn around whenever you feel halfway done; you can continue on from here if you feel like it, knowing it’s going to be net-downhill on the way back wherever you reverse direction.)
Once you do turn your wheels around, enjoy the whooping downhill on the slope you just ascended. It’s not all downhill, but the mellow climb you conquered translates into a real treat – lean back and coast through the fantastically serpentine terrain on the way back down.
And speaking of treats, you might want to consider rewarding yourself with a hand-dipped ice cream bars at Dinks Market on your way back toward town. Sitting in one spot, relaxing and eating ice cream provides the perfect opportunity to try to find the words to describe the majestic beauty of what you’re just ridden.
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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.
