It’s called “Old West” for a reason – here’s your chance to pedal like a modern-day cowpoke, making your way through rangeland, up and down high passes, beside rushing rivers, under a big sky… and stopping in the occasional town to slake your thirst and get some grub.
This two- to three-day route offers a cornucopia of terrain and scenery, from ponderosa-pine forests to rushing rivers, from abundant wildlife to hot springs and fossil beds – and some attention-getting climbs. A vast majority of the route is on minimally used roads.
The Scenic Bikeway route starts and ends at Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site in John Day, a one-of-a-kind, well-preserved museum that sustains the legacy of Chinese immigrants in Oregon and gives you a glimpse into their lives here long ago.
You can also visit the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, one of the top paleontology sites in the world, to learn more about the landscape you’re riding through – its geologic makeup, the creatures that once thrived here, and how it’s changed over the eons.
You’ll spend extended time riding next to two branches of the John Day River, where in the right season you might even witness a salmon run. But the soothing sound of water accompanies your ride any time of year. Keep your eyes peeled for the “bald eagle trees” outside Prairie City, where up to 11 bald eagles have been viewed at one time. And drink in the expansive views of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness from the covered-wagon wayside between Prairie City and Austin Junction (you’ll know it when you see it).
This is one of the best-supported Scenic Bikeways, with 10 communities along the route filled with people ready to warmly greet you and take care of what you need, whether it be a water bottle refill, a restaurant meal or directions to the nearest place to stay overnight. There are also three state parks, five additional campgrounds and two bike hostels on this route.
Start in John Day – the biggest town around these parts – heading east on Highway 26 through picturesque Prairie City, after which you’ll ascend 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 Mount Vernon.
This works well as a two-day or a three-day trip. Additional rides branch off the Old West and provide an additional 800 miles of “ultimate road ride” experience – and locals at the Grant County Chamber of Commerce love to assist cyclists who want to plan a day, weekend or longer vacation ride.
More Resources
Find more to see and do near the Old West Scenic Bikeway at Grant County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Eastern Oregon.
Camping and restroom facilities are available at Bates State Park and Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site.
Road conditions: In addition to visiting TripCheck.com, please contact the Grant County Road Department (541-575-0138) for current information.
