While a road trip is enjoyable, have you thought of taking an ascenic bikeway tour of Oregon?
The 18 picturesque bikeways that wind through almost every part of Oregon are the greatest way to experience the state on two wheels (sorry, motorcyclists). They take visitors to the Pacific coast, the Willamette Valley, the Cascade Mountains, and the high desert.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department oversees the state’s scenic bikeway program, which uses existing roads and bike routes to highlight local towns, state history, and picturesque views. There are rides on both the 174-mile Old West Scenic Bikeway and the 36-mile Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway. Each ride is rated as mild, moderate, hard, or extreme by park management.
In addition to the physical strain, cyclists of scenic bikeways may encounter obstacles like traffic and patchy mobile service in these isolated locations. Routes that pass campgrounds, some of which have campsites reserved for cyclists and hikers, or pass small towns may offer lodging.
Oregon’s picturesque bikeways may be the ideal option for a more leisurely journey across the state if you are prepared (and have some training).
Robert Aufderheide Memorial Drive across the Willamette National Forest.”The Oregonian” or Stephanie Yao Long
Aufderheide
Distance: 60 miles
Extremely difficult
The Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway, Oregon’s newest scenic bikeway, was formally declared in 2024. It winds through Lane County on Aufderheide Drive, following the McKenzie and Willamette rivers through the Willamette National Forest. Before heading deeper into the forest, the route crosses the well-known Terwilliger Hot Springs on its journey from the McKenzie River to the town of Oakridge.
View the directions and map.
Blue Mountain Century
Distance: 108 miles
Extremely difficult
The Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway, located in the renownedly powerful mountain range of Northeast Oregon, may be rather challenging. Through Nye, Ukiah, and the Umatilla National Forest, the loop starts and finishes in Heppner. Although the hills aren’t particularly steep, they are nevertheless quite long, so expect to climb and climb some more.
View the directions and map.
Cascade Siskiyou
Distance: 55 kilometers
Extremely difficult
The Cascade Siskiyou Scenic Bikeway is a broad loop that starts and finishes in Ashland. It passes by three large reservoirs, Howard Prairie Lake, Hyatt Lake, and Emigrant Lake, however it does not pass through the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. With a final 3-mile rise at the conclusion, the entire journey is 5,000 feet of hilly, meandering terrain.
View the directions and map.
Cascading Rivers
Distance: 71 miles
The difficulty is difficult.
Residents of Portland and Salem may easily access the Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway, which runs from Detroit Lake to Estacada and offers an excellent escape into the Cascade Mountains. Here, the road passes numerous wilderness areas while passing rivers, rapids, waterfalls, lakes, and hot springs.
View the directions and map.
Covered Bridges
36 miles in length
Mild difficulty
Starting just south of Eugene, the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway follows theCottage Grove Bridge Tour route, crossing over several covered bridges as it goes. The bikeway has the option of riding alongside traffic, but otherwise can be done entirely on family-friendly bike paths in Cottage Grove, around Dorena Lake and back.
View the directions and map.
Crooked River Canyon
Distance: 37 miles
Moderate difficulty
One of Oregon s shorter scenic bikeways, this ride starts in downtown Prineville and follows the Crooked River south toPrineville Reservoir State Park. Keep an eye out for views of llama farms and cattle ranches beneath the towering basalt cliffs.
View the directions and map.
Grande Tour
Distance: 134 miles
The difficulty is difficult.
Open road and open sky dominate the long loop through northeast Oregon known as the Grande Tour. The bikeway begins and ends in La Grande (hence the name), taking country roads through the small towns of North Powder, Medical Springs and Baker City. The bulk of the ride is through rangeland, but the towering Wallowa Mountains lord over the horizon.
View the directions and map.
Madras Mountain Views
Distance: 29 miles
Moderate difficulty
Running from Madras to Metolius and byThe Cove Palisades State Park, the Madras Mountain Views bikeway is a peaceful loop through pastoral landscapes dominated by views of the Cascades. Seven major peaks are visible on the route: Mount Jefferson, the Three Sisters, Mount Hood, Broken Top and Three-Fingered Jack, as well as several buttes.
View the directions and map.
McKenzie Pass
Length:38 miles
Extremely difficult
Considered one of the most spectacular rides in central Oregon, theMcKenzie Pass Scenic Bikewayroute starts in Sisters, following an 1860s-era wagon route through pastoral meadows and lava flows before crossing over McKenzie Pass itself and cruising down through dense forests along the McKenzie River.
View the directions and map.
Old West
Length:174 miles
The difficulty is difficult.
The longest of Oregon s scenic bikeways, the Old West Scenic Bikeway is 174 miles long, making a loop of the high desert mountains in north-central Oregon. It starts and finishes in John Day, but passes by theJohn Day Fossil Beds,Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, the north fork of the John Day River and the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Watch for wild horses and bald eagles as you soak up the scenery of Oregon s old west.
View the directions and map.
Oregon Outback
Length:90 miles
Difficulty:Extreme
The lengthy Oregon Outback Scenic Bikeway crosses the Warner Mountains outside Lakeview in southern Oregon, making a loop between wetland-bordered towns Plush and Adel before heading back. The challenging ride climbs to a height of nearly 6,000 feet, dropping almost to sea level at its low point.
View the directions and map.
Painted Hills
Length:161 miles
Difficulty:Extreme
Clocking in at a whopping 161 miles, the Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway traverses one of Oregon s most beautiful andotherworldly natural wonders, but the elevation change is downright grueling. The hub-and-spoke design offers several side trips off the main loop, taking cyclists on an up-and-down journey that resembles a small mountain range on the elevation chart.
View the directions and map.
Sherars Falls
Length:33 miles
Difficulty:Moderate
One of the state s newer routes, the Sherars Falls Scenic Bikeway starts and finishes at the small town of Maupin in central Oregon. Views include a striking high desert canyon and ride along the Deschutes River, which leads toSherars Fallsitself, a 15-foot plunge on the river.
View the directions and map.
Sisters to Smith Rock
Distance: 37 miles
Difficulty:Moderate
True to its name, this extraordinarily scenic central Oregon ride runs from the town of Sisters toSmith Rock State Park, past several historical sites and across the Deschutes River. The grade is varied enough to keep the ride interesting, but is generally downhill from the start in Sisters, climbing gradually at the end.
View map and directions
Tualatin Valley
Length:51 miles
Difficulty:Moderate
TheTualatin Valley Scenic Bikewayis one of the most accessible bikeways in the state, starting in Hillsboro and running along flat rural roads to Banks. From there the elevation picks up, as the route jumps on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, a scenic bike path in the foothills of the Coast Range that runs throughL.L. Stub Stewart State Park.
View map and directions
Twin Bridges
Length:36 miles
Difficulty:Moderate
Starting and ending in Bend, the Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway is a popular loop that runs fromDrake Parkin downtown Bend through rolling desert hills, watched over by the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor. The name of the ride comes from the two bridges along the route that cross the Deschutes River.
View map and directions
Wild Rivers Coast
Length:61 miles
Difficulty:Moderate
The only scenic bikeway that touches the Oregon coast, the Wild Rivers Coast Scenic Bikeway runs 61 miles from Port Orford, to Cape Blanco and a seemingly random intersection of forest roads in the hills of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The route leads along the Elk River through stands of old growth forest, and to sweeping vistas over the Pacific Ocean.
View map and directions
Willamette Valley
Length:134 miles
Difficulty:Moderate
The long, relatively flat Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway is a great way to tour the region, starting in Wilsonville and running clear to Eugene. The agricultural valley is renowned for its wine and its hops, which may tempt you to stop off in wine country for the night. The only significant climb comes just south of Brownsville, where the road rises 600 feet in elevation.
View map and directions
–Jamie Halecovers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts thePeak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077,[email protected]@HaleJamesB.
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