Bigfoot Tour
Our range of operations is normally limited to the state of Oregon but we make a few exceptions. The chance to explore the remote country known as “The State of Jefferson” is one of them. In the early 1900’s a lot of the people in Southern Oregon and Northern California felt that their respective states were not paying adequate attention to their needs. Their efforts to form their own state rose and fell over the years, but they still like to be known as “The State of Jefferson”.

This ride starts just south of Yreka in the small town of Gazelle, California. As we head west through the rolling farm land you have just enough time to get warmed up before you come upon the first of two major climbs of the day. The 2200 foot climb brings us up into a rangeland valley that we cruise down through to our lunch stop in Callahan. The afternoon is spent climbing 3000 feet up to the summit at 6240 feet where we have a spectacular view looking south into the Trinity Alps. The twenty mile downhill ride into camp is a welcome relief.

A stay that night at an undeveloped campground on the Salmon River sets us up for one of the most spectacular days of riding ever. For 40 miles we ride down the Salmon River drainage on a single lane forest roadway. This is a stretch of roadway where you can count the vehicles that you come across on one hand. Rugged mountain forests on one side give way to precipitous views of the river on the other side. This is a region so remote that the few homes that you see are all “off grid”. The last time that we were though here we saw deer, fox, and bear along this stretch of remote roadway. The afternoon ride from Somes Bar along the Klamath River to Happy Camp is a bit busier… but not much.

Happy Camp, California is the heart of Bigfoot country and there is a statue in town to prove it. Happy Camp is also a hotspot for rafting on the Salmon and Klamath Rivers. By this time a day off from riding to take a ride down the river is a welcome relief.

The respite will have done you well as the next day we climb 4000 feet as we head over Little Grayback and over the border and back into Oregon. This climb takes us through spectacular old growth forests. An overnight stay on the shores of beautiful Lake Selmac is your reward for the day.

The next day we ride though the lush farmland of the Applegate Valley and on into Jacksonville, Oregon where we enjoy another layover day wandering around through the shops of this town that retains the feel of the early 1900’s. With some well timed planning your evening in Jacksonville will be spent enjoying one of your favorite bands in an outdoor concert at the Britt Festival.

The next morning we head towards Ashland on well maintained bike routes through the valley floor. With an easy days ride into our final destination we take the time to stop at a wine tasting room to see what all the talk about these Rogue Valley wines is about.

We get into Ashland in plenty of time to get cleaned up and wander around town before it is time for dinner and a play at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival. A relaxing night’s sleep in a hotel bed and it is time to get on the bus for the ride back home.