Days: 9 - 6 days riding
Level: Moderate
Mileage: 51 ave - 358 total
Start/Finish: Portland, OR
Price: $1675

 

Meals: All included except meals at Paradise
Restaurants: Option for dinner at Crater Lake Lodge.
Motels: Paradise Lodge, option at Crater Lake Mazama Inn
Events & Activities: Jet Boat ride on Rogue River included. Option to take boat tour of Crater Lake on the layover day there.


The full name of this tour is “Coast to Crater with Paradise in Between” and it is all about skipping around the SW corner of the state to include the highlights of the region in a most unusual way.

We start our tour with a travel day to Coos Bay Oregon. We will camp at Sunset Bay State Park which is out on Cape Arago just south of Coos Bay. Our first day of riding is a 52 mile ride ramble along the coast. An easy 500' climb is about the only thing what stands out in an easy day of riding with ocean views all day long.

On Sunday night we will stay at the western most point in Oregon ‐ Cape Blanco State Park. The next day is spent riding one of the most remote and beautiful stretches of the Oregon Coast. For close to 60 miles from Port Orford to Brookings Highway 101 hugs the coastline providing almost non‐stop views of vacant beaches and ocean shores filled with massive sea stacks.

After spending the night at Harris Beach State Park we shuttle back up north to Gold Beach where we board a Jet Boat for a trip up the Rogue River to Blossom Bar. The boat will drop us off at Paradise Lodge – a river lodge deep in the Rogue River Wilderness Area that is only accessible by boat or by trail. We will spend the afternoon relaxing here before it is time for dinner on the patio at Paradise. You will spend the night in rooms that have been occupied by a long list of famous and important guests.

We have an early breakfast the next morning so that we can hit the trail while it is still cool. After hiking 3 miles or so up the Rogue River Trail we come upon our Sag Wagon waiting there to shuttle the group up to the paved forest road where the bicycles and riding gear are waiting for us. A 36 mile afternoon jaunt down the hill brings us to Sunny Valley Oregon! Not much there except for a camp where we will be spending the night.

Since we have to shuttle the group out of the Rogue River Valley anyway, some groups may elect to shuttle directly over to Joseph Stewart State Park. This cuts out one day of riding so that the tour fits into a 9 day/Saturday to Sunday tour.

 

Riding up Sunny Valley on Placer Road we are reminded that this a mining area a hundred years ago and people still try to pick a few dollars up out the the steams around here. Our days ride takes us over a couple of 1000' and 1500' ridges as we cross over into the Rogue River Valley. A gentle ride up the Rogue River Valley takes us to the Rogue Elk Campground where we camp for the night.

Our next day's ride is a long gentle climb up alongside the Rogue River and beyond to Crater Lake National Park. We will make several stops along the way to explore the many water falls and other sights along the river. In the afternoon we ride into the National Park for our stay at the Mazama Village area. This will stage us to see the lake the next day.

The historic Crater Lake Lodge is located on the edge of the caldera overlooking Crater Lake. The lodge opened in 1915 and was renovated in 1995 and offers an atmosphere reminiscent of the 1920’s with its rustic charm. We will have time to visit the old lodge and perhaps have a meal there. We will be staying a the Mazama campground and/or the Mazama Inn.

For our layover day at Crater Lake you may ride the rim, take the boat tour of the lake and Wizard Island, or just hang out in camp and at the old lodge. The boat tour is offered independently at an additional cost.

Those who choose to ride the rim will start the ride early to beat the heat of the day. The rim ride is only 33 miles but there are 3 climbs while riding at an altitude of 6000' to 8000'. It is a great ride that rewards those who are up for it with spectacular views of the lake in the early morning hours while no one is around.

Our last day of riding starts with a climb up to the rim followed by an outrageous 52 mile downhill ride. We stop by Diamond Lake for our morning break and then continue riding down along the Umpqua River through towering evergreen forests. We will stop for lunch at one of the many waterfalls access stops and you will have time to hike in to see the falls. For our last evening together we will camp at Horseshoe Bend Park - a nice little park on the banks of the Umpqua River.

Tour details may change without notice. Although you'll have an up-to-date itinerary prior to departure,
changes due to unforeseen circumstances may occur at any time.