Adventure Cycling Association

We’ll start creating the group vision in our Welcome Meeting. After a group dinner, we’ll go over housekeeping and the Adventure Cycling Absolutes. We’ll get vehicles parked tonight and then head to bed to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s ride.

Today we leave camp and head off on our tour. We’ll wander our way north in the Willamette Valley floodplain, so today is fast and flat. Which is great, as it will allow us time to stop along the way. There are several restaurants halfway in Harrisburg, should one choose to supplement their Adventure Cycling supplied lunch. Consider stopping for photos at the Tree of Shoes, or take a quick break at the Snag Boat Bend Unit of the Finley National Wildlife Refuge. Just before Corvallis, it’s worth checking to see what’s fresh at the Peoria Road Farm Market. Downtown Corvallis offers lots to see, and is our grocery stop for the evening meal. On your way to RV Park, take in the vibe of Oregon State University’s flagship campus, and stop for photos at the Irish Bend covered bridge.

Today we head south. The first half of the ride is flat and generally on low-traffic rural roads. There are coffee shops and cafes in Philomath, a few miles off route. Take a moment to eat some of your snacks in Alpine, because from there we head into the mountains of the Coast Range. The road starts rising gradually, and then we tackle a two-mile climb that averages an eight percent grade. Fortunately, we are on the South Fork Road, a BLM scenic byway. There is little traffic and moderate speeds. Our climbing efforts are rewarded by a gradual descent into Alsea. Outside of Alsea, notice the goat farm. You can buy cheese made from their milk in town. We’ll stop for groceries, and then continue down the road to our campsite.

Alsea is a former logging community that has fallen on hard times as the timber industry changes. Today we ride west enjoying a gradual downhill with a few small hills following the curves of the Alsea River to the Pacific Ocean. After this remote road, we’ll enjoy busy Waldport. This is an exciting day for participants who have never seen the Pacific Ocean!

Today we ride the well-traveled Pacific Coast Bike Route. Legions of cyclists as well as drivers make their way here every summer to enjoy the fabulous scenery. We’ll ride through the Cape Perpetua Recreation Area and Marine Reserve (Oregon’s largest marine reserve) and enjoy more beautiful views of the ocean. Most riders choose to stop at Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint for a photo opportunity. As you continue your ride, a stop in Florence’s historic Old Town is a must for food at Mo’s and a stroll along the water before finishing the last few miles into Mapleton where we’ll spend the night.

Today we leave Mapleton and pedal back over the Coast Range. We’ll pass through the town of Deadwood, home of the historic Deadwood Creek Bridge. Farther along the route, hop off the bike for a short hike down to Lake Creek Falls, where riders are treated to a view of salmon ladders and can take a dip in the refreshing swimming hole. We conclude this day’s ride, and the tour, with a fun downhill before bidding each other farewell.