Bikepack - Central Oregon Backcountry

Trip

Bikepack - Central Oregon Backcountry

A 5-day, 152-mile loop through central Oregon's Ochoco Mountains, the John Day River Basin, and the Painted Hills. This challenging route, with a total elevation gain of 11,590 feet, starts and ends in Prineville, OR. The route includes a number of stream crossings and travel over varied, high desert terrain, with a pitstop for resupply in Michell, OR.

  • Strenuous/Very Strenuous
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 152.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 11,590 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 6,513 ft

Meeting Place: Prineville Crook County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center  (185 NE 10th St, Prineville, OR 97754)

Meeting Time: 11:30am. Be ready to ride by 12:15pm.

Day 1: Drive from Seattle to Prineville, OR. Cycle 27mi and gain 2,769ft to Skookum Rock Bush Camp. 

Day 2: Cycle 43mi and gain 3,110ft to Burnt Ranch Campground.

Day 3: Cycle 22mi and gain  1,785ft. Spend the night at the Spoke'n Hostel in Michell, OR.

Day 4: Cycle 27mi and gain 4176ft, camping on the way.

Day 5: Cycle 31mi, gain 150ft, descend 2,550ft. Back in time for lunch in Prineville and drive home.

Route GPS Track

Trip Description: This will be a challenging trip with a lot of elevation gain, stream crossings, and the potential for tire punctures from notorious "Goat Head Thorns" and the challenge of "Peanut Butter Mud" if it rains. Participants should come with a spirit of adventure and a willingness to push through adversity. 

Leader Permission Required: All participants must have completed the Mountaineers Bikepacking course or have equivalency. In addition, participants must have completed, at a minimum, 3 overnight bikepacking trips, have excellent ride conditioning, and have a bikepaking bike with wide tires with a tubeless setup. Please list all bikepacking trips within the last 2 years and a detailed description of your bike when requesting permission to join this trip. 

Route/Place

Central Oregon Backcountry


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Bike: A bikepacking bike with wide tires (minimum tire width 2.2"/55mm).

Tubeless Tire Setup: Tires converted to tubeless, with a fresh load of sealant before trip start. 

Tubeless Repair Kit: Extra sealant (4oz minimum), a tubeless puncture plug kit.

Tubeless Tire Know-HowTubeless Setup and Tubeless Puncture Repair

Additional Gear: Overnight Bikepacking Camping Gear and Water Filter

Trip Reports