“The guides have been all exceedingly friendly, helpful, and genuinely fun to be around, especially to my son, whose first question upon returning home is always, "Where are we going next year?" ”
Crater Lake National Park
Dates Available
- Sep 2, 2013 - Sep 6, 2013
- Sep 9, 2013 - Sep 13, 2013
Bicycling Magazine chose the Crater Lake Loop as one of its top ten rides.
It is in a beautiful and practically undiscovered part of southwestern Oregon. The lake was created when Mt. Mazama erupted over 7,000 years ago and the resulting crater slowly filled with water.
Our road bike trip is a great way to explore the unique geology of the area. We start with rolling farm and forest terrain south of the national park. Then on Day 2 we climb up to the rim of the crater for our first views of the lake. On Day 3 we ride around the lake and stop for a hike down to the water level and a boat ride across. This is a beautiful ride that undulates along the rim and through the surrounding forest. On Day 4 we head north to the Umpqua River. Now we are traveling down, down, down and the last night of the trip is spent at a famous fly fishing lodge on the banks of the Umpqua River.
Elevations on this trip range from 2,800 to 7,100 feet, so get ready to climb, climb, climb. However, when you’ve had enough our support van will be ready for you. You have the opportunity to control the challenge. Lodging includes a great bed and breakfast and the Crater Lake Lodge. More questions? Call us at 800-845-2453. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about this phenomenal trip.
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Crater Lake National Park Itinerary
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 1-800-845-2453 or email biking@westernspirit.com.
MEETING TIME AND PLACE
This tour will begin at 8:30am PST at Marty's Cycle & Moore 720 Crater Lake Ave, Medford, Oregon, 541-772-9253. You will need to spend the night before in Medford.
ENDING TIME AND PLACE
We will return to Medford between 4:00-5:00 pm on the last day.
ITINERARY
TRIP DAY 1
We will shuttle to our starting point at Fish Lake. Mt. McLoughlin towers above us to the east and we skirt its shoulder while heading north. We ride through lush meadows surrounded by towering forests as we descend to the tiny town of Butte Falls. This terrain gives very few hints of the dramatic volcanic activity which once dominated the region. From Butte Falls we roll up and over Carney Flat and then continue downward into Prospect. We will spend the night at the historic Prospect Hotel, where Teddy Roosevelt, Zane Grey and Jack London all slept when they journeyed to Crater Lake. TOTAL MILEAGE - 43 miles
TRIP DAY 2
Today is the big day. We will earn some serious relaxation on the porch of Crater Lake Lodge, "earn" being the key word. During our ride today we will have a great opportunity to learn about trees of the incredibly diverse forests of Oregon. There are the Western Hemlock which have droopy needles and Dr. Seuss like tips. The giant yellow Cedars shed their bark in great strips. And finally there is the mighty Douglas Fir, named after one of the most famous naturalists in history, David Douglas. Douglas traveled on foot throughout much of the northwest, logging over 4,000 miles in a single year, while collecting specimens and taking notes. And all you have to do is pedal up about 4,000 feet! For the next two nights our home will be the Crater Lake Lodge, with great views of the lake. TOTAL MILEAGE - 38 miles
TRIP DAY 3
Today we will be riding the rim of the caldera and hiking down to lake level. The western side of Crater Lake Drive presents us with incredible views of the lake and Mt. Scott towering above the rim. We will get an early start and begin by spinning our way on the Western Rim to the Cleetwood Trailhead, the only trail to the lake itself. A short 1.6 mile hike will bring us down to the boat dock where we will head out on the boat for a spin around the lake. We will lunch on the shore when we return and then a somewhat longer 1.6 mile hike will bring us back up the rim for our afternoon ride. Now we will head east for the much hillier and more challenging ride on the Eastern Rim. Again hors d'oeuvres will await us at the cabins. TOTAL MILEAGE - 31 miles
TRIP DAY 4
We leave our perch on the rim and head north today. Our last views of the lake will be at the North Junction before we descend into the Pumice Desert. This is where quite a bit of Mt. Mazama ended up when it blew its top way back around 6,300 BC-a very recent event in the grand geologic scheme. We continue to Diamond Lake. Mt. Bailey rises on the western shore of the lake and at over 8,000 feet it is a popular backcountry skiing area in the winter. On the eastern shore stands Mt. Thielsen, a jagged and rocky peak that attracts only the bravest climbers. Our climbing days are primarily behind us as we continue to descend to the banks of the North Umpqua River. This river is designated as Wild and Scenic and you will soon see why. Our goal is the Steamboat Inn where we will stay in beautiful cabins right on the river. TOTAL MILEAGE - 63 miles
TRIP DAY 5
With regret, we leave the Steamboat Inn after a very serious breakfast and continue west along the Umpqua. This area was homesteaded in the early 1900s by Perry and Jesse Wright. It is easy to imagine how they fell in love with the beauty of the place, but it is harder to imagine living here 30 years before the highway was completed. To survive on their ranch they packed everything in on pack trains of horses on narrow trails above the rushing water. They saw the transition to automobiles and electricity and really appreciated the fact that others could now enjoy this inspiring area. We'll have lunch with a view and then load the bikes for our trip back to civilization. TOTAL MILEAGE - 29 miles
TERRAIN
Physical Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced.
Altitude: 2,800 - 7,100 feet.
Please Note: Accommodations may be changed due to availability.
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety, and other factors which may affect the logistics of the trip.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
-Driving
Medford is located near the southern border of Oregon on Interstate 5. There is parking available at the bike shop.
-Flying into Medford
Airport Code: MFR
You can get a cab to your hotel.
-Flying into Portland, OR
Airport Code: PDX
You can rent a car in Portland and park it at the bike shop. This is a beautiful 4-1/2 hour drive.
-Flying into Eugene, OR
Airport Code: EUG
You can rent a car and park it at the hotel. It's a 2- 1/2 hour drive.
TAXI SERVICE
Valley Cab 541-772-1818
TLC Yellow Cab 541-772-6288
LODGING
Medford is a popular summer vacation spot. It is a good idea to book your rooms several months in advance if possible; here are a few recommendations.
Hampton Inn
$130-145
541-779-0660, 800-426-7866
Shilo Inn
$65-80
541-770-5151, 800-222-2244
offers airport shuttles
Comfort Inn South
$90-115
541-772-8000, 800-424-6423
Located downtown. There is a bike path right behind the Comfort Inn that will eventually run the whole way to Ashland, Oregon.
Holiday Inn Express
$110-130
541-732-1400, 800-465-4329
Above rates are approximate.
WEATHER
There are really just two kinds of weather: weather you like and weather you do not like. Come prepared for both and you won't care what the weather does.
If you have questions about temperatures for your specific trip please feel free to give us a call 800-845-2453 or email us at biking@westernspirit.com. We will be happy to give you packing suggestions and help you with ideas for things to do before and after your bike trip.
PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP
You will receive a tour packing list with your tour confirmation package. Be sure to bring everything on this list. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed! Please pack all of your gear in a medium to large duffel. It will ride in the trailer. If you have any questions about anything on the list, please call us.
To ship your bike UPS, send it to Marty's Cycle & Moore, 720 Crater Lake Ave, Medford, OR 97504; 541-772-9253. It is critical that you include your name, "Western Spirit Cycling" and tour date on the outside of the box. Check with your local UPS people for the number of days needed for it to arrive in time. It is imperative to have your bike finely tuned and cleaned before your tour so you know it is in top running condition.
If you have any other questions about trip logistics, please feel free to send us an email or, better yet, to call us at 800-845-2453. We will be happy to try to help you answer any other questions you might have about our bike trips.
SHIPPING YOUR BIKE
You are welcome to ship your bike to us in advance of your trip. For a moderate fee we will unpack it, build it, and ship it back home to you afterwards. Bikes can be insured to $4,000. Domestic shipping only. If you decide you want to go this route, you must call us in advance of your trip so we can inform the shop that your bike is on its way. We highly recommend having your bike tuned up before your tour. Our guides are fine mechanics, but there aren't any bike shops in the backcountry!
THINGS TO DO
RESTAURANTS
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Boulangerie Rue De Main - 237 East Main Street, (541)772-5532
DINNER
Abby's Legendary Pizza - 1080 riverside Ave, (541)773-5568
China Peony - 36 Salem St, (781) 396-4865
MAPS
Your guides will have all the maps necessary for your trip. If you would like your own copy for a souvenir, here is all the info:
Go to store.usgs.gov. To get to the Forest Service maps go to "Featured Products" and then under "Go to product line" choose US Forest Service Maps. Phew. . Choose the state of Oregon and pick map 111622 UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST OREGON NF, OR
ACTIVITIES
We suggest a trip to historic Ashland, about 15 minutes south of Medford. Ashland is famous for it's Shakespeare Festival and they also have an artisan fair on Sunday mornings. It's a college town with good energy, lots of cool shops, and a park where you can learn about all of Oregon's trees!
For additional information from the Medford visitor's board go to http://www.visitmedford.org/ or call 800-469-6307 ext. 8521.