Skill Level:
Distance:
Destination:
Beginner
Day Trip
Northwest Oregon
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) 
This route skirts I-5 south thru the Willamette Valley and covers some really good motorcycle roads that are mostly ignored because most people take the freeway. At 148 miles one way this can be a day trip or a weekend trip, depending on how much poking around you want to do. Points of interest include: Silverton and Brownsville. Both of these towns are prominent in Oregon History. Covered Bridges abound in this area, if you keep a sharp lookout you should be able to spot a few.
The road from Crawfordsville to Springfield is worth the trip by itself! This is biker heaven! Very little traffic, great scenery, good road surface and FUN! Once you are in Springfield you have to do a few miles on I-5 to the Cottage Grove exit and follow the signs to Dorena Dam and the lake. You can continue southeast on this road and take Sharps Creek Road and you will come out at Steamboat on Hwy 138. It’s paved all the way and is a great way to get to Crater Lake!
Looking for ride for beginner rider I really dont’ know where to ride. Looking for an easy ride for day what is the time line for this ride? I will just have taken my MSC
July 31st, 2008 at 7:35 pmso looking to get out enjoy the ride not just in traffice of the daily commute.
Grew up in Cottage Grove and we used to race both lakes Dorena and CG lake. Stand by me was filmed near Dorena lake. Some crazy riding if you continue past Dorena lake and get lost on Bohemia MTN. Also, you can follow some roads on the back side NFD22 to NFD38 that drops into 138 to Roseburg or Diamond lake. On Bohemia MTN you will be dodging fallen rocks, however the road was nicly paved last I drove it. About halfway to Dorena lake you can take Layng RD and actually get some crazy air off the ramp inside the covered bridge. Take the I-5 exit for Cottage Grove and head out toward Dorena lake on Row River RD. Take a right onto Layng RD pass the covered bridge that is now blocked off and only for pictures. Follow Layng RD until you see the next covered bridge. Last time I drove through you were still allowed to drive over it. The sets about 8-12″ above the road level and has a wooden deck with a ramp on each end. **Never try this at home** Always remember to drive/ride safe and always obey the law. If you do not reduce your speed to the posted speed you will launch yourself according to the amount of speed you are going as you hit that ramp!! The wood deck helps reduce your impact as it flexes under your wieght as you land. One other caution. This is a one way for regular sized cars or 2 way for compact sized car width inside the bridge. So you will not want to be flying through the air and splat yourself on the windshield of an on coming log truck!!
September 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm