Oakridge Resupply Guide

Sunset at Timpanogas Lake. Photo by Gabriel Amadeus

Be careful, Oakridge, Oregon will change your life. This small town loves bikepackers (and all cyclists)! In the summer of 2017 I came here on vacation to check out the famous mountain biking, starting with Alpine Trail, one of the most well-known trails in the area. I camped next to a waterfall at Salmon Creek Campground, drank local craft beer at the pub, shot a game of pool with a stranger, and fell in love with the place. I came back a second time that summer to show a friend around, and then a THIRD time that same summer as a bikepacker when I did a thru ride of the Oregon Timber Trail! Fast forward five years and on a whim, I applied for a summer job at The Oakridge Bike Shop and Willamette Mountain Mercantile and that is how I found myself living in this dreamy little town last summer.

Whether you are rolling through as a bikepacker, starting a bikepacking trip from Oakridge, or here to shuttle local trails for the weekend, your first stop should always be The Oakridge Bike Shop. Not only do they have that fuel canister and chain lube you forgot to pack, but they have the most up-to-date trail information. If shop employees aren’t riding on their days off, they are probably doing trail work, and are also in nearly constant contact with local forest service trail experts. If trees are down or something is too muddy, the bike shop knows about it!

Testing trail work on Derek’s deadly switchbacks at the bottom of Bunchgrass. photo by Gabriel Amadeus

Many people know that Oakridge’s vast trail networks a modern latticework of gravel roads lined with spring rhododendrons take you deep into the mountains in every direction. Not only do these roads allow nearly car-free pedaling to the top of most trails, but they make great riding in the shoulder season, so grab your gravel or mountain bike and come on over to Oakridge and pedal to a waterfall, lake, or harvest some fresh huckleberries, thimbleberries, and blackberries. For the bikepacker doing a thru ride and with a few extra days available, Oakridge is both a beautiful place for some mid-ride recovery by sleeping in a bed and eating delicious, filling meals, but also a great place to blow your recovery plan by riding some of the best trails in the country directly from town, such as: Alpine, Dead Mountain, and Larrison Rock. Or, save your legs and take a local shuttle to the top of these trails and many more, but be prepared, Alpine Trail has 1500 feet of climbing on the descent! Despite the heavy early logging you can find some stands of old-growth forest around as well.

Oakridge is a great place to start/finish shorter biking trips as well. While recommending specific loops is beyond the scope of this article, check out the Three Sisters Three Rivers Route to make a loop with the OTT. Stop by the bike shop for local maps and recommendations; I personally love the Huckleberry Mountain Lookout on a clear day. Would you like to use public transportation to arrive in Oakridge in a more environmentally friendly manner? While Amtrak trains blast their way through the heart of Oakridge, unfortunately they do not stop in Oakridge; however, you still have an option: The Diamond Express is a small bus with bike racks that runs between Oakridge and Eugene (the closest Amtrak station) on weekdays.

Bunchgrass Ridge photo by Gabriel Amadeus

Alpine trail is an Oakridge classic. Even with a shuttle there is plenty of climbing Photo by Daniel Sharp

Using two cars or perhaps Cogwild, a shuttle company based in both Oakridge and Bend, you can experience the in/famous Bunchgrass Ridge in the “downhill” direction by starting in the Bend area and ending up at the pub in Oakridge. First cuts on a new section of trail (Fugrass) happened last summer and will improve the singletrack connectivity between Fuji Mountain and Bunchgrass in upcoming years! Traditionally the ambitious southbound rider of Bunchgrass Ridge would want to stay high and transition onto Heckletooth Trail, experiencing fabulous singletrack all the way into Oakridge; however, fires in summer of 2021 caused great damage to Heckletooth, and it is currently closed. That said, locals are highly motivated to get Heckletooth opened again ASAP so by mid-to-late summer 2022 it would be reasonable to call the bike shop and ask if it has been reopened yet. For the traditionally northbound thru-rider, much of the climbing actually occurs on a gravel road (skipping Heckletooth) before joining the challenging Bunchgrass trail where yes, you will push your bike a lot, and no, you probably won’t find water for a while; however, after the challenges have subsided and you descend a dirt road for a bit you will land at my favorite swimming hole (because it is warm!!).

Let’s talk about Highway 58 that cuts through the heart of Oakridge and is a tempting bailout point off Bunchgrass or way to pedal up to Waldo Lake without doing Bunchgrass Ridge, or a way to get to the train in Eugene without dealing with the limited bus schedule: Just Don’t Do It. The highway is a major semi truck thoroughfare across Oregon in the East-West direction and the site of dangerous accidents that seem to occur almost daily. It is extremely dangerous to cycle on this road and locals strongly caution against it. That said, last summer following a day of trail work on the new Fugrass connector, I was camped at the base of the climb onto Bunchgrass Ridge and planning to ride Bunchgrass/Heckletooth home to Oakridge. I woke up to the smell of wildfire smoke and without cell service had no idea where the smoke was coming from; I didn’t dare venture deep into Bunchgrass without knowing more about the location of the fire and decided the safest thing to do was to bail out down to the highway. It was very early on a weekday morning and highway 58 is a fast, but long, downhill sled ride into Oakridge. Fortunately, I didn’t have too much truck traffic with which to contend; however, I would never do it unless the other options seemed more dangerous.

Long before Bunchgrass Ridge and the surrounding bowls and alpine meadows were known as a beautiful mountain biking destination, it was a logging area that supported the existence of the town of Oakridge. Modern Oakridge is home to both loggers and the early Oregon activists that fought both in court and with their bodies chained to trees to save old growth forest; however, long before that many Indigenous Tribes lived, hunted, and traded in the area. Artifacts found along Bunchgrass Ridge Trail indicate that it was used by Indigenous Peoples who gave rise to the modern Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Siletz Indians of Oregon, Klamath Tribes, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. We honor their historical and current contributions and rights to live in harmony with this land. Please tread lightly and with respect.

Willamette Mountain Mercantile aka the Oakridge Bike Shop should be your first stop

When you pedal through an area how much do you wonder about the human history of the area? The Flora and Fauna? The Oakridge Bike Shop also contains a small bookstore well stocked for the local naturalist. Mushroom foraging anyone? Though if you are anything like me, as you approach a town all you are thinking about is food, rest, and maybe some needed repairs on your bike! If you will allow me to make a few suggestions for when you first roll into town… my first stop would be The Oakridge Bike Shop, not only does that allow them to get started checking on your bike, but they can give you up to date information on trail conditions and fire status. Living in The New Normal it is very important to stay up to date on fire reports, during high heat and storms they pop up fast. While your bike is in the shop you can walk across the street and check into a room at the Arbor Inn, or if you are not planning to spend the night in town you can safely leave your bike at the shop while you do your grocery shopping across the street at Ray’s Food Place. If longer repairs are necessary on your bike, the bike shop may be able to loan you a bike for the five minute pedal to the historic heart of Oakridge - Uptown. In Uptown you will find The 3 Legged Crane for a local beer and filling home cooked food – the pub is a community hub with a pool table and often live music. If you come through town on a summer weekend you will also usually find live outdoor music at The Distillery (see list below). If you want to pedal out of town early, Stewarts 58 on the highway is the only game in town for a hot hearty breakfast burrito. If you are happy with coffee and a pastry, Mane Street Coffee and Double Trouble are available bright and early. Oakridge is a vibrant town in a gorgeous mountain setting, so don’t be shy about planning an entire weekend in town whether you are bikepacking through or want to bring the whole family for a weekend of riding, river play, and disc golf. There are many hotels, Air B&Bs, and campgrounds nearby. Depending on the day of the week you may also find open art galleries and yoga classes.

Below you will find a list of food, sleep, and play options in Oakridge and nearby Westfir. As always with small town businesses, hours are subject to change, so if you are looking for a specific experience please call ahead to get the most up-to-date information! Be sure to come to The Oakridge Bike Shop and Willamette Mountain Mercantile to say hello and ask for the best swimming hole recommendations!

BIKE REPAIR & SUPPLIES

The Oakridge Bike Shop and Mercantile - rental bikes, parts, camping gear; (541) 782-1800; Hwy 58

Brewers Union Local 180 is now the 3 Legged Crane. Photo by Daniel Sharp

Food

Ray’s Food Place - large grocery store (Hwy 58, across from The Bike Shop)

3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse- local beers and ciders, lunch and dinner, veggie options, community hub (closed Tues/Wed;Uptown)

Middlefork Bistro - honest and fresh, with original recipes and drinks (open weekends, Uptown)

Stewarts 58 - the place for breakfast burritos, burgers, and shakes (Closes at 3pm and all day Mon and Tues; suggest ordering ahead; Hwy 58)

Smoken BBQ - affordable and delicious (next to Subway on Hwy 58)

Mane St. Coffee - locally owned, light breakfasts (Uptown)

Double Trouble (coffee shack with pastries, near Ray’s/The Bike Shop)

Lion Mountain Bakery (Hwy 58, live music on weekends)

Miguel's Tacos- authentic homemade Mexican (Hwy 58)

Matzatlan - local Mexican, large yummy portions (closed Tuesdays; behind the Dairy Queen on Hwy 58)

The Campfire, Home of Cowgirl Camping - local hearty food (closed Tues/Wed; Hwy 58)

The Corner Pub and Grill (Uptown, bar food)

Various fast food and gas stations (some 24-hour) along the highway.

LODGING

Want to know where to set up a tent for a quick night closest to town? Check in at The Oakridge Bike Shop for ideas.

Salmon Creek Campground - 5 miles out of town on route, no potable water, but on the river (currently closed from 2021 fire, hopefully open in summer 2022)

Transcascadia Excursions offers $30 camping in Westfir

Arbor Inn Motel and RV Park- closest to hub of events and good reviews by bikepackers (one tent site and possible reopening of showers for bikepackers in summer 2022; Hwy 58)

Bluewolf Motel - clean and affordable (Hwy 58, west end of town)

Oakridge Inn and Suites - clean and affordable (Hwy 58, west end of town)

Westfir Lodge (5 miles west of Oakridge)

CogWild AirBnb

Dead Mountain Lodge/Dirt Dojo AirBnb

Tired Dog Ranch