Cascadian crossing 300 - july 28, 2023

Pertinent Details:

  • Unsupported Bikepacking Adventure – 2023 Grand Depart: July 28, 2023
  • Begins and ends in Bend, Oregon

  • The Cascadian Crossing Route (CCR300) is a 312 mile bikepacking loop in Central Oregon. The route is heavily focused on singletrack / trail riding, there is over 32K’ of vertical gain along the way with a few very remote sections. There are several high-quality resupply opportunities in the iconic towns of Sisters, McKenzie Bridge, Oakridge while you traverse the Deschutes /Willamette National Forests.

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The grand depart begins in downtown Bend Oregon at 6am on July 28th. Drake Park is the official start and finish of the race route.

From town, you will immediately head West on Galveston St. towards Skyliners Rd and Phil’s Trailhead. At Phil’s, you will climb a network of trails to Tumalo Falls, the first in a series of waterfalls on the North Fork trail. Once in Happy Valley, the route will pick up the Met – Win trail and head north, bordering the Three Sisters Wilderness to the Peterson Ridge Trail (PRT), descending to the town of Sisters (mile 45).

After passing through Sisters, the route will join Segment 7 of the Oregon Timber Trail: Santiam Wagon Road. This brings you to the first crossing of the Cascades and Pacific Crest Trail by entering the Willamette region of Central Oregon. The terrain and plant diversity will change instantaneously as you descend to the McKenzie River (MRT). At mile 99 you will pass a few critical resupply options in the heart of the Willamette at McKenzie Bridge.

The push to Oakridge is a completed through a remote network of forestry roads. The route utilizes pavement for ~10 miles as you veer off and climb towards the Indian Ridge high point (elevation ~4,999), you will likely be in the clouds for some time. The gravel road traverse ends at the world famous Alpine Trail intersection (A-T-C-A). Enjoy this ribbon all the way to Westfir and Oakridge for several highly recommended resupply opportunities in the mountain biking hub of the Cascades.

For 2023, unless the FS re-opens the closure from the Cedar Creek Fire, riders will bypass the OTT Segment 5: Bunchgrass Ridge. The 2023 Alternative route follows remote FS roads to the border of Diamond Peak Wilderness to Summit/Crescent/O’dell lakes where there are a few campground general stores with limited hours (~mile 245). This will mark the second crossing of the Cascades as rider enter the Cascade Lakes region of the route. Riders will rejoin the original CCR route near Cultus Lake, following more singletrack before the final descent to Bend.