| Blue Mountain Century Scenic Bikeway |
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In the mid-19th century, the Blue Mountains were a formidable obstacle on the Oregon Trail and was often the last mountain range American pioneers had to cross before reaching southeast Washington or passing down the Columbia River Gorge to the end of the Oregon Trail in the Willamette Valley. The range is located in the high, dry, and much less traveled country of northeast Oregon stretching east and southeast of Pendleton, Oregon.
While pioneers traversed this formidable challenge on horseback, cyclists today can take on the challenge of the Oregon Trail on their metal and carbon steeds. Besides the breathtaking views of the Blue Mountains, the well-maintained roads, with barely any noticeable vehicle traffic make this bikeway a cycling paradise.
The 108-mile Blue Mountain Century Bikeway is a scenic loop starting and ending in Heppner, Oregon, a full service community with secure places to leave your vehicle while you take this amazing ride. The route is rich in history (Heppner itself was founded by Irish immigrants in 1887), and initially follows the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway east through the Umatilla National Forest to Highway 395, near Ukiah, Oregon. It then travels north from forest to rangeland before heading west along Highway 74 through more of Eastern Oregon’s rolling hills back to Heppner. There are plenty of rollers with a total elevation gain of 2,500 feet.
This ride can be accomplished in one day by the more advanced, energetic cyclist–or in two days for those who like to stop and smell the sagebrush, with nice camping options in or near Ukiah.
Much of the economy in the Blue Mountains is agricultural related, mostly wheat, with interest in historical tourism increasing in popularity. The climate of Eastern Oregon is much drier, with much greater seasonal variations in temperature than in the cooler, moist west side of the Cascades.
The area receives a significant amount of snow in the winter, making the bikeway inaccessible from late December through May, sometimes earlier depending on the season.
The rolling hills match the green Irish spirit of the small town of Heppner in the spring and ripen to a golden glow throughout the late summer months. Mountain prairies offer a wide array of wildflowers, while the forest is augmented with color in the late summer as the Western Larch trees turn a golden yellow.
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