Coast to Crater
The full name of this tour is “Coast to Crater with Paradise in Between” and it is all about skipping around the SW corner of the state to include the highlights of the region in a most unusual way.

The tour starts with travel to, and an overnight stay at, the western most point in Oregon ‐ Cape Blanco State Park. The next day is spent riding the most remote and beautiful stretch of the Oregon Coast. For close to 60 miles from Port Orford to Brookings Highway 101 hugs the coastline providing almost non‐stop views of the beach and ocean.

After spending the night at Harris Beach State Park we shuttle back up north to Gold Beach where we board a Jet Boat for a trip up the Rogue River to Blossom Bar. The boat will drop us off at Paradise Lodge – a river lodge deep in the Rogue River Wilderness Area that is only accessible by boat or by trail. We will spend the night here and then hit the trail right after breakfast the next morning. After hiking 3 miles or so up the Rogue River Trail we come upon our Sag Wagon waiting there to shuttle the group up to the paved forest road where the bicycles are riding gear are waiting for us.

Forest Road 33 coming from Powers is the route of the annual Tour de Fronds bicycle ride. We will catch this route near its summit and will follow it down into the Rogue River Valley and through the towns of Glendale and Azalea, where we spend the night in a nice new county park.

The following day finds us riding intermittently as we shuttle the group ten miles up a gravel road to keep from having to ride sixty miles out of the way. Going through the town of Trail we start getting into some of the climbing that we have to do to get to Crater Lake.

We stay in campground on the way to Crater Lake but the choice of which one is dependent on whether your group chooses to stay at the lodge or not. If your group chooses to stay overnight at the lodge then it if fairly easy to segment the ride appropriately. If you do not stay at the lodge then we time it such that you can ride up to the rim, ride the loop, and then get back down to a campground in one day.

The historic Crater Lake Lodge is located on the edge of the caldera overlooking Crater Lake. The lodge opened in 1915 and was renovated in 1995 and offers an atmosphere reminiscent of the 1920’s with its rustic charm. You have the option of staying in the lodge, in cabins, or camping in the village campground.

After a relaxing night at Crater Lake Lodge we explore the Rim Loop and then drop down to Diamond Lake where we camp for the night. One more day of riding brings us down the upper Umpqua River through towering evergreen forests and into the town of Steamboat. Steamboat is in the heart of the North Umpqua River whitewater rafting region, so do you want to get wet? Your group has the option of adding a day of rafting on the Umpqua River before heading back home.