Leave the Crook County Courthouse in Prineville and ride south along the Crooked River. The first 6 miles of the ride offer a scenic tour of farmlands, followed by a 13-mile stretch through Crooked River canyon to the Prineville Reservoir. Traffic is sparse and roadside campgrounds allow for pit stops along the way (no supplies once you leave town). The real climb begins immediately past Bowman Dam and ascends roughly 4 miles. The ride tops out at mile 24 with well-earned views of the Cascades, including the Sisters and Mt. Bachelor, before the return descent back to Prineville.
-Mapped by Dan Jacobson
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Datum: |
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Bend, OR: Crooked River Canyon
| Dist: 48.26 mi |
Points: 641 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
| 0.00 mi |
Start |
Head west on NE 2nd St. |
Then go 0.17 mi |
| 0.17 mi |
Turn Left |
Main St./OR 27 |
Then go 22.84 mi |
| 23.01 mi |
Sharp Right |
Onto SE Reservoir Rd. (the paved road before the dirt Reservoir Rd.) |
Then go 1.13 mi |
| 24.15 mi |
U-Turn |
Head back towards OR 27 the same way you came |
Then go 1.13 mi |
| 25.28 mi |
Turn Left |
Crooked River Hwy./OR 27 |
Then go 22.81 mi |
| 48.09 mi |
Turn Right |
NE 2nd St. |
Then go 0.18 mi |
| 48.26 mi |
Stop |
Dunham St. and NE 2nd St. |
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Route extension option
Location: 44.081296°, -120.795407°
To turn this ride into a 50 mile loop, follow Willard Rd. to SW Millican Rd. and turn north. Turn right onto OR 126 and follow to Prineville.
Fishing spot
Location: 44.141381°, -120.833860°
Good fishing hole
Prineville Resevoir
Location: 44.111994°, -120.788326°
Prineville Reservoir
River Views
Location: 44.137532°, -120.821028°
Scenic bend in river
Cascade Mountains (the Sisters)
Location: 44.081266°, -120.790386°
Looking west at the turn-around: the Cascade Mountains (the Sisters)
On the return trip, use caution descending. The first stretch is steep and there is one tight corner and some loose gravel, too.
Views up the river
Location: 44.110206°, -120.785194°
On the dam, looking up river
Scenic Crooked River
Location: 44.169523°, -120.834632°
Scenic Crooked River Sign
Roadside Views
Location: 44.191498°, -120.874801°
Crook County Courthouse
Location: 44.302184°, -120.844256°
Crook County Courthouse: Established on October 24, 1882, it was named after U.S. Army Major General George Crook.
Tight corner
Location: 44.092733°, -120.782061°
Steep downhill pitch
On the return trip, check your speed before the road curves around towards the reservoir--a tight corner follows this bend.
The Crooked River
Location: 44.147202°, -120.826049°
Looking downstream along the Crooked River
Five miles into the ride
Location: 44.232470°, -120.862742°
5 miles into the ride
Roadside Views
Location: 44.176695°, -120.844889°
Scenic Views
Location: 44.162135°, -120.830469°
Bowman Dam
Location: 44.106755°, -120.782490°
Bowman Dam
Crooked River
Location: 44.132573°, -120.810685°
Crooked River winds through the canyon
The River
Location: 44.137162°, -120.815020°
Scenic bend in river
Prineville Courthouse Square
Location: 44.302169°, -120.843119°
Prineville Courthouse Square
Four miles to climb
Location: 44.096185°, -120.783091°
The final uphill grind begins
Just past Bowman Dam, the road gains just under 1000 feet of elevation in about 4 miles on the approach to the turn-around.
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