The trail, consistently ranked as one of America’s best, begins 5,000 feet high in central Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, near Lemolo Lake. The path unfurls westward along the North Umpqua River, weaving over ridges and rolling along the water’s edge. The route is dotted with numerous campgrounds, which allow this epic to be divided into easily digestible 15- to 20-mile sections. Each has its own flavor—from the cliff-side exposure near the start to the smooth singletrack lower down that spins through old-growth forests of Douglas fir and hemlock.
Although the trail loses more than 4,000 feet of elevation, it also offers heavy doses of leg-searing climbs along the way. But you can fend off the burn with a post-ride dip in the Umpqua’s bracing waters—most campsites are adjacent to popular swimming holes, and a few are a quick pedal from natural hot springs, where riders can soak in 110-degree pools overlooking the river.
On a trip this indulgent, you’re better off leaving the chores to professionals. Based out of nearby Bend, Cog Wild offers three-day excursions with experienced guides who lead the way, reserve prime waterfront campgrounds, cook near-gourmet meals and produce coolers of ice-cold Deschutes beer after rides. They’ll even tackle the dishes, leaving you free to relish the next tasty section of trail.
—Lou Mazzante
Sign Up: Cog Wild, cogwild.com
Length of Trip: 3 days
Cost: $545
Best Time To Go: June-September
