Kloochman

5 Star Route / Ridden and Reviewed by Captain ‘O’

Leading out through the Crooked River Canyon.
Just past the dam, Prineville reservoir.
The climbing is about to begin.
Yep! There are a number of cattle grates on the route.
Near the summit of the first climb.
Payback! The downhill is about to begin.
Miles 28 to 34 are state highway. Pick your line and avoid the washboard.
The gravel gets really good at mile 34, at the turn onto Bear Creek road.
Attacking one of the punchy rollers.
This is ranching and farming country.
The turn onto Kloochman Creek road.
From ranching to National Forest.
Kloochman creek.
Into the Maury moutains.
Dropping into Post on the big descent.
The Crooked River. Pavement returns.
The Post General Store. Drop some change here, support the locals!
One of the several rollers after Post.
The beginning of the last climb.
Mid-way
The flats before ...
... the drop back into Prineville.
Park on the east side of the street across from Good Bike Co.
And finish with a beer at Good Bike Co.

A mixed gravel century (almost a century) that includes the Crooked River Canyon scenic bikeway, the Maury Mountains, and the Post / Paulina road. The ride links two of the best paved roads in Central Oregon with a gravel segment through ranching and farming country and some national forest.

The Details
The first paved sector is from downtown Prineville out the Crooked River Canyon to the top of the grade above Prineville Reservoir and down the other side. The climb of the grade is a little over 4 miles and about 900 feet. The steepest pitches are at the start. The descent of the other side is a bit shorter and less steep.

At mile 28 the gravel begins. Ride through rolling farm and ranch country, up and over the Maury Mountains and down into Post. At Post, refuel at the General Store on milkshakes and meatloaf sandwiches. From mile 28 to mile 54 is uphill at 1 to 2% until the turn onto Kloochman Creek road, where the grade steepens to 5%. The descent into Post is 11 miles with a loss in elevation of 2000 feet. **Read More

Adventure / Gravel Route

– Loop: 92 miles / 5400 ft gain
– Surface: ~ 60% paved, 40% gravel roads
– Location: Prineville, Oregon
– Rideable: Spring through Fall. Best in the spring. Summer can be hot. Fall is hunting season.
– Course by: Captain “O”
– Published: June 2019

Difficulty

Advanced due to distance and remoteness. Technically, this ride is quite moderate.

The Start

Good Bike Co bike shop in downtown Prineville.. Flush toilets, water, beer and bike parts!
Lat / Long: 44.302686, -120.844650

Food / Water

Post General Store, mile 66.

Downloads

Cue Sheet / GPX File / TCX File

Legend

Red = paved road
Brown = gravel / dirt road

For help with Ride, GPS files, etc see the “Help with …” page. To learn how to download the routes for free, see “Using Our Routes …” page.

Nicolas says:

July 22, 2019 at 8:25 am

Rode a variation of this route 7/20/19 by cutting across a ridge at the reservoir between the county boat ramp and Bowman Dam, honestly not recommended, but it worked. Fantastic gravel, washboard all navigable even this late in summer. Note there was a trough with a hose of cold potable spring water that a very nice lady let me use at mile 47.7 on the regular route, it’s just on the left at a low spot next to a couple barn structures. Otherwise, fantastic sustained climb and fun descent with no vehicles, would do again anytime.

KevinE says:
July 22, 2019 at 8:51 am
Thanks for the feedback. We’ve had nothing but welcoming farmers … my favorite story was friends who ended up running into a cattle drive and the ranchers made sure they were safe by putting them behind fencing. Just love that whole area….