Bike packing, anyone? That answer should unequivocally be yes, as Oregon has just opened a trail running the entire state, north to south. It’s dubbed the “Oregon Timber Trail” as an ode to the many logging roads that make this traverse possible; but don’t be fooled, for half of the route is sweet singletrack.
The 668 miles is broken up into four sections, or “tiers,” based on their location. Perhaps the most grueling is the “Hood Tier,” rolling for 193 miles with 24,000 feet of elevation gain. And don’t forget about the others, which will make the total whopping 66,000 feet of vertical over the entire journey.
“If it sounds familiar, you’re not mistaken: the Oregon Timber Trail is inspired by the Pacific Crest Trail and other trails in the National Scenic Trail system. What sets it apart is that it’s designed with mountain biking in mind and consists of more than 50 percent singletrack.” –OregonTimberTrail.org
Limberlost, Travel Oregon, and the United States Forest Service partnered up to create this feat, and it will inevitably pay off as this trail becomes a premiere bikepacking spot in the US. For now, please excuse me, because I’m going to get planning.
This doesn’t even require any convincing.