The Dalles / Sevenmile Loop - Sunday, June 14, 2009 |
SUMMARY
This ride starts on the scenic route east through the Columbia Gorge before crossing over the great river back into Oregon at Hood River. A short hop on the freeway going east takes us to the little burg of Mosier, the winding blacktop of the Rowena Point area and the south facing hills to the west of The Dalles. After traversing the downtown area, more sweepers and lonely canyons await to the east of town, eventually looping back south toward sleepy Dufur where a pub lunch awaits. From Dufur, a backroad ride through the idyllic green Dufur Valley takes us back into the Mt. Hood National Forest. On clear days, stunning views of Cascade Range volcanic peaks await.
ROUTE DETAILS
OUT
- Meet at Elmer's Restaurant
at 9660 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97216 Tel: (503) 256-0333 at 8:00am
- Go north on I-205, to and cross the Glenn Jackson Bridge
- At the north end of the bridge turn right onto Hwy 14 following sign to Camas
- Continue east on Hwy 14 as far as the Hood River Bridge and cross over to Hood River, OR. This is a steel grid bridge which carries a 50c toll for motorcycles.
- In Hood River, turn left onto I-84 and go east and leave the freeway at Exit 69, Mosier.
- In Mosier, go east on the Historic Columbia Highway (Hwy 30) to Idaho St and turn right
- Go left on 3rd St and follow main road uphill over Pioneer Road / State Road / Old Mosier Road / Seven Mile Road and turn left onto Chenoweth Creek Road in The Dalles.
- Turn left on Chenoweth Loop W and turn right onto Hwy 30 (6th St).
- Follow 6th St. through town and turn left onto W 3rd Place onto W 3rd St.
- On 3rd STOP FOR GAS at the Shell gas station at 801 E 3rd St (approx. 95 miles)
- Continue east on E 3rd St which becomes E 2nd St.
- Follow E 2nd Street through town following signs for SE Frontage Road, Columbia View Drive and Petersburg
- In Petersburg, fork left onto Fifteenmile Road and go approx. 7 miles to turn right onto Kelly Cutoff Road
- At intersection with Emerson Loop Road, go straight on approx. 3.5 miles and turn left on Eight Mile Road / State Road
- Continue on Eight Mile Road / State Road approx. 6 miles and turn left onto OR Hwy 197
- Go south approx. 6 miles on Hwy 197 and turn right, following sign for Dufur
- In Dufur, follow main street through town to the Dufur Pastime Tavern and STOP FOR LUNCH
BACK
- From Dufur continue south and turn right onto Dufur Valley Road (FR44)
- Continue west on Dufur Valley Road for approx. 30 miles until intersection with OR Hwy 35 and turn left
- Continue south / west on Hwy 35 following signs for Hwy 26 and Government Camp
- In Goverment Camp, turn right and then immediate left by Chevron gas station onto Government Camp Loop
- Stop at Mt. Hood Brew Pub at 87304 East Government Camp Loop for END OF RIDE
- Continue into Portland on Hwy 26
- Total miles: Approx. 240
- Longest gas interval miles: 95
- Conditions as of 5/31/09: No special conditions noted
© 2009 Open Road Rider / Contributors: Photographs and Itinerary
