Cycle Exploregon: Winding through the Coquille River Valley

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

8 years ago

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Lampa Lane is a road to remember. — Lampa Lane gives you a perfect perch to take in the bucolic beauty of the Coquille River Valley.(Photos: J.Maus BikePortland)

Today’s ride was short but oh so sweet.

Before I get started, I just want to clarify what the heck I’m doing. This is not Cycle Oregon. Their big Week Ride is September 10-17th. I’m out here to explore the backroads around the official route and share more about the communities they go through. Cycle Oregon is a nonprofit with a mission to breathe new life into rural communities. My hope is that these posts will inspire you to not just do Cycle Oregon, but to return and savor the small towns along the route.

Today I savored several places I’m already looking forward to coming back to. There’s so much riding out here! The Coquille River Valley is surrounded by mountains and canyons full of smooth and winding roads — and there’s lots of gravel.

Before I got dirty in some of it I spent the morning in Myrtle Point. The manager of the motel I stayed in (Myrtle Trees, highly recommended) shared stories about how it used to be a boomtown in the 1950s. That was when it was still a logging town. It’s much smaller now, and quieter; but if you want a taste of the role lumber mills played in this area’s history, look no further than the Coos Bay Logging Museum.

Check out photos from the museum and more notes from today’s adventure below the jump…

The wonderful Myrtle Trees Motel overlooks the Coquille River Registered wetlands which are home to many bird species and other wildlife.

Jill Dillon, her husband Steve, and their two children run the Myrtle Trees Motel. The Dillons have been proprietors for 28 years.

The Coos County Logging Museum was built in 1910 as a replica of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

I love logging history, but as a bike rider, images like this will give me nightmares.

More logging truck pride on this mural in Myrtle Point.

Downtown Myrtle Point is unfortunately not as vibrant as it once was. — Downtown Myrtle Point is unfortunately not as vibrant as it once was; but its main street still retains some of its old charm.

Lampa Lane west of Myrtle Point is your ticket to soak in the beautiful Coquille River Valley.

Filled a large water bottle in about 10 minutes of picking.

This old house is precariously close to the road.

Found this hay field off of Parkersburg Road.

The Coquille River just a mile or two from where it spills into the Pacific.

They say that as if it's a bad thing. — They say that as if it’s a bad thing.

The mighty Coquille River. The Cycle Oregon route is over on that side of the river.

Parkersburg Road turns to gravel. It's a great little loop you could do from Bandon and a nice way to stay off the main highway. — Parkersburg Road turns to gravel. It’s a great little loop you could do from Bandon and a nice way to stay off the main highway.

Coquille River with the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in the background.

Check out the details of my route from Myrtle Point to Bandon at RideWithGPS.com.

I’ve got to get some rest. Tomorrow I’ve mapped out a daunting route: 85 miles and nearly 8,000 feet of climbing. I need to get from Bandon to Gold Beach and I’m determined to avoid Highway 101 as much as possible. Hope to see you on the other side.

These stories are made possible through a partnership with Cycle Oregon. If you’re going on their Week Ride (registration still open), you’ll get to sample a paved section of the the Coos Bay Wagon Road (please note: I’m only loosely basing my routes on the Cycle Oregon route). Also thanks to Western Bikeworks for supporting this trip with some great gear.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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