By: Sadie Ford
There are few places that have a designated extended gravel bikepacking route that traverse a mountain range and ends at the sea. Usually potential routes are bisected by private land, logging or other impassable obstacles – the Corvallis to Coast Trail is a treat born of community vision and cooperation between recreationists, private loggers and the forest service. Linking single track, pavement and gravel roads Meandering through old growth forest, along rivers, lush farmland, wildlife reserves and the occasional clear cut you see the full spectrum of human impact and environmental flourishment. Water stops at friendly churches make for the perfect overnighter or a light and fast big push, striking a nice balance between remote and access to amenities.
In Oregon in January, we often get a cycle of late spring like conditions with sunny, windless days that offer a reprieve from the cascade cold that offer excellent biking windows.
OK OMW in my diesel BIG RIG.
Once again nailed this window my friend Joelle, another feral woman with an insatiable need for exercise, and I took off on a three day 180 mile bikepack loop to the coast and back. While peddling up to the saddle of Mary’s peak, one of the highest peaks in the coastal range, we were shouldered by old growth firs as a barred owl flys low across the two track road in front of us.
56 miles to the coast. With five thousand feet of up, elevation gain was our favorite pain. With the sun shining and all day to do it, it’s a life of leisure and scratch and sniff.
Riding from Corvallis to the coast over Mary’s peak.
Six hours later we arrived just in time as the sunsets over the beach. Along this route there are several crucial points such as swimming, side hikes and dispersed camping if doing a single day push isn’t your thing. The most important being the chocolate/ice cream shop that resides in seal rock at the end of the route. Joelle and I happily munched on chocolate and hot coffee as the breeze whispered through the shore pines in the fading sunset light on the cliffs of a state park.
The next day we rode out of Yachats, a beautiful quintessential artist beach town, to explore some loops we picked out from the map that boarded wilderness and traced ridge tops.
Driftwood Inn
Climbing for 2,500 feet, the sun shone through the Douglas firs and Sitka spruces from all directions creating the cathedral effect that inspired so much joy in a scruffy wilder-woman's heart. The Sitka spruces grow the biggest in the world on the Oregon coast with the right climate and growing season that they inhabit.
A few hours later we topped out at a coastal peak. Satisfied, we can hear fresh oysters call our names back in Yachats.
A second heard of elk bounded across the road in front of us during our decent. Smooth packed gravel from the summit of our ride all the way down to the beach.
Perfection.
Amanda’s Trail is a shrine nearby honoring missing Native American women and is a must stop.
Back at the beach ◡̈ The Strafe Scout Jacket is the perfect biking shell.
The next morning we woke up early and slammed pedal to get back to Corvallis (aka Corvag).
Author Notes
Sadie Ford is a resident of Corvallis, OR and rider for Cardiff Snowcraft and Hyperlite Mountain Gear. Avid mountain biker and fish catcher in the summer, andd big mountain splitboarder in the winter, Sadie is also a fighterfighter, EMT, river guide, and mother of two chickens (Haboob and Hellfire). Follow along her adventures at @sader_tooth.
Gear Notes
Sadie is using the W's Pertex® Shield Scout Jacket and W's Aero Insulator.