Road	Length	High point
Aufderheide Scenic Drive (Forest Road 19) The Robert Aufderheide Memorial Drive (Forest Service Road 19) is a 58-mile paved road through the Willamette National Forest connecting OR-126 (McKenzie River Highway) at the north to OR-58 (Oakridge) at the south. The road meanders along the wild and scenic North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River and past Cougar Reservoir, Terwilliger Hot Springs, and Constitution Grove — a stand of 200-year-old Douglas fir. The pavement is smooth with consistent-radius curves and nearly neutral camber, making it a favorite for sport bikes and cruisers alike. The route is generally open April through November; not maintained in winter.	58 mi	—
Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (Century Drive) The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway — locally known as Century Drive — is a 66-mile loop through the Deschutes National Forest west and south of Bend, designated a National Scenic Byway. The route leaves Bend on OR-372 (Century Drive), enters the national forest as Forest Route 46, and passes more than a dozen alpine lakes set against the backdrop of Mount Bachelor, Broken Top, and the Three Sisters. Elevations peak near 6,500 feet. The byway is seasonal, typically open June through November depending on snowpack. Riders can extend the loop south to Sunriver or La Pine on the return.	26 mi	—
Cloudcap OverlookStop Cloudcap Overlook is the highest point in Crater Lake National Park accessible to motor vehicles, sitting on the eastern rim at approximately 7,960 feet. The paved pull-off provides an elevated, unobstructed view across the deep-blue caldera to Wizard Island and the western ridgeline. It is reached via Rim Drive, the 33-mile loop road that encircles the lake, and sits roughly 17 miles northeast of Rim Village. The overlook is open only when Rim Drive is clear of snow — typically mid-July through October. Motorcycles pay a separate entry fee at park gates.	—	—
Dee Wright ObservatoryStop Dee Wright Observatory is a stone tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, perched atop a vast black lava field at the 5,187-foot summit of McKenzie Pass on Oregon Route 242. Through the observatory's porthole windows, riders can sight named Cascade peaks — North Sister, Middle Sister, South Sister, Mount Washington, and Mount Jefferson — across miles of hardened lava. A quarter-mile paved lava trail circles the flow. OR-242 (Old McKenzie Highway) is closed to motor vehicles from November through early July due to snow; when open it is one of Oregon's premier motorcycle roads.	—	—
Devil's ChurnStop Devil's Churn is a narrow basalt sea channel at Cape Perpetua, carved by centuries of Pacific wave action into the rocky coastline along US-101 south of Yachats. At high tide or in swell, ocean waves surge into the slot and explode upward, creating a dramatic churn visible from the paved overlook directly off the highway. The site is managed by the Siuslaw National Forest; a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass is required. The restless-waters viewpoint parking area is on the west side of US-101 at 2400 US-101, approximately 2.5 miles south of Yachats.	—	—
Hells Canyon OverlookStop Hells Canyon Overlook is a paved, accessible viewpoint at 5,400 feet elevation on Forest Road 490 off the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, offering outstanding panoramic views of Hells Canyon — the deepest river gorge in North America at over 7,900 feet — along with McGraw Creek and the Seven Devils Mountains of Idaho across the Snake River. Interpretive signs, vault toilets, and picnic tables are on site. The overlook is reached from Halfway or Joseph, Oregon, and is typically snow-free from late May through October. The approach road is paved to the overlook.	—	—
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway A 218-mile loop through northeast Oregon encircling the Wallowa Mountains and skirting the rim of Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America.	132 mi	—
Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30) The Historic Columbia River Highway spans approximately 74 miles along the Columbia River Gorge between Troutdale and The Dalles, the first scenic highway in the United States to be named a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1913 with an engineering philosophy of showcasing natural beauty over efficiency, the road features sweeping switchbacks — including the famous Rowena Curves — that provide 900-foot panoramic views above the river. In an 8-mile stretch east of Crown Point, the byway passes five significant waterfalls: Latourell, Bridal Veil, Wahkeena, Multnomah (620 ft), and Horsetail. Still partially signed as US-30, the road is open year-round.	177 mi	—
McKenzie Pass / Old McKenzie Highway (OR-242) OR-242 winds from McKenzie Bridge to Sisters over a 5,325-foot summit through a dramatic 2,000-year-old lava field on a narrow historic road open only from mid-June through mid-November.	37 mi	—
One Moto CafeStop One Moto Cafe is Portland's original motorcycle coffee shop, operating at 1642 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland's Laurelhurst neighborhood. The cafe — founded as See See Motor Coffee Co. and relaunched under the One Moto banner — serves Stumptown coffee, food from the in-house Sidewinder Subs kitchen, and craft beers. Vintage motorcycles on display, racing helmets, and a community bulletin board of local rides give the interior its identity. The cafe hosts motorcycle-culture events and is affiliated with The One Motorcycle Show, an annual Portland custom-bike showcase. Open daily 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.	—	—
Outback Scenic Byway (OR-31 / US-395) The Outback Scenic Byway is a 170-mile National Scenic Byway through Oregon's high-desert southeast, starting near La Pine and running southeast on OR-31 through Summer Lake, the Chewaucan Valley, and into Lake County before joining US-395 south to the California border at New Pine Creek. The route passes Fort Rock State Park, the Hole-in-the-Ground maar crater, and Summer Lake Hot Springs. Roads are two-lane rural highway at high elevation (Lakeview sits at 4,800 ft, Oregon's highest incorporated city) with long straight sections punctuated by sweeping high-desert curves and virtually no traffic — essential to plan for fuel gaps.	120 mi	—
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (US-101) US-101 runs the full 363-mile length of the Oregon coast from Astoria on the Columbia River to the California border, designated an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway. The route alternates between headland bluffs, sandy beaches, sea-stack viewpoints, and fishing towns, with highlights including the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor (12 miles of sea stacks and cove beaches near Brookings), Cape Perpetua, and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area north of Coos Bay. The road is generally open year-round, two lanes, and paced for relaxed touring with frequent pull-outs and coastal towns for fuel and food.	109 mi	—
Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway (OR-138 / OR-230 / OR-62) The Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway is a 167-mile route through the southern Oregon Cascades nicknamed the "Highway of Waterfalls," featuring more than 15 cascades including Toketee Falls and the 272-foot Watson Falls. The route begins on OR-138 east of Roseburg, follows the North Umpqua River into the Umpqua National Forest, passes Diamond Lake (framed by 9,200-ft Mount Thielsen), then transitions to OR-230 along the Upper Rogue River and OR-62 south to Medford. The road is sweeping and scenic with cool shade through national forest for most of its length, making it one of the premier multi-hour motorcycle routes in southern Oregon.	101 mi	—
Rowena Crest ViewpointStop Rowena Crest Viewpoint sits at 747 feet atop the basalt bluffs of the Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30) between Mosier and The Dalles, overlooking a broad horseshoe of the Columbia River, Mayer State Park, and the Tom McCall Nature Preserve below. The approach via the Rowena Curves — a series of stacked switchbacks — is itself a landmark motorcycle road referenced widely in touring guides. The paved overlook parking area is managed by Oregon State Parks and sits within Mayer State Park. Views extend west to the Gorge and east toward the high desert.	—	—
Siuslaw River Road (OR-36) Oregon Route 36 is a 52-mile two-lane highway through the Coast Range between Junction City in the Willamette Valley and Mapleton on the Siuslaw River, also known as the Mapleton-Junction City Highway. For most of its length the road follows the Siuslaw River through forested logging country and farmland in Lane County, delivering steady curves and light traffic. The route connects with OR-126 at Mapleton near the coast and offers a quieter alternative to the busier McKenzie River corridor for riders crossing between the valley and the coast.	51 mi	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · Late June, 4 days

Ride Oregon Rally

Oregon

The Ride Oregon Rally is the annual gathering of the BMW Riders of Oregon, held each summer at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day, Oregon, in the high-desert John Day River country of the Blue Mountains. The 2026 event marks the rally's 46th edition and the club's 50th anniversary. The format centers on group rides into the surrounding canyons and mountains, evening dinners, a bonfire, and morning coffee. The John Day area provides access to scenic roads in the Ochoco and Malheur national forests. Camping (tent and RV) is on-site at the fairgrounds.

NextNext edition TBA

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-06-05

Best season

May–September

Helmet law

Required, all riders (DOT)

Lane splitting

Illegal

Signature terrain

Coast, Cascades, canyon, high desert

Oregon puts five distinct landscapes within a single state line: a surf-scoured Pacific coast, the rain-soaked valleys of the Willamette, a wall of volcanic Cascade peaks, high desert stretching east toward Idaho, and the canyon-cut northeast corner where the Snake River carves deeper than the Grand Canyon. Riding all of it in one trip is a genuine multi-week project, and even a focused weekend can feel like traveling between different climates entirely. The tradeoff for all that variety is logistics — some of the best roads are gated by snowpack until midsummer, others are fog-wrapped for half the year, and the high desert bakes in July while the coast stays cool. Plan around the closures rather than against them and Oregon rewards the preparation.

Oregon's riding geography divides cleanly along the Cascade crest. West of the mountains, the coast and valleys collect the Pacific's weather — expect fog, rain, and cool temperatures most of the year outside of summer. East of the Cascades the air dries out, the landscape opens up, and summer heat replaces winter rain as the main variable to plan around.

Choosing Your Region

If you have one week and want the greatest variety, start on the coast, cross the Cascades on OR-242 (if it's mid-June or later), continue to the Crater Lake Rim Drive, and finish in the northeast with the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. That loop covers coast, volcanic terrain, a deep-water caldera, and North America's deepest river gorge.

If your window is shorter, pick a side of the Cascades and commit to it. The coast requires little seasonal planning but demands rain gear and patience with coastal fog. The mountain and eastern routes open later and close earlier — missing the OR-242 window by a week means a lengthy detour on US-20.

Seasonal and Closure Logistics

Three closures shape every Oregon itinerary:

OR-242 (McKenzie Pass): Closed mid-November through no earlier than the third Monday in June. This is a hard rule set by Oregon DOT — not an estimate.
Crater Lake Rim Drive: Snow closes it from late October or November through late June or July. The West Rim opens before the East Rim. Check NPS conditions before going.
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (FR-39 segment): The section between Joseph and Halfway closes in winter. Confirm status before committing to the full loop.

The Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (ORBDR) — revised in November 2025 to a ~682–750-mile route from New Pine Creek, CA to Hood River — targets mid-June through mid-October as its window, which aligns with the mountain pass openings above.

Real Hazards Worth Naming

Wet and sandy pavement on coastal curves can catch riders off guard, especially after a dry spell followed by light rain. On any forest or canyon road, watch for gravel deposited by runoff or road maintenance. Deer and elk crossings are genuine risks on eastern Oregon roads — particularly near dawn and dusk in the Wallowa and canyon country. High-altitude routes can see near-freezing temperatures even in July; pack layers regardless of the forecast at lower elevations.

Practical Notes

Oregon requires DOT-compliant helmets for all riders and passengers, and lane splitting is not legal. Eye protection is not required by Oregon law, but ODOT's motorcycle manual strongly recommends it. Most towns along the coast and in the Cascades have fuel and services; eastern Oregon has longer gaps, so top off when you can.

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// Frequently asked

Late spring through early fall — May through September — offers the most reliable conditions across the state. July and August give the clearest window for high-elevation routes. September sees lighter traffic than peak summer and is often excellent on the coast.

No. Rim Drive closes due to heavy snowfall typically from late October or November and remains closed through late June or July, depending on the winter's snowpack. The West Rim generally plows out earlier than the East Rim. Always verify current conditions with the National Park Service before planning your trip.

OR-242 has a strict seasonal closure. The earliest it can open is the third Monday in June, but snow conditions may push that later. It typically closes again in mid-November. Vehicles over 35 feet are prohibited year-round.

Yes. Oregon law requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear a DOT-compliant helmet. There are narrow exemptions (ORS 814.290) — enclosed cabs and vehicles designed with three wheels traveling under 15 mph — but for standard two-wheeled riding the helmet requirement applies to everyone regardless of age.

No. Lane splitting and lane filtering are both currently illegal in Oregon under ORS § 814.240. Legislative efforts to change this have not succeeded as of 2025. Riders must operate within a single marked lane.

Coastal routes can have wet, sandy pavement and strong crosswinds. Mountain passes deal with late-season ice and early snow in fall. Eastern Oregon roads see deer and elk crossings — especially near dawn and dusk. The FR-39 segment of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway between Joseph and Halfway closes in winter and can have loose gravel after snow removal. Gravel and wet leaves are common hazards on forest roads statewide.

//Sources & references

Oregon Motorcycle and Moped Manual – Oregon DOT ↗Oregon Motorcycle Helmet Law – ORS 814.269 (Oregon Legislature) ↗Exemptions from Motorcycle Helmet Requirements – ORS 814.290 ↗Oregon Motorcycle Helmet Law: Essential Information for Riders – ELG Injury Law ↗Lane Splitting in Oregon: A Guide to the Laws – Bell Law Offices ↗Best Motorcycle Rides in Oregon: A Complete Guide – The Moto Blog ↗The Perfect Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Trip – Riders Share ↗Top 10 Motorcycle Rides in Oregon – Winx Wheels ↗One Day at Crater Lake: Rim Drive Itinerary, Closures (2026) – Hike with Ryan ↗