Our High Lakes Multi-Sport Adventure is unmatched in interpreting and experiencing the best wilderness stretched across Oregon’s diverse interior.
It’s a stretch of the vocabulary to properly describe the otherworldly blue water of Crater Lake beneath our cycling route. And of course, we have the towering presence of Mount Bachelor, “the volcano with a big view.” Beyond Bachelor, we sweep past snow-fed lakes on a circuit of roads where (fun fact) astronauts trained generations ago, preparing for Apollo missions.
Bachelor and the adjacent Deschutes National Forest contain a fantastic array of outstanding, yet little-used backcountry roads. Crossing three Oregon counties, the wilderness on the Cascades’ east flank shelters waterfalls and big evergreens.
From the churning edge of the Deschutes River, our narrative unfolds in multiple chapters: from cycling to rafting the rapids to rock climbing. This adventure has it all!
“5/5…I would rate them higher if I could. Simply excellent. Year after year Nikki never disappoints. She knows what our group likes. Both guides were incredibly professional and busted their butts 24 hours a day to ensure our group had a great time…. Can’t say enough good things about them. Honestly haven’t laughed that hard in a long time as I did on this trip.” – Karina, Oregon’s High Lakes Adventure
Day 1: Meet in Eugene, shuttle to Butte Falls, “biggest little town in Oregon” (pop. 423; 40-miles northeast of Medford), gateway to a number of prime outdoor recreation destinations. Today’s opening ride follows the Rim Ride, one of the top rides in the US. We’ll hug the rim of the caldera for 35-miles, shadowing the course of the annual Crater Lake century ride, all peaks and Cascade range valleys: sprints to summits, to hilly and fun roads. Approaching the western end of Crater Lake Drive, we are rewarded with spectacular views of the deep, crystal clear water. Crater, despite having no tributaries or inlets ranks as the ninth deepest lake in the world. If we’re lucky, we might glimpse “the old man of the lake”. Since 1896, a 30-ft. tall bleached and decayed hemlock stump man, occasionally bobs up to say ‘hello’. Finish the loop and close out to superb Hors d’oeuvres and the incredibly tranquil porch at Crater Lake Lodge, developed by William Gladstone Steel in 1915.
Day 2: The next day, with Crater Lake behind us, we shuttle north for an hour and a half to the Cascade Lakes Highway. Tracing the eastern slopes of the Cascades range, the route winds through and around no less than 14 lakes. The reflections—of Three Sisters, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor—we glimpse on the lakes’ respective surfaces provided the powerful, cinematic backdrops for both “Homeward Bound” and John Wayne’s “Rooster Cogburn”. This high mountain byway, traveled by Kit Carson, John C. Fremont and Nathaniel Wyeth, lends views into the Cascades that extend hundreds of miles. At the stage’s midway point, we enjoy lunch at Elk Lake Resort, a rustic-historic lodge 25-miles southwest of Bend. After lunch, the stage ascends over the shoulder of Mt. Bachelor, then descends 3,000-ft., dropping into Bend (pop. 76,693), called “the perfect small city”. Tonight we’ll toast with a dazzling array of brews and locally inspired dishes to an epic day in the saddle. Off the bike, we’ll devote quality time to all that Bend has to offer: be it SUP/stand-up paddleboard, kayak on the Deschutes River, taking in local galleries, or a strolling sweet riverside paths. Base in Bend two nights.
Day 3: Today we raft the Deschutes River, a major tributary of the Columbia River. A blue ribbon native trout and Steelhead fishery, we’ll devote a half-day to our wet and wonderful experience. The very lifeblood of Central Oregon, the Deschutes barrels through downtown Bend at what’s known as the Old Mill district Whitewater Park. After lunch, swapping flip-flops for Vibram soles, we hike Shevlin Park, one of Bend’s best local trailheads. After a breezy, five-mile trek, we’ll closeout with a kickback stroll around downtown Bend.
Day 4: Sweeping through to Sister via Smith Rock, our peloton ranges deeper into the High Desert before a lunch stop at the 650-acre Smith Rock State Park. One of the Seven Wonders of Oregon, Smith Rock is defined by sheer basalt and welded tuff rock faces. These blunt rock faces, which resolve into deep canyons, are a dramatic framing to the Crooked River. Besides its status as the very birthplace of modern rock-climbing, the canyonlands around Smith Rock open onto a varied network of trails: from super mellow to get-worked/strenuous. Your options here are equally diverse as dynamic: a climbing lesson to shade the afternoon; or hike to any number of optimum viewing sites, following the approach and ascent of climbers’ on one of the park’s world-famous routes. Alternatively, you can saddle up; a glorious 30-mile route sweeps over discreet country roads into the big pine forest around Sisters. If decompression, or giving back is your desire, we got that dialed. One of only three four diamond spas in Oregon, Shibui at Five Pine Lodge (25-minutes from Bend) is nothing less than an oasis for the body, a luxe health/wellness center set within a modern grand lodge. This evening wraps in style and quiet culinary flourish: a group dinner at the intimate Open Door in downtown Sisters.
Day 5-6: Day Five is chalked up to rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park, guided astutely by a group of professional climbing instructors. After instruction, ride back or shuttle back to Sisters.
Day 6: The day’s ride connects Sisters to McKenzie Bridge via McKenzie Pass. Spanning 42-miles, this popular Pacific Northwest road ride happens to commence only feet from your lodging. Extremely unique and scenic, the ride includes a 16-mile climb, with a moderate grade, peaking out with superb views of the broad lava flows and regal succession of Cascade peaks, including Mt. Hood. The true highlight of this stage looms off the bike. At the historic Dee Wright Observatory, we encounter an imaginative viewing station built atop a vast lava flow. Constructed by the CCC eighty-four years ago, this fortress of lava stone offers a span of very specific viewpoints onto each adjacent peak. What better way to both celebrate our conquest of the Cascades? From here, we sweep 22-miles, nearly all downhill. From a pass through a dense forest canopy, and alongside the gorgeous and rambunctious McKenzie River. Following lunch, it’s a shuttle back to Eugene.
*ebike available for this tour. Some restrictions apply.
Escape Adventures
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
For those who have yet to tour with us, we appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to our family-run company and guiding principles of sustainability and adventure. Our portfolio specializes in Western North America and is rapidly growing internationally. Building on over 100 destinations, we cater to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, on behalf of our Escape Adventures family, we look forward to many new and exciting adventures with you.
With much gratitude, and happy trails,
Jared and Heather Fisher
Founders and Owner-Operators
Escape Adventures
Look Ma, no hands! Stay connected and safe with this “game-changer” mobile accessory. The Wraptor gives you full screen visibility and holds your phone safe and securely, even over rough terrain. It’s designed to quickly attach and detach from the bar, and the base rotates between landscape and portrait mode with ease. It’s a must-have if you want to spend less time fiddling with your device and more time pedaling your bike.
It’s lit! When it comes to bike safety, illumination is key. Even when you are on the road in the daytime, you need to be seen from all directions. So we’ve teamed up with NiteRider to offer the best daytime lighting for your ride. Each road bike is equipped with a headlight and a taillight with the proper lumen output and run time to keep you safe from every angle.
