Oregon Coast Question
 

Cycling the Oregon coast has been a dream of mine for a few years. I have been researching options on how to return from Brookings at the south end to Astoria,my starting point. Any input would be welcome.

I will share what we did many years ago. We road a little further into Arcata/Eureka California and rented a car for a flight back home. We drove to SF keeping the rental drop off in state. We dropped our bikes at a bike store and they packed and shipped them back home. A little additional expense but it allowed us to stay within my vacation timing while working.

There are buses from Brookings to Eugene where you could pick up Amtrak to Portland, but it's iffy whether you can stow a bike under the bus with baggage. It depends on available space.

How about this: take a hard left at Reedsport, ride up to the rim of Crater Lake, bomb down the other side then on to Klamath Falls. Not the coast, but by that time you've seen a lot of coast. The ride to the rim is like riding in a moonscape after the coast - epic in itself.

From Eugene, Amtrak to Portland then bus to Astoria, which does allow bikes for $5; or did pre-pandemic.

Hmm I wonder if you could ship your bike and use transit yourself. Might be worth a look, if the bus doesn't turn you off.

This may be dated, but worth a shot:

https://theoregoncoast.info/BikeRoute/Map.pdf

It contains resources you can contact for transportation options.

Heading East to Klamath Falls to catch Amtrak is a good suggestion. I would add that instead of taking a bus from Portland to Astoria, you could either start your trip in Portland and ride to Astoria along the Columbia River, or hop off the train in Portland at the end of the trip and ride back to Astoria. The part of the Columbia River Gorge that I rode as part of the ACA route was one of the highlights of my trip!

Starting is Portland and riding to Astoria is a good idea IMO. Adds 100+ miles to the front of the trip, but it is a nice ride. I've always taken the route along the Nehelam river, which is dead on weekends.

Heh. Cycle Oregon spent the last night of the 2012 edition in Klamath Falls. Camped in Moore Park. Durig the shuttle ride into the center of town we saw a medical marijuana farm greenhouse in part of the old rail yard there.

"I never thought I would ride into a town that makes Buttle, MT look nice."--Me :D

Mmm, cannabis. 😁 I've gone past a few places now, where they farm the stuff, and I usually hate to leave, it smells so good. 🤪😎✌️

Funny, the only time I rode through Klamath Falls, was when I rode North, from going through Nevada. It's kinda far East, otherwise.

Saw the greenhouse while crossing a bridge over the railyard. The GF and wondered what sort of greenhouse needs to be surrounded by high fencing that appeared to be topped with barbed wire. There was also at least one police-looking vehicle parked there. Then it dawned on me, so I asked someone on the bus if my suspicion was correct.

Actually, I saw/smelled 2, in Needles, California, right by the Mojave Desert. And several dispensaries, where you can buy it.

It did seem to take me a long time, getting back OUT of town. 😁😉

Thanks for your input. I am from Vancouver Island and would be leaving my vehicle in Astoria or maybe starting in Port Angeles

Google directions will give you some bus options if you use the transit option in a search. It looks like you might want to ride to Cresent City since the bus would be on the same route. It would take a day or a day and a half to make the trip with all the connections and you might have to box your bike.

.You might also look into various Amtrak/bus combo options.

Also I have used a rental car sometimes. When doing so it helps to always prebook through an aggregator IME. They seem to always give me grief about not having cars that can be let go one way or hit me with huge drop off fees when i walk up to a desk to book. I have had much better luck booking online. They always just pointed me to my car when I did that. Also maybe my imagination, but I felt ilke I had fewer problems with rentals from airports so I tend to ride to an airport to get a car. Since covid, I don't know how it would work out. I know that rates have been terrible and cars have been less available and rates have gone way up. I have had family book and prepay and then not have a car when they got off their flights. On my wife's recent trip she waited long enough that she gave up and called a family member to pick her up.