Oregon Highway 26 from Government Camp to Madras
06-12-22, 08:35 AM
#1
Firm but gentle
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Oregon Highway 26 from Government Camp to Madras
How bad is it? I'm thinking I would be doing this early in the day.
06-13-22, 05:50 PM
#2
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It's been an extremely long time since I've been on that section of highway. By my recollection it's doable, but it won't be pleasant in some places. Highway shoulders are narrowish at times and it gets pretty hot and dry as you approach Madras. Hopefully, someone with more knowledge than myself will chime in with some more current knowledge. The shoulders could be wider since I was last there.
06-16-22, 07:29 PM
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I have not bicycled that rode but I think I have driven it at least 50 times.
I would expect that the shoulders should be pretty good the whole way since it is a heavily traveled hi-way and one of the primary North-South corridors in the Pacific Northwest.
The scenery can be pretty good especially once you have passed Blue Box pass. My favorite section is the switch backs as you drop into Warm Springs from the North. The wind can be bad especially north of Warm Springs. 20 mph may be typical in the afternoon as the sun gets on the West side of the Cascades But probably calm in the middle of the day..
As mentioned above it can get very hot but I assume you wouldn't' choose to do it in 90+ degree weather.
I don't think there are any services between Blue Box and Warm Springs. If you bring a filter you can probably find streams the first 40 miles. But not the last section north of Warm Springs.
Traffic will probably be heavy with lots of semi trucks and high end SUVs driving 90mph between Bend and Portland.
I would expect that the shoulders should be pretty good the whole way since it is a heavily traveled hi-way and one of the primary North-South corridors in the Pacific Northwest.
The scenery can be pretty good especially once you have passed Blue Box pass. My favorite section is the switch backs as you drop into Warm Springs from the North. The wind can be bad especially north of Warm Springs. 20 mph may be typical in the afternoon as the sun gets on the West side of the Cascades But probably calm in the middle of the day..
As mentioned above it can get very hot but I assume you wouldn't' choose to do it in 90+ degree weather.
I don't think there are any services between Blue Box and Warm Springs. If you bring a filter you can probably find streams the first 40 miles. But not the last section north of Warm Springs.
Traffic will probably be heavy with lots of semi trucks and high end SUVs driving 90mph between Bend and Portland.
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06-16-22, 08:38 PM
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I wouldn't do it. Even if survivable, it wouldn't be pleasant. I'm not even sure it would be allowed. LEO don't always know what is legal and act on their instincts. I'm pretty sure if I was a LEO and saw someone on the shoulder of 26 being passed by 70mph traffic I'd pull them over for a mental health evaluation.
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06-17-22, 01:00 PM
#5
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While it is true that police don't always know what's legal (and I have heard about one instance where a cop pulled over a cyclist for riding on a road that was perfectly legal to do so), are there examples (especially in Oregon, where this ride would take place) of cops pulling over cyclists to do "mental health evaluations"?
09-20-22, 08:45 PM
#6
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I've done it by car a couple of times, and what always went through my head was "I would never want to risk this on a bike." It would be great if it was closed to traffic.
