Umpqua River Trail - 5 Day Guided Mountain Bike Trip

DAY 1

After a three hour shuttle we begin our trip on the shores of Lemolo Lake at the northern end of the North Umpqua River Trail. Lemolo Lake is remote, with just a few campgrounds and crystal blue water. We’ll unload and have a quick lunch before our ride. We will start with a contouring section of trail that is a great warm-up and precursor to the week’s ride. The Umpqua is named after the Native Americans who made this area their home. Some think the word Umpqua means satisfied—as we know you will be by the end of this week. The trail is cut into the steep wooded hillsides of the Umpqua River canyon, and while the trail surface itself is not very technical, the challenge is in maintaining good balance to keep your bike on the trail. Today’s trail section is cut in the wooded northern slope of the lake snaking between the enormous pines that Oregon is famous for. We’ll loop around a lush little stream, which is the very headwaters of the North Umpqua River, and return on the same trail to our beach-side camp on Lemolo Lake. TOTAL MILEAGE: 16 miles

DAY 2

Today is the big day, more for the name’s sake than the mileage. Our trail section today is called Dread and Terror and you’ll see right away what they mean. Our favorite forest service ranger deems this section his favorite; it is profound, dramatic and thrilling. The North Umpqua River cuts through a gorge and our trail is etched into the edge. Though very well constructed and maintained there are some exposed moments. We’ll pass Lemolo Falls, a 135 foot horsetail waterfall pouring over a wall of basalt. Here the gorge is so tight and the riding is so mesmerizing that we’ve had some riders miss the falls completely! Don’t let that happen to you. Dread and Terror traverses forested slopes, grassy flats and across steep streambeds and has generally been voted the most technical section of the trip. We pack a lunch to enjoy in the canyon and eventually meet the van for a refreshing beverage. We’ll resume riding the North Umpqua River Trail at the hot springs, a spur option off the trail. We ride another few miles to our open meadow camp just up from Toketee Lake. There is a great side trip to the dramatic Toketee Falls for the extra energetic and a handy swimming option right from camp. TOTAL MILEAGE: 17 miles

DAY 3

From Toketee Lake we go east on the North Umpqua River Trail, the Deer Leap Section. This is impressive trail building at its best with lots of ups and downs through massive hemlocks, cedars and Douglas fir. We contour our way high above the river and get great views of the surrounding valleys. This trail is truly a dream. We’ll break for lunch at the Soda Springs Dam where we can see giant schools of Coho and Chinook salmon. In the afternoon we ride the Jesse Wright segment of the trail. Jesse and her husband Perry Wright homesteaded in this area in the early 1900s. Their outdoor lifestyle and dedication to the land of the North Umpqua is quite inspiring. We arrive at Horseshoe Bend, our campground on the river, with a true sense of “umpqua” or satisfaction. TOTAL MILEAGE: 18 miles

DAY 4

We continue on the North Umpqua River Trail back at the Marsters Bridge. This section includes some challenging ups and downs with great views of the river. There are some fun side canyons that we contour through as we follow the river east on the way to the ocean. If you pick a strategic resting spot and have a bit of patience, you will be rewarded with the heroic efforts of a very large salmon hurling itself skyward as it makes its way up river to spawn. Back on the trail, we continue to the Calf Creek Trailhead and the next section of trail. At the Mott Bridge we are going to leave the North Trail, a great cruise to our camp at Bogus Creek. From camp we have the option in the afternoon to lounge riverside or get back on the bike for a short but spectacular loop to Falls Creek Falls. TOTAL MILEAGE: 14 miles, optional additional 6 miles

DAY 5

We have saved some of the best trail and the best challenges for today. We will be hitting the trail early to head for the Tioga segment of the trail. This includes 15 miles of rollicking through the forest. The first part is similar to the last few days with a few steeper pitches, both up and down. There is bit of a climb to negotiate Susan’s Creek, but the real killer is Bob’s Butte. The trail heads for a rocky outcrop and some wicked switchbacks before we top out in the trees for a well earned picnic lunch in the forest. For the grand finale we get a ripping descent back down to river level. Huge trees and big patches of vine maple make this twisty turny section a hoot. We finish our ride at a giant swimming hole with a beautiful granite beach. We’ll load up and shuttle back to Medford. TOTAL MILEAGE: 15 miles

Be sure to bring everything on this list. We have carefully developed this list to ensure your comfort on the tour regardless of the weather. If you are prepared for extreme weather, it is an adventure. If you are not prepared it can be a serious problem.We recommend the layering system, including a wicking or long underwear layer, an insulating layer and a weather barrier for wind and rain. This list reflects that philosophy. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed!

HOW TO PACK: The bulk of your gear and clothing will ride in the Western Spirit support vehicle (preferably in a large duffle bag) and will not be accessible during the day.

For this trip, you will need a riding pack and optional day bag:

Your riding pack may be a hydration pack, but needs to carry 2-3 liters of water, rain gear, other warm clothing, and food for the day. You may be away from camp and the support vehicle all day and need to be self-sufficient.

A small day bag is optional and may be used to store things you’d rather not ride with, but would like to have access to during the day. This day-pack will remain with the support vehicle and may not be accessible, depending on the day.

WHAT WE PROVIDE: ✓ meals, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks, non-alcoholic drinks ✓ camp mugs, all kitchen and dining ware ✓ 1 cycling water bottle ✓ camp chairs ✓ solar showers ✓ sunscreen & bug spray ✓ bike stand and lube ✓ guides bring their own tools ✓ first aid kit with basic medications

BRINGING OR RENTING

• Bike (Our rentals come with flat pedals. You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.)
• Helmet (gratis w/rental bike)
• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad

CYCLING CLOTHING

• cycling shoes
• 3 - 5 pair cycling shorts
• 3 - 5 cycling shirts
• long sleeve cycling shirt
• long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
• cycling socks
• windbreaker
• tights or leg warmers
• 2 pair cycling gloves (1 pair full length for warmth)
• rain jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
• rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
• warm layer (lightweight synthetic puffy jacket or long sleeve fleece shirt)
• sunglasses or other eye protection

CAMP CLOTHING

• camp shorts
• shirts
• warm socks
• long underwear, top and bottom (wicking layer, not cotton)
• 2 pair warm long pants
• long sleeve fleece or sweater
• pile or down jacket (insulating layer)
• warm gloves and hat
• brimmed hat or visor
• bathing suit (for solar showers on the trip and at the hotel before/after your trip)
• hiking shoes
• sandals
• rain gear to wear in camp

PERSONAL

• toiletries
• medication (daily and emergency)
• towel
• biodegradable soap
• wet-wipes
• flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries)
• sunglasses
• optional day bag
• stuff sacks or reusable grocery bags (or separate compartments for your dry bag
• cash for tipping guides: your guides work as a team and share all of their gratuities. A tip of 10-20% of the price of your trip given to either one of your guides when you return to civilization is a great way to say thanks for a job well done.

OPTIONAL

• camera, extra batteries
• binoculars
• alcoholic or any of your favorite beverages (your guides will pack these)
• books or maps
• we encourage you to turn your devices off, but if you cannot, please bring a way to charge them. We recommend a portable USB charger with 1-2 charges. Also, putting your phone on airplane mode to save power is recommended.

Driving

Medford is located near the southern border of Oregon on Interstate 5. There is parking available at the bike shop where the trip meets.

Flying into Medford Airport Code: MFR

Flying into Portland, OR Airport Code: PDX You can rent a car in Portland and park it at the bike shop where the trip meets. It is a beautiful 4-1/2 hour drive.

Flying into Eugene, OR Airport Code: EUG You can rent a car and park it at the bike shop where the trip meets. It’s a 2-1/2 hour drive.

Medford is a popular summer vacation spot. It is a good idea to book your rooms several months in advance if possible; here are a few recommendations:

Hampton Inn 541-779-0660, 800-426-7866

Shilo Inn 541- 770-5151, 800-222-2244 Offers airport shuttles.

Holiday Inn Express 541-732-1400, 800-465-4329

Comfort Inn South 541-772-8000, 800-424-6423

TAXI SERVICE Rogue Valley Taxi Cab: 541-499-6848 AAA Eco Cab: 541-228-9001

We love biking and traveling as much as you do! For over 30 years, we’ve been in the business of bike guiding and we’ve honed every little detail to give you the highest quality bike trip on the market. We’ve cherry-picked the best mountain bike trails and road rides so you can immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of the American West. We go the extra mile to make sure you have the most fun on your bike!

At Western Spirit, our staff is the heart of our company. Our guides love what they do, and are dedicated to providing you with a memorable vacation. Each of them has received extensive training in backcountry travel, cooking, natural history, and first aid, not to mention their cycling and mechanical skills. They are committed to helping people experience the outdoors and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Their attention to every detail leaves you free to enjoy the riding.

It’s our philosophy that everyone in our busy world needs to get outside more. We know it’s tough to squeeze it all in, but with Western Spirit we’re here to make it as easy as possible. Our friendly office staff is just a call away to help you find the perfect trip for you. We believe in getting away from it all, spending rejuvenating time in nature, and most of all, having a lot of fun!

The trip price includes food and drinks for the trip, guides, support vehicle, campsites, permits, and any entry fees into national parks and public lands.

Not included are: rental fees (bikes and camping gear), alcoholic beverages, gratuities for your guides, and applicable sales tax. If you would like to bring alcoholic beverages we will store them for you at the appropriate temperature.

Your total tour cost will include your trip fee, appropriate rental fees and applicable sales tax

We provide water, coffee, teas, electrolyte drinks, and assorted soft drinks. We cannot provide alcohol. You are welcome to bring your favorite alcoholic beverages and our guides will store them at the appropriate temperature. We’ll keep the beer cold while you’re out riding!

Yes! From lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, we’ve got healthy and delicious food to fuel your fun. Food is one thing we take pretty seriously and we get rave reviews from our guests.

Our guides are amazing backcountry chefs and will prepare all your meals. All snacks are included. We’re sponsored by Clif Bar, and provide you with plentiful bars, snacks and electrolyte drinks. If you have specific favorite riding snacks, however, please bring them with you.

Yes, no problem! We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, and we do it frequently. Our guides are masters at making sure everyone is satisfied. Please let us know when you fill out your forms so our guides can accommodate you and your needs. It is good to be specific (e.g., vegetarian but prefer tempeh over tofu) to help the guides with meal planning.

We wish we could tell you exactly, but Mother Nature is quite unpredictable as you may know. Our trips are designed with the best weather in mind, and follow the seasons—desert trips in spring and fall, and mountain trips in the summer. By sticking to our packing list that we’ve designed for you, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes our way (bringing rain gear almost assures it won’t rain, right?).

Most of our permits allow us to take 13 guests and 2 guides, although many trips are smaller than our maximum allowed. Our Maze permit in Canyonlands National Park is more limited with only 7 guests and 2 guides to maintain the remote wilderness experience.

For mountain bikes, we use the Specialized Stumpjumper ST 29ers. For road bikes, we use the Specialized Diverge E5 Elite. All our rental bikes come with flat pedals, a helmet, and one water bottle cage. We provide the water bottle and all the bike repair gear.

If you’re renting a bike from us, you do not need to show up early. Please meet at the scheduled time and we will fit you to your rented bike then.

All Western Spirit rental bikes come with flat pedals. If you have clipless pedals (e.g., SPD, Crank Brothers, etc.), you’re welcome to bring them along with your shoes. We swap out pedals all the time!

The packing list will tell you how to pack, since it depends on which trip you are on. Overall, we use a 3-bag system:

Camping gear and personal items for camp (gets packed away in the morning and is inaccessible throughout the day), Small daypack (stays in vehicle and is accessible throughout the day, e.g., extra layers, prescription medications, extra snacks, etc.), Hydration pack you wear (all things you readily need, right there on your back). We recommend a 2-liter hydration system (e.g., Camelbak) to carry the things needed during the day (water, snacks, lunch, rain gear, extra layer, sunscreen, camera, etc.), and to easily hydrate without stopping.

Nope! We provide spare tubes (for 26”, 27.5” and 29” wheels), lube, tool kits, and pumps.

Certainly! If you bring camping gear, please bring a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll provide everything else you need. Don’t worry about the camp chairs—we bring those too!

Please make sure all your gear is in excellent, working condition before you head out on your trip. If you’re bringing your own bike, please make sure it has been tuned up and is in excellent riding condition before the trip.

Yes! We rent tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. Sleeping bags are thoroughly washed between trips. The following prices are for the whole trip:

2-person tent – $40 Sleeping bag – $35 Sleeping pad – $15 Total $90

We offer solar showers which are a nice way to rinse off and refresh yourself, but it is not enough water to take a full-fledge shower. The showers are not private, so please bring a swimsuit and your own towel. Showers are dependent on water resources, which may be restricted if it’s a hot desert trip. Some campsites have streams and lakes available for swimming. We also recommend wet-wipes to refresh after a fun day on the bike.

It’s not a glamorous topic, and we know this can be a subject of concern and embarrassment for some. We make it as easy and sanitary as possible! If we’re camping in designated campsites, we use the pit toilets available in the campgrounds. If we’re camping in the backcountry, we obey by the pack-it-in-pack-it-out rule. We set up a portable toilet lovingly called “the groover,” and put it in a private location with a stunning view. We provide a hand wash system for clean up.

Please join us! We get solo travelers all the time and going on a bike trip is a great way to meet like-minded people. Many of our guests end up as lifelong friends after a Western Spirit trip.