Oregon Countryside Sampler 2 — Longer and More Scenic

This Countrywide Sampler 2 ride is a wandering jaunt through the wine, ranch, and farm country of the Umpqua Valley.  Roads can be rough in places with narrow shoulders.  Traffic is often light and the scenery is engaging.  Few amenities exist along much of the route.  So, make sure to provision up at some of the Oakland, Oregon stores before you begin the ride.  Along the way, some gas stations at the community of Rice Hill and wineries may offer some resupply.

This ride is a longer version of Countryside Sampler 1 and includes some extra miles in the middle of the route that takes you on some wonderful, scenic roads.  You will start and finish at Oakland City Park.  Oakland City Park has restrooms, a pavilion, and side-street parking.  Nearby, Bike-Friendly businesses offer wine-tasting at the Triple Oak Wine Vault, antiquing, and good food.  And be sure to warm-up or cool-down with a ride around Oakland’s streets…many homes and buildings date to the 19th and early 20th Centuries.  Oakland was the first Oregon city to be placed on the national historic register.

Along the way, you will ride by the historic and regionally famous Mildred Kanipe Memorial County Park, which is available for visiting or overnight camping.  People regularly exercise their horses there.  And peacocks like to display their beautiful plumage there, too.  Rest there, take a look around, and water up before you leave.  Also, later in the ride, be sure to stop at the MarshAnne Landing Winery if they are open…some of the finest dry-vineyard wines in the Umpqua Valley here.

To reach this ride from the South, take I-5 Exit 138, heading East towards Oakland on Stearns Lane.  After about 1.5 miles, turn left onto Route 99 and Front Street, making the next right onto Maple Street.  Go two blocks and arrive at the City Park on your left.  From the North, take I-5 Exit 140 and follow the signs into Historic Oakland and turn left on Maple Street.