From breathtaking mountain ranges to vast deserts and lush rainforests to sparkling beaches, Oregon has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. When you visit Oregon, you’ll have the chance to see diverse views that not many other singular states in the U.S. offer. And one of the best ways to take in these attractions is from your motorcycle.
If you’re planning a visit to the Pacific Northwest soon, you’ll want to note the best scenic routes and motorcycle rides in Oregon. Read on to learn our favorite Oregon motorcycle rides for tourists and locals alike.
Cascades Lake Scenic Byway
Oregon has some of the most serene bodies of water in the country, and Cascades Lake is a beautiful example of this serenity. The Cascade Range borders this sparkling body of water, and traveling the Cascades Lake Scenic Byway allows you to experience both attractions and more.
This scenic highway spans 66 miles, heading west and then south from Bend. If you’ve never been to Bend, you may want to take a few hours at the beginning of this motorcycle ride to explore the city. Bend is one of Central Oregon’s most popular cities, featuring a wide range of craft breweries, restaurants, and shops for tourists to enjoy.
Near Bend, the Newberry National Volcanic Monument features incredible geological features, lava flows, and volcanic glass. You can easily spend an entire day exploring this intriguing monument. Once you’re ready, you can set out on the byway route.
You’ll find numerous natural attractions along the byway, including:
- Deschutes River
- Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort
- Broken Top Mountain
- Sparks Lake
- Devils Hill
- Crane Prairie Reservoir
- Little Lava Lake
Of course, you’ll also see the Cascade Range in the backdrop throughout your ride.
Trees to Sea Scenic Byway
Oregon is uniquely positioned to provide stunning views from the coast to the border. Along with the state’s scenic lakes, forests, and mountain ranges, Oregon also gives you access to the Pacific Ocean, which borders the state’s entire western coast.
The Trees to Sea Scenic Byway displays just what the name implies — lush forests, ocean views, and plenty of breathtaking scenery in between. This byway spans 68 miles from Tualatin Valley to the Pacific Ocean. Notably, it’s one of Oregon’s newest scenic byways, established in 2018.
This byway takes you past hiking trails, rivers, state forests, and grassy pastures that perfectly represent Oregon’s natural beauty. For example, a section of the byway passes through Tillamook State Forest, which spans 364,000 acres of Oregon’s forestry and wildlife.
The Trees to Sea byway also features historical attractions that can help you learn about Oregon’s rich history. For example, you can visit the Tillamook Air Museum along the route to see early American aircraft. This museum is located in a historic building that once housed the World War II surveillance blimps.
At the end of the byway, you’ll come to Cape Meares State Park, which features rocky cliff views of the Pacific Ocean almost 200 feet below.
Journey Through Time Scenic Byway
As one of Oregon’s longest scenic byways, the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway takes you along 286 miles of Oregon’s historical timeline. This route begins in Biggs and ends in Baker City, passing through numerous legendary sites and scenic views along the way.
A few historical attractions you’ll see along this byway include the:
- Sherman County Historical Museum, featuring thousands of Native American artifacts
- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, including fossils from up to 54 million years ago
- Oregon Paleo Lands Center, featuring educational resources about Oregon’s geological landscape
- Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, an 1870s landmark that once housed Chinese workers
Riding your motorcycle along this route can open your eyes to Oregon’s rich history as it unfolds throughout the landscape.
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