Getting into the backcountry is exciting … but it can also feel like a lot.
If you’re looking for support, whether that’s a shuttle, logistics help, or a guided experience, there are great partners out there to help you take that first step.
Oregon Territory Outfitters is one of them.
Where are those ride reports?
We referenced them during the virtual open house, and a number of you have asked. We’re following up with links to the ride reports written by Sam and Joe.
Each offers insights related to riding the Adventure Route ... https://oregontimbertrail.org/quicklinks
For those of you who weren’t able to tune in, our virtual open house delivered a few surprises—including an unanticipated visit from the fire department.
But that didn’t seem to slow down our panelists or moderator.
It's happening T-O-N-I-G-H-T ... Virtual Open House.
"Taking on the New Oregon Timber Trail Adventure Route- 3 Bikepackers Share Their Experiences & Lessons Learned"
06:30 PM PT
Sign up: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZXMw8OP...
We’re excited to announce that Cedar Kyes from Oregon Territory Outfitters will be moderating our upcoming open house.
Hear more from Cedar this Wednesday at 6:30 PM PST. Don’t wait any longer, reserve your seat today!
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZXMw8OP...
Register today for our open house on 3/25.
You’ll learn about the new OTT Adventure Route & the 3 cyclists who took on the challenge, returning to share their experiences traversing the route.
Sign up: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZXMw8OP...
700 miles of trail.
Maintained through partnerships, volunteers, and a lot of hard work.
Recently, @trailbuildermag.bsky.social spoke with OTTA president Steve Brook about the work behind stewarding a long-distance backcountry route like this.
The OTT Adventure Route is eMTB-friendly.
For riders who want to experience Oregon’s remote mountain landscapes with a little more support (or a little more speed), the Adventure Route opens the door.
Learn more: https://oregontimbertrail.org/ott-adventure-route
Why should your company support the Oregon Timber Trail?
It’s a statewide stewardship effort.
It’s rural economic development.
It’s volunteer mobilization.
It’s long-term trail sustainability.
If your brand believes in public lands, community, and outdoor access, let’s talk.
Every mile maintained, every tree cleared, & every trail user inspired is possible because of you. The OTT exists because people believe in the power of trails to connect communities, support rural economies, & create unforgettable backcountry experiences. https://oregontimbertrail.org/donate-single
Curious about the new Oregon Timber Trail Adventure Route?
Join us March 25, at 6:30 PM PST for a 90-minute virtual session featuring Adventure Route riders Sam Wertheimer, Hanna Buechi, and Joe Miller.
Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZXMw8OP...
Bikepacking shouldn’t be limited by what’s in your gear closet.
Our friends at Bikepacking Roots just launched a Community Gear Library Resource Hub, making it easier to borrow bikepacking gear & bikes for your first trip. bikepackingroots.org/2026/02/bikepacking-gear...
When’s the best time to ride the Oregon Timber Trail?
If you’re eyeing a full thru-ride of the 670-mile Oregon Timber Trail, timing matters.
Best Season: Mid-June to Late September
Snow lingers deep into early summer in the Cascades. By mid-June, most high-elevation passes are clearing out.
The Oregon Timber Trail Alliance is recruiting new Board Members.
Help guide stewardship, strengthen rural partnerships, and shape the future of the 670-mile Oregon Timber Trail.
We’re especially seeking community-rooted riders.
Interested? https://oregontimbertrail.org/join-the-board
The Oregon Timber Trail wasn’t drawn to avoid towns.
It was designed to move through them.
When OTT riders roll into a rural community, real things happen.
Coffee gets poured. Meals get ordered. Rooms get booked. Resupply happens.
Bikepacking brings a slower, more intentional kind of tourism.
The nation’s trails are disappearing ...
Government-issued maps offer a promise for safely exploring our public lands, but they no longer reflect the reality of what’s actually on the ground.
This year, we're excited to announce a combined grand depart, kicking off the OTT Adventure Route and the OTT Race (which is operated independently of OTTA).
Two events. One day.
The past year brought real challenges.
Budget pressures.
Wildfires.
Deferred maintenance across the Fremont-Winema NF.
And still, progress happened.
Because volunteers, partners, donors, sponsors, and land managers showed up, we moved projects forward that will shape the OTT for years to come.
Dig days are on the calendar.
In 2026, we’re focusing our stewardship efforts on the remote Fremont Tier, because keeping the Oregon Timber Trail rideable takes real, shared work.
Three weekends. Big landscapes. Real impact.
Learn more and sign up: https://oregontimbertrail.org/ottevents
For those who've ridden all or part of the OTT, would you recommend a full-suspension bike or hard tail?
Two routes. One Oregon Timber Trail.
Adventure Route (NEW):
552 miles · ~73% gravel/dirt · ~8% easy trail · ~19% low-traffic pavement. Gravel-bike friendly. More rideable. Fewer hike-a-bikes.
Original OTT Route:
~670 miles of remote, technical singletrack. Built for experienced MTB riders.
The Oregon Timber Trail is a thread that connects small, rural communities across the state.
Towns where riders grab a hot meal after a long day.
Places where a resupply turns into a conversation.
These communities are part of the experience.
We’re lining up trail stewardship work parties for 2026.
Many sections of the OTT benefit from strong local stewardship partners. The Fremont is different. It’s remote, under-resourced, and needs focused support.
Learn more and sign up: https://oregontimbertrail.org/ottevents
‘Cascadia – In the Shadow of Giants’, the latest film from MONTANUS, is a bikepacking journey through Oregon’s vast wilderness. It’s a reminder of how small we are beneath towering peaks and endless forests, and how deeply we belong to the land that endures beyond us.
The Adventure Route isn’t easier. It’s more accessible.
More rideable miles. Fewer forced hike-a-bikes. Same wild Oregon backcountry.
Explore the OTT Adventure Route →
Free the Fremont.
In 2026, OTTA begins a multi-year effort to restore nearly 100 miles of fire-impacted trail in the Fremont–Winema National Forest, starting with the first 50 miles.
Five veterans. Two hundred miles. One sacred mission.
The journey begins in Lakeview, Oregon—a quiet, intimate town known as the gateway to the Oregon Timber Trail, the last frontier.
"But Please, Don’t Call It The Gravel Route"
We launched a new route in 2025. Initially understood as the “Oregon Timber Trail Gravel Route.” While it’s not the tough Timber Trail, it’s also not a gravel track. Read more: https://oregontimbertrail.org/ott-adventure-route
Hanna’s ride on the Oregon Timber Trail shows just how demanding the Adventure Route can be. Her story is a reminder that OTT tests you, teaches you, and stays with you.
What’s the toughest section or tier of the Oregon Timber Trail?