Cape Blanco - Port Orford Fat Bike : Loop

Route Details

A group of us came down from Portland to explore the capes between Port Orford and Cape Blanco on the Southern Oregon Coast. With little knowledge of the area this ride did not disappoint our adventurous souls. This coastal fat bike ride is a stunning cliff-lined adventure that runs point to point between two of Oregon’s largest capes. Packed full of adventure, we found ourselves in several unexpected situations, including fording a river and escaping quicksand. Cape Blanco to Port Orford made us feel completely removed from civilization, on our own with the elements, and we enjoyed every second of the feat.

The sand was hard-packed and we rolled effortlessly, laughing about the ease of the ride, unaware of the perils ahead. Within 2 miles we hit the @point[Elk River](d,1675.81). There is no easy way to conquer this one—no bridge, no sand bar. As we trucked through the river to the other side, waist deep in sections, we quickly learned that fat bikes float well. *(NOTE: In spring, the river can get quite deep and may not be passable. Check with the local tour operator before embarking. Summer and fall will be the best times to tackle this challenge.)* Needless to say, the chilly Oregon waters will wake you up better than a double shot espresso.

After the crossing, @slice[we traveled parallel to the river for nearly a mile](d,3108.46,4545.57). We stopped for a snack and
walked over to an island to take in the view. Right when we thought we made it through the
tough part of the day, we realized we weren’t out of danger yet. Walking toward the edge of the
island, I stepped on a soft spot and sank into quicksand. Luckily, I still had a hand on my bike
and was able to use it for leverage to pull myself out. Later we learned that @poi[this area](4319693) is notorious for real quicksand that has taken a few horses and even vehicles over the years. Just make sure to cross at the mouth of the river where it meets the ocean. Apparently quicksand is not just a plot twist in old movies and cartoons—it is alive and well on the Oregon Coast.

Only a few miles later, the ride clearly ended at the massive cape at Port Orford Heads State Park. We rolled into the park and climbed the road to enjoy the @poi[viewpoint of the Port Orford heads](4319694). Following the dirt singletrack, we were able to look back at the beach and relax, reflecting on our strenuous day. We rolled straight into the @poi[Crazy Norwegians Fish & Chips restaurant](4319695) and ordered a heaping load of deep fried fish filling our tired bodies and empty stomachs.

**TIPS AND TRICKS**

Fat biking the Oregon Coast has one key factor to plan around: ride the beach with a tailwind. Take a look and which way the wind is going and make sure to ride the beach with the wind at your back. After the beach ride this will allow you to ride back on the road into a headwind which will be blocked by the trees and much easier to ride on the pavement. Another way around this is to do what we did and hire a shuttle service. This allows you to enjoy the best part of the ride,
then jump in a van to take you back. (See below for bike rental and shuttle services in the area.)
On our ride, the wind was coming from the north so we had our shuttle drop us off at Cape
Blanco and we road south. Specifically starting from the most southern point (past the
campground) we followed an off-roading vehicle down onto the beach toward huge piles of
driftwood and the Elk River.

## **The Bikes**

**Bike Rental** - Don’t have a fat bike? Don’t worry, [South Coast Bicycles](http://southcoastbicycles.com/) has you covered. Stop
by and say hi to Karl, who knows a thing or two about cycling. Need proof? Look at the
stars-and-stripes jerseys lining the shop walls.

**Tour and Shuttle Service** - [Pineapple Express](http://pineappleexpress.bike/) will take care of you if you want a quick shuttle to
one end or a full-service tour, where they remove the tedious planning part by riding with you.
Erin’s local knowledge can help navigate you through the tricky spots in this ride.

## **Dining**
@poi[**The Crazy Norwegians Fish & Chips**](4319695) - This unique fish and chips restaurant provides the fresh
seafood fix that you want while on the coast.

@poi[**TJ’s Cafe**](4319696) - This is the old-school diner with vinyl booths that make you feel right at home.

## **Lodging**
@poi[**Battle Rock Motel**](4319697) - Save some money at this cute little motel, and still have a view.

@poi[**WildSpring**](4319698) - Class it up at WildSpring Guest Habitat, a local charmer that has all the amenities from hot tubes to top notch views.

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Cape Blanco - Port Orford Fat Bike : Loop

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Cape Blanco - Port Orford Fat Bike : Loop

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