YAQUINA WHEELS
BICYCLE CLUB

Short Course (25 Miles): As you leave the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area you'll first loop past the Yaquina Head Lighthouse and then follow the Oregon Coast Scenic Highway Bicycle Route into Newport. You will pass Agate Beach and Nye Beach before reaching the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, at which point you will drop down into the historic Newport Bay Front. Next, enjoy 13 miles along beautiful Yaquina Bay. Wildlife abounds, so watch for many duck species, blue herons, egrets and bald eagles along the shore. Beaver, deer and the occasional elk or black bear may be hiding along the backwaters, while seals, sea lions, and maybe a pelican or two can often be found in the bay. The rest area, which will have food, drinks, and restrooms, will be the turn-around for this ride. You'll return to Yaquina Head by retracing your route along the Yaquina Bay and through Newport. The total elevation gain during this ride is just 500 feet.

Metric Century (62.4 miles): The short course is extended east on the Yaquina Bay Road with a short half-mile climb and slightly longer (less steep) decent into Toledo. You'll get a quick tour of this historic mill town and then head up the Yaquina River. As you leave Toledo, another short hill climb will provide wonderful views of scenic farms and woodlands before you follow the meandering Yaquina River to Elk City. Elk City is a tiny town of about 20 houses and is your second rest stop. Returning to Toledo, you'll take an additional loop to the east and north before a quick downhill ride through town. Then it is back on the Yaquina Bay Road to Newport and the Yaquina Lighthouses. The total elevation gain for this ride is 1,500 feet.

Century (100 miles): The crown jewel! On this ride you'll reach a spectacular coastal vantage point on Cape Foulweather. If you take the very short (200-ft) side-step at the top, you will most probably see a whale or two. For this ride, depart the Metric Century course after it returns to Toledo, and then swing north to Siletz. After meandering through the deep forest country, & crossing the Siletz River several times, you'll come to a rest stop on the Siletz River. Care for a dip? Leaving Jack Morgan Park & following the Silet down to Kernville back to the Pacific shore, you'll turn North. After a short distance, turn right onto Drift Creek road & follow quiet backcountry roads into Taft, at the southern edge of Lincoln City, for the last rest stop. Then the course proceeds along the scenic Oregon Coast Bicycle Route, including off-Highway loops at Salishan and Gleneden Beach before vistas at Fogerty Creek and Boiler Bay. Near the end of the ride, you'll proceed up the new Otter Crest Loop bike lane to the top of Cape Foulweather. From the top you can see Otter Crest, Beverly Beach, Moolack Beach and the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. After a long run down the north side of the Cape, you're just 6 miles from Yaquina Head. The total elevation gain for this ride is 2,800 feet.