Overall Route Rating
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4.38 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.38
18 Reviews

The Estacada to Detroit Lake highway

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Apr 30, 2006

Rider Reviews

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ConnieVulcan800
2 McR Points
March 28, 2013
This is our favorite 1 day ride. Don't plan to do…
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wiggledbits
August 5, 2011
Started on Sunday afternoon after a very hard…
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Written Directions

The route starts in the town of Estacada, OR (which is about 20 miles south east of Portland, OR). Start in Estacada and get on the Clackamas Highway (AKA Route 224) and head south. Take this about 70 miles to the end point of Detroit, OR. Note: when you go through the town of Ripplebrook the name of the road will change to Clackamas River Road (NF-46) but will be the same road. At Breitenbush the road changes names again to Breitenbush Road but is still the same road. This will take you right into Detroit, OR.

Scenery

This route travel entirely through the Mt. Hood National Forest. Running river, nice bridges, high fir trees, tree covered mtns. This is a beautiful, sometimes winding roadway with white waters and high rock formations following the road. This is one of those roads that have beautiful fall foliage colors, too.

Drive Enjoyment

Lots of twists and turns but portions of the road do have some small potholes and dips. There are numerous turnoffs but I would recommend staying on the main road the first time until you get use to the trip. Of course, this does go over a high pass and will have snow during the winter season. If anyone is planning to take the ride in the early spring, it's important they take into consideration the snow. I was there at the end of April and was not able to go through because the snow had the road blocked but everything was fine a few weeks later ... so I suggest you check before you head out for this route anytime before June or past September.

Tourism Opportunities

Not much till you get to Detroit Lake ...just beautiful scenery and great campsites. There is an annual White Water Festival about 15 miles South of Estacada and in Detroit there is an Fishing Rodeo. Also at Detroit Lake there are two hotels, two restaurants, the marina (you can rent boats but you would need to make advanced reservations during summer weekends www.detroitlakeoregon.org for area information and www.detroitlakemarina.com for boat rentals, etc.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Guest
September 2, 2010
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
Rode this last weekend (Aug 28,2010) w/a friend and really enjoyed it. Scenery is wonderful, not too much traffic and the road was in great condition. Lots of twists and turns but just took our time and thought is was one of the best day rides we have done. Went from Salem to Detroit, stopped for lunch, to Estacada and back to Salem for 175 ml ttl.
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Guest
March 15, 2008
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport
note to sport bike riders ( or anyone going at a fast pace ) , imo ,some of those potholes are pretty big ,maybe just seemed bigger at a quick pace .forest rangers in the tahoes DO have radar ,adn CAN issue tickets :( there can also be gravel very late in the year .aswome ride thougth :)
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Wilbert
August 12, 2017
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
Took this ride earlier today.

The good: Great ride and I added a loop over to sublimity and then north back to PDX on 213, very fun ride. Stopped for some ok BBQ in Detroit.

The scary: The guys who spoke of the dangers of this ride we're not wrong, I came upon the Forest service rangers around a fatal motorcycle accident. Please be very careful everyone. It is a doable ride just take it slow and be careful on curves.
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