Blue Mountain Scenic Byway

Motorcycle Route Author

By Guest (0 McR Points) on Mar 31, 2007

Rider Reviews

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Guest

March 21, 2011

This is a fantastic ride. The Blue Mountain…

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eaparada

236 McR Points

July 18, 2021

Great ride and very little traffic.

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Written Directions

Start out in Baker City, OR. From there head south out of town on Rt 7. Stay on it till you get to Rt 220 (Granite Hill Rd) just a few miles before Sumpter. Rt 220 will take you into Sumpter. From there stay on 220 and it will turn into 24 (and chg names to "Bull Run to Baker Rd") . Stay on 24 and it will take you into Granite. Pass Granite, and the 24 now becomes Rt 73. Continue heading north on 73 and about 9 miles outside of Granite you'll find Forest Road 052 (FR 052) and want to take a left (head west) on that and take it all the way to Ukiah. Cross US 395 and get on FR 053. Take FR 053 west for about 20 miles and it will begin to head north and eventually change names to Willow Creek Rd and take you into Hepner. From there take Rt 206 southwest for about 40 miles and experience the best twisties in the west until you end in Condon, OR.

Scenery

Scenery description: Leave from Baker City, south to Sumpter - Sumpter is a great place to watch/ride the steam train and/or explore the gold dredge - then head west to Condon. The road runs between 84 and 26 along a ridge that's 2,000 feet above anything else! View from the top of the world. Few to no other vehicles, lots of lakes, forests, and critters ... you'll be riding through the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest nearly the whole trip. This route is a solid 5 in the scenery category!!!

Drive Enjoyment

Lots of really twisty bits! Mostly two lane, but no traffic - runs along a high ridge, so watch for snow early or late in the season. The Motorcycle Road quality would be a 5 but there are a lot of of potholes to dodge too...

Tourism Opportunities

Lots of out of the way places to stop and eat - many only known to the locals. Plan on spending the night at the Condon Hotel, with it's 5 star restaurants! Don't let the exterior fool you... By the way, if you have a small tank or your bike gets "Harley Davidson mileage" - get gas when you see it!