Ride the Roller Coaster
UV’s resident cycling expert suggests a ride that will get riders’ hearts pumping from both the challenge and the spectacular scenery
Story and photo by Paul Whitworth
An undulating road with twists and turns that provide panoramas of stunning landscapes makes this ride a truly memorable cycling experience. It’s not an easy ride, but the surrounding natural beauty will keep you distracted.
This escapade begins at Roseburg’s Stewart Park, also home of the beautiful VA Medical Center campus.
Leave the park and ride through the VA grounds to a traffic signal, where you will turn left and head west on Garden Valley Boulevard. Five miles later the Roseburg Country Club is on your right and moments later, you will get your first glimpse of the North Umpqua River, which will be your scenic companion for most of the next 26 miles.
Wilbur Road ends at Oregon Highway 99. Make a right turn and after a few hundred meters, take a left onto North Bank Road. You’ve just boarded the roller coaster.
The next 16-plus miles are a cyclist’s dream. Awaiting you are challenging short climbs, exhilarating downhills and plenty of twists and turns. And the scenery is going to be hitting you like a giant slideshow. Take it all in and enjoy.
At mile 29, you’ll want to make a stop at Colliding Rivers Viewpoint in Glide. Here the Little River and North Umpqua crash head on with water churning between the narrow, rocky edges of this unique confluence of fast-flowing water.
Next, turn left onto Glide Loop Drive along the North Umpqua to the highway, where you’ll discover the Atom Bistro and Coffee Bar. The Atom serves a variety of food and other refreshments. You might want to power up with a double espresso because this ride isn’t over and includes one more climb.
On the way into downtown Roseburg, you’ll pass the historic Douglas County Courthouse and then Roseburg City Hall before making a left onto Southeast Jackson Street, where you’ll find eateries, breweries, coffee shops and more. It’s a great place to stop and take some time for rest and reflection on the ride.
For cyclists, the Roseburg area offers endless variations of new routes and old favorites. And, always, that spectacular scenery.
North Umpqua Roller Coaster: Your Route
Total Distance: 53 miles
Highest Point: 1,339 feet elevation at mile 39 on Buckhorn Road
Rating: Challenging
Starting Point: Stewart Park, Roseburg
Directions |
Miles Traveled |
|
Turn left into VA campus |
0.3 mi |
|
Turn right to get to VA exit |
1.0 mi |
|
Turn left onto Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard |
1.2 mi |
|
Slight right onto Del Rio Road |
6.0 mi |
|
Turn left onto Wilbur Road |
8.6 mi |
|
Turn right onto Oregon Highway 99 South |
10.8 mi |
|
Turn left onto North Bank Road |
11.1 mi |
|
Turn left onto Wild River Drive |
27.6 mi |
|
Turn right onto Lone Pine Lane |
28.3 mi |
|
Turn left onto Oregon Highway 138 East |
28.4 mi |
|
Turn left onto Glide Loop Drive |
29.2 mi |
|
Turn right onto Lone Rock Road |
30.9 mi |
|
Turn right onto Oregon Highway 138 West |
31.0 mi |
|
Turn left onto Little River Road |
32.5 mi |
|
Slight right onto Buckhorn Road |
33.7 mi |
|
Turn left onto Oregon Highway 138 West |
46.7 mi |
|
Turn left onto Northeast Douglas Avenue |
47.7 mi |
|
Turn left onto Southeast Jackson Street |
50.6 mi |
|
Turn left onto Southeast Lane Avenue |
50.9 mi |
|
Turn left onto Southeast Main Street |
50.9 mi |
|
Turn left onto Southeast Washington Avenue |
51.1 mi |
|
Continue onto West Harvard Avenue |
51.6 mi |
|
Turn right onto Stewart Park Drive |
52.4 mi |
|
Turn left onto West Stewart Park Drive |
52.7 mi |
