Rating:

Reviewed By: Jesse Palmer on 9/14/11

This route is scenic and an exciting ride. There is a lot of variety from dense forests to lakes to barren desert to plains to agricultural areas to snow capped mountains. Almost no urban riding - just small towns. Shasta counts as a "big city". The road from Truckee most of the way to Shasta has little to no shoulder. This shouldn't be a problem for experienced tourists but might spook people with less experience. The route has a lot of hills and some stretches with few places to purchase food or get water. This isn't a problem but you have to think ahead a bit. The highlight is going through Lassen Volcanic National Park. Make sure you stop for some side hikes, or at least the short hike to Bumpass Hell (steaming volcanic vents.) After that, you bike past Mount Shasta which makes for spectacular scenery. There is a short section on I-5 -- huge shoulders and not bad at all (but sunny and hot.) The route goes near Ashland which can be a good day off, or at least a chance to stop at the amazing dessert place downtown. (Don't miss it!) From Ashland to Crater Lake there is a lot of climbing and hardly any people -- amazing country with good spots to camp. Finally, you reach Crater Lake. If you've never seen it before, you will say "wow!" You've earned the view after the long climb to get there. Go for the amazing hike behind the lodge building which goes over 8,000 feet. I highly recommend this ride but I might not do it again - it was tough riding, very hot during the day (mid 90s), fairly cold at night (low of 35 in August), nice people in the small towns but not very many towns so a little lonely. I only met 3 other cyclists in 6 days of riding. More people should ride this but this is difficult.