Today was the absolutely perfect day out on the Oregon Coast. The weather combination was as perfect as could be. Blue skies and sunshine. A comfortable 60-degree day with just the lightest wind. And not a drop of rain in the forecast. (A rarity in a locale that gets a whopping average of 88 inches of rain per year!)

So why not put my newest bike through its paces with a 60-mile section of the Oregon Coast Bike Route? My goal was to begin this epic autumn day at Fort Stevens State Park and ride south down to the lovely town of Tillamook.

Of course, like all my adventures, this one gave me a little more than I bargained for.

If you’re considering a similar ride, here’s 12 things I learned along my journey that you’ll want to know before heading out.

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#1 – What is the Oregon Coast Bike Route?

The Oregon Coast Bike Route (or OCBR) is a paved route that runs from Oregon’s northern border with Washington down to the state’s southern border with California. The OCBR essentially follows the length of the Oregon Coast Highway (Highway 101) for 370 miles as it snakes its way down the western edge of the state.

The vast majority of the route is on Highway 101. However, there are a few detours off the main road as you come to scenic towns like Cannon Beach and Lincoln City. The OCBR also diverges from the busy highway near Three Capes (the area between Tillamook and Pacific City) as the highway becomes completely unsafe for cyclists to ride, even in optimal weather conditions.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has a terrific map of the entire OCBR route, which you can find HERE. This online resource shows the route’s general terrain profile, the locations for major bridges and tunnels, specific areas on the highway to avoid/detour around, and the parks and public amenities the OCBR passes though.

#2 – Which direction should I ride?

Nearly all cyclists opt to ride the OCBR from north to south. This preference emerged because of the prevailing coastal winds between tend to come down from the north. Thus, riding south means you’ll almost always have a tailwind or crosswinds instead of a strong coastal headwind.

This factor doesn’t mean you must absolutely ride the OCBR from north to south. But why ride into a headwind if you don’t have to? Riding south mean less windburn on your face, a warmer ride, and protecting your lips from becoming chapped.

#3 – Is it safe to ride on the road?

The majority of the the OCBR requires cyclists to share the Highway 101 with other vehicle traffic.

This means you’ll need to pay attention to lots cars and SUVs making their daily commute, plus all the commercial logging trucks hauling their timber loads. Add in the need to avoid the tourists distracted by the epic ocean views and the fisherman towing their boats, and you have just about every hazard imaginable as you meander down the route.

Only a slim percentage of the OCBR has dedicated bike lanes. And these are usually limited to short sections of the highway as it passes through the larger coastal towns. The bulk of the ride is done on the roadway or highway shoulder.

And sadly, there is no uniform width of Highway 101’s shoulder. You might have a generous smooth shoulder during some stretches. While other times you could find yourself with no option other to share the lane with vehicle traffic. This is especially true when going over narrow older bridges.

During my 60-mile journey, I’d estimate the average shoulder width was around three feet. So, if you aren’t comfortable riding with the traffic under these conditions, you might want to select one of the sections of the OCBR that diverges from Highway 101.

#4 – The OCBR is a nice flat ride on the coast, right?

Don’t head out to the Oregon Coast Bike Route assuming it’s an easy beachfront path. This route isn’t in sunny Florida or Southern California. And you won’t be cruising along the sandy beaches at sea level. The Pacific Northwest coastline is a different beast entirely.

The Oregon Coast is rugged and rocky, with frequent ups and downs ranging between sea level and 1000 feet. So, it’s no surprise that riding the OCBR includes tight curves, rolling hills, and plenty of longer climbs. Yet, there are plenty of scenic pullouts dotting the highway where you can stop and take in those sweeping ocean views.

#5 – What type of amenities exist on the OCBR?

One of the absolute best perks of the OCBR is the number of coastal towns and recreation areas you’ll pass through on your journey.

You won’t have any super long water carries, since most of these towns have small convenience stores where you can stock up on drinks or snacks. There are also a number of public parks, recreations sites, and rest areas with bathrooms and water spigots where you can take frequent breaks.

If you’re attempting the entire 370-mile route, you can enjoy hiker/biker campsites at nearly all the state parks along the route. This makes it super easy to find somewhere to set up your tent, grab a hot shower, and enjoy a evening under the stars. Campsites are available on a first come, first serve basis, and they cost around $7-8/night.

But hot showers and restaurants and aren’t the only amenities you’ll get if you choose to ride the OCBR. Oregon loves its craft breweries. And with more than a dozen of them calling the Oregon Coast home, there’s more than a few opportunities to sample your favorite brews after a long, tiring ride. Cheers!

#6 – What’s the story with those tsunami signs?

If you’ve never spent any time on the Oregon Coast, you might find yourself shocked to see warnings for tsunamis! Yet, according to the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, 21 tsunamis have impacted the Oregon Coast in the past 170 years! That’s more than one per decade!

The most recent tsunami hit Oregon in 2011 after an earthquake near Japan send giant waves crashing toward the West Coast of the U.S. These massive waves are triggered whenever an earthquake under the ocean floor disrupts the water column above it. Large tsunamis can continue for days, but most reach their peak a few hours after arrival and gradually taper off after that.

Since the only real way to deal with a tsunami is to make your way to higher ground, the state of Oregon has invested in tons of signs that mark lower elevation areas on the coast as potential “tsunami zones.” Blue signs posted at the beginning and end of each high-risk area. Plus, there are even signs painted on the ground to point you in the direction where you should head for safety.

#7 – The scariest part of the OCBR

There something on the OCBR that’s even more daunting than the risk of a tsunami though. It’s the dreaded tunnels on Highway 101!

There are two long tunnels on the OCBR – the Arch Cape tunnel (five miles south of Cannon Beach near Hug Point) and the Cape Creek tunnel (just north of Florence near Heceta Beach). Each of these hillside tunnels is more than 1,200 feet long (that’s about 1/4 mile for those of you playing at home), and they bring distinct challenges to the route.

The Arch Cape tunnel is not only long and dark, but it’s also part of a massive, tiring uphill climb. And while there is no shoulder in the tunnel to ride inside the tunnel, there is a narrow sidewalk running the entire length that cyclists can use, if desired.

When I reached the mouth of the Arch Cape tunneI during my own OCBR trip, I waited for a break in traffic, pressed the button to light up the sign indicating a cyclist was in the tunnel, and then rode as fast as I could pedal on the roadway. But before I was halfway through, I heard the distinctive rumbling of a semi-truck’s diesel engine bearing down behind me at 50+ mph and I panicked. I quickly jumped up on the sidewalk and let the giant truck (and the long line of traffic stacked behind him) pass me as I rode the remainder of the tunnel on the sidewalk…just to be safe.

The Cape Creek tunnel (150 miles further south on the OCBR) isn’t nearly as steep as the Arch Cape tunnel, but it’s still just as long and has an even narrower design. The tunnel has absolutely zero shoulder to ride on and there’s no sidewalk either. Thus, cyclists have no option but to wait until the traffic dies down before heading through on the roadway.

Unfortunately, this tunnel is also near the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which means you’ll probably spend additional time waiting for a good break in traffic if you want to avoid the larger vehicles towing their ATVs to/from the dunes.

#8 – The Oregon Coast is steeped in American history

Ask most Americans about Oregon history, and I bet you $5 almost every response will include the Oregon Trail or pioneers traveling westward in the 1840s. And sure, that is a certainly a noteworthy part of the state’s past. But Oregon has much deeper historic roots to boast about than just that one era.

I began my own ride on the coast at Fort Stevens, a former military base that was built to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from rising tensions with the British (aka Canadians) after the Pig War of 1859 and during Alaska Boundary Dispute from 1896-1903.

Although this Civil War-era fort has since been decommissioned, you can still tour the Battery Russell, sit in a WWII jeep near the visitor center, or head to the beach to check out the ruins from Wreck of the Peter Iredale (a 115-year old shipwreck).

And as you ride further south, historic markers dot the coast providing a window into the state’s rich history.

For example, as you pass approach Cannon Beach, you can stop and read how a cannon washing ashore from the USS Shark in 1846 led to the seaside town’s name. Or you might discover how purchasing whale blubber from local indigenous people at Ecola Beach in 1806 helped sustain the Lewis & Clark expedition though their initial winter at Fort Clatsop.

The Oregon Coast is filled with storied accounts that might just entertain and delight you during your ride.

#9 – Expect some sublime ocean views

The OCBR in not be a flat, easy ride along the sandy beaches. But rest assured, almost every tough climb comes with a giant pay off.

On a clear day, you’ll take in so many amazing shades of blue. The cerulean blue sky. The deep navy blue as the ocean meets the horizon. The turquoise and azure blues of the waves as they break on the sandy beaches.

If you are riding south, the ocean will be directly to your right – with no cars or trucks obstructing your views. And at the top of nearly every major climb, you’ll have the opportunity to stop and rest at a scenic overlook where you can catch your breath and take in the breathtaking scenery.

The aches in your legs will fade into a distant memory the moment you crest each hill and get the visual pay off for all your hard work. That’s the real beauty of riding along the Oregon coastline.

#10 – Expect to see some truly unusual wildlife

It goes without saying that biking a coastal route gives riders a chance to see wildlife that simply doesn’t exist on inland routes. Sure, you’ll still see plenty of the typical deer, squirrels, and and birds on the OCBR. But, you might also cross paths with more unusual game too – including wild turkeys, elk, beavers, and nutria.

In addition, there are multiple points along the OCBR where you might spot gray whales in the Pacific Ocean as they migrate between Alaska and Baja California.

Oregon has two peak whale watching seasons, with as many as 20,000 gray whales heading up and down the coast to their breeding lagoons. Plus, there is somewhere between to 200-400 “resident” whales that hang around the Oregon Coast through the summer and fall. So keep your eyes peeled for that telltale signs of spouts of water blowing in the ocean.

#11 – Let there be light

Here’s one more reason not to leave you camera at home if you’re planning to ride the OCBR. The Oregon Coast is home to 11 historical lighthouses, which still stand watch and serve as beacons for fisherman and commercial cargo vessels alike.

At a mere 38 feet, the Cape Meares lighthouse is the shortest lighthouse on the list, and it’s been lighting up the coast for more than 130 years. Meanwhile, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse near Newport, Oregon, towers 93 feet over visitors and a full-162 feet above sea level.

Many travelers consider the Heceta Head Lighthouse to be the most scenic of all the Oregon Coast lighthouses because it’s set off by itself on picturesque green mossy outcropping. Whereas you might need a pair a binoculars to see the Tillimook Rock lighthouse. It’s perched all by itself on a giant rock nearly a mile out to sea.

And then there’s the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It was first erected in 1857 on the mouth of the Umpqua River – two years before Oregon even became a state! Although the original lighthouse was destroyed by a flood in 1864, the state rebuilt a new Cape Cod-style lighthouse on higher ground 30 years later, and it continues to stand tall to shine its guiding light to mariners at sea.

#12 – So, when should I hit the road?

Oregon is known for rain, rain, rain. The western portion of the state rests between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains possesses an oceanic climate, with some areas exceeding 100 inches of rainfall annually! But that’s why the state is so darn green everywhere you look.

This insanely wet weather means you’ll probably want to plan your ride carefully to take advantage of the safest road conditions possible. The wettest months are November to March, while the driest months on the Oregon Coast are July and August.

Of course, the driest summer months coincide with the peak tourist season. So expect the highway to be busiest then too. If you’re looking to ride the entire OCBR in ideal weather and in low traffic, it’s best to aim for the month of September. Once Labor Day is over, the coastal traffic drops noticeably as people head back to school and work.

Final Thoughts

Although I only rode 60 miles of the OCBR during my first foray out on the coast, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this adventure. None of the reading I did on it beforehand holds a candle to the actual experience of riding along the rugged coastline. It is truly a beautiful route for any experienced rider looking for a new adventure!

Happy pedaling.

Want more information about the OBCR? Check out these other resources:

• The Oregon Coast Bike Route brochure (Oregon DOT Pedestrian & Bicycle Program)
• The OCBR Map (Oregon DOT)
• Sample 6-Day OCBR Itinerary (Cycling Escapes)
• Oregon Coast Bike Route (Guidebook by Steve Greene)

Interested in reading about some of my other day rides too?

• Biking on the Trans Canada Trail…20km down, 23,980 to go
• An Afternoon Biking on Acadia’s Carriage Roads
• Biking Hoover Dam’s Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail