Where are good places to go off roading in Oregon?

I'm suggesting you check out PDX Overlanders on FB....

 

Thanks for the shout out in that thread.

 

Will do, thank you!

 

if you head to North Eastern Oregon there is Virtue flat OHV outside Baker, MERA (mount emily recreation area) outside of La Grande

 

We ran up to Olallie lake last weekend up the jeep road (NF4220). Fun times.

 

It’s been a long time since I’ve been up that far. I need to go soon before the snow piles up. Maybe I’ll try in a few weeks.

 

Just a touch icy right now. As long as you have decent tires it's a great run.

 

Robinson Butte

Robinson Butte
Oregon 97524
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EEPZUCjgxFVnCzhV6

 

Oregon native here, oakridge westfir, roseburg, China hat ect

 

No

 

Which elk lake? Went up to the one near Detroit a few weeks back.

 

No

 

Southern Oregon here! The run from Merlin over to the coast on Bear Camp is a nice short cut from I-5 to the coast in the late spring through the fall. But you need to be careful making that run in the early snow seasons in that country, easy to get stranded. If any of you remember the Kim family getting lost out there some years ago, real tragedy. You don’t realize the elevation changes puts you into the snow zone and your down in the creeks. When you try to drive out snow storms can block the roads until spring and only snowmobile or helicopter will get you out! Beautiful country out there on Onion Mountain, Graves Creek, Silver Creek, Long Gulch, Peavine Ridge, hundreds of miles of FS and BLM logging roads. I like to go out a 1/2 tank, chill out, turnaround and find another route out.

Of course, there is Crater Lake and the surrounding area, to many mountain lakes to name, Cow Creek, The Umpqua and Rogue River basins are awesome for exploring off road!

Be Safe!

PS. You can literally go from NorCal to Eugene and never hit the blacktop!

 

got my deer just to the south of Robinson butte this year... I love that country down there

 

I remember the kim family issue partly because my uncle was still with the Forest service then and we had talked about that route and how people will cut the locks on that gate blocking the road and how gps thinks it’s a legit road...

 

Thats correct, I believe they were using google maps trying to find the route from Merlin to Gold Beach, Or and didn’t see or decided not to heed the posted warnings. The river guide companies use that route a lot during the summer when the wild and scenic permit section of the Rogue River opens. The turn off can be easy to miss but since that incident the signage marking the junction/turn off is much better.

 

Yes and if I remember right there was another family that got stuck up there or in that area shortly after but they were able to get saved and make it out alive

 

I took Lolo Pass around the nw side of Mt. Hood yesterday to Parkdale. From there I headed south on Hwy 35 for about 20 miles then headed east on NF-44 till I got to NF-3550 and headed south. This takes you up by Gunsight Butte nw of badger lake. Took Bennett pass the rest of the way out to Hwy35. There was a little snow up at the top but not much.

 

I need to do this drive

 

Yes, there have been quite a few people lost or stranded in snow drifts or trapped by fallen old growth trees in that area. Also, a handful of suicides in that country over the years and in some cases folks aren’t found until the road gets plowed out in the spring.

It’s a beautiful, rugged and wild country that deserves respect and a fair amount of situational awareness. I never go out there without a chainsaw and extra supplies.