The Oregon Outback bikepacking route goes from Klamath Falls to the Columbia River, traversing the state's high desert region.

This is a great video produced by Brian Choi from YouTube Channel [Goody Finder](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnX-BUTDk9VvTSr5OfSn2lQ) covering an Oregon Outback bikepacking adventure of 360 miles from Klamath Falls to Deschutes River. Brian's trip took place May 2021 over 5 days.

The trail begins in Klamath Falls. The first day covers 65 miles on the OC&E Woods Line.

In Olene, you will encounter gates on the trail—please close them behind you.

Olene to Sprague River
This section travels through Olene Gap and north through juniper and sagebrush before swinging east at Swede’s Cut, a portion of track that was cut through high ground in order to maintain a gentle grade. The section is named for the Swedish workers who used star drills and black powder to move more than 10 feet of boulders and hardpan soil. Continuing east, the trail skirts the town of Dairy, named for the Dutch dairymen who first settled here.

Sprague River to Bly
As the trail descends into the Sprague River Valley, it traverses timber and ranch lands and passes the Sprague River. This scenic section is rich in wildlife and waterfowl. Agricultural activities abound in this fertile valley, and
trail users may encounter livestock. The main trail continues east to the end of the line at the quiet town
of Bly, once a booming mill town.

Woods Line Spur to Sycan Marsh
The spur trail splits off and heads north in Beatty. This rough section passes from open farmland to thick woods, then crisscrosses over Five Mile Creek at mile 10. The spectacular Merritt Creek Trestle awaits at mile 27, stretching 400 feet long and 50 feet high. The Woods Line breaks at the expanse of grasslands known
as Sycan Marsh, then continues north of the marsh for seven miles.

The Switchbacks
Gateway Section, mile 32
Original construction plans called for a tunnel through Bly Mountain, but funds ran short, and crews instead built what was to be a temporary double switchback over the hill, allowing trains to be split to
e hill. This switchback was the last of its kind in the U.S., operating until
the rail line shut down, in 1990.

Merritt Creek Trestle
Woods Line Spur, mile 27
As you head north, you’ll see a spectacular structure known as Merritt Creek Trestle. This monument stands 400 feet and towers more than 50 feet above the creek bed.

The remaining 136 miles are unpaved and suitable for wide-tire bicycles, walking, cross-country skis and horseback riding. The trail surface in the Gateway Section is gravel. The roughest section is from Sprague River on, where the trail is loose rock....

Day 4 Brian rides from 73 miles from Crooked River Chimney Rock Campsite to [Antelope](https://track-notes.com/us/oregon/wasco-county/bikepacking-cycle-touring)

According to [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope,_Oregon) Antelope is a rural small town in Wasco County, Oregon, United States. Antelope had an estimated population of 47 people in 2012. Other than a post office, Antelope has no businesses or service industry venues.

Antelope was originally a stage and freight wagon road stop on the old Dalles to Canyon City Trail. Howard Maupin came to Antelope in 1863 to operate a horse ranch, becoming the caretaker of the stage station that was established by Henry Wheeler. Maupin began raising cattle to provide meat for travelers. Nathan Wallace, who is sometimes credited with being Antelope's first postmaster, acquired the Antelope stage station from Maupin in 1870. Records indicate the community was considered to have been established in 1872. The town was incorporated as the City of Antelope in 1901.

In the early 1980s, hundreds of members of the Rajneesh movement moved in and built a small city in previously unoccupied land they purchased. The Rajneesh cult members effectively took over the government of the city by outnumbering the original residents with new voter registrations. On September 18, 1984, a vote was held, and the city was renamed Rajneesh, Oregon. By 1985, after several of the Rajneesh movement leaders were discovered to have been involved in criminal behavior (including a mass food poisoning attack and an aborted plot to assassinate a U.S. Attorney), their cult leader fled the country as part of a negotiated settlement of federal immigration fraud charges, and the Rajneesh commune collapsed. On November 6, 1985, the city voted to revert to the name Antelope....

Along the Chimney Rock segment of Central Oregon's Crooked Wild and Scenic River, Chimney Rock campground offers a relaxing woodland setting amongst Western Juniper trees and beneath massive Columbia River rock formations. Fly-fishing and hiking on the nearby Chimney Rock trail offer day-long recreational fun. Enjoy plenty of easy river access along the adjacent Crooked River Back Country Byway, State Highway 27.
Know Before You Go:

Chimney Rock Campground is open year-round and is equipped with 16 campsites and vault toilets. No reservations are accepted; site is first-come, first-served only.
Water is available in the campground and an accessible fishing platform is located near the campground entrance.
When recreating on public lands, practice Leave-No-Trace Principles.
Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your camping destination.

Point of Interest:
Check out the campground's namesake butte located prominently above highway 27 opposite the campground. Access to the trailhead is across the highway at the Chimney Rock Trailhead.

For a different view, visitors can ride the 18-mile Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway from Prineville to Big Bend Campground. Designated in 2018, this moderate route takes riders from picturesque farms to towering cliffs....

Two 8' x 12' covered shelters, approximately 300' apart on a north-south line, permit silent human observers to spy upon thirsty animals. Each blind has a small concrete basin that puddles water piped nearby water collection aprons and storage tanks. Veiled wall openings allow viewing and photography from a distance of 15-20 feet. A barbed-wire fence surrounds the lower site and a pole fence surrounds the upper site. Be sure to browse the registry for its decades-long, international record of human and wildlife visitors. There is a picnic area nearby.

Caution: Such close proximity between observer and wildlife demands absolute silence, so keep your dog or cat away. Bring a filled water container to replenish the drinking basin in case the supply system is disabled. You can leave your fishing rod and boat at home because the "lake" dried centuries ago....