Dirty Freehub

10/13/2026

Gravel Girl is leading two community rides this week in Central Oregon: Wednesday is Oktoberfest (backwards) in Bend and Friday is Priest Hole in the Painted Hills. Check our events page for all the details including how to register. Weather is looking amazing, the fall colors amazing. Both rides have shorter options. Hope to see you! https://dirtyfreehub.org/events/

10/12/2026

Thanks Walter Major for the comments and fun phots on the McCool route. "Rode this on 10/9/2026 and it was a blast. So many different types of riding and they were all good. Single track, two track, gravel road, etc. One, maybe 50yd, section of sand near the lake, but everything else is riding great. Alas, there is no water in the lake so the Pelican viewing was not at its best to say the least, but the terrain and scenery were still fun. And this time of year (and water levels) means there is NOBODY out there. Very peaceful."

Here's the McCool route which starts near Davis Lake in Central Oregon. https://dirtyfreehub.org/routes/oregon/mccool/

10/12/2026

Tripple Ripple gets a facelift and a new name. This route starts at Suttle Lake, just west of Sisters. We had called the route the Metolius + Bonus Lakes ... yeah, yawn. Not a great name for such a fabulous route. So we renamed it and spruced up the Ride Guide.

What's cool about this one? Fall colors, a trip around Suttle Lake, up to Round Lake and then through the Metolius Preserve. Fun, fun. 28 miles and 1,800 feet of gain.

Just note that there is some trail work being done on the Metolius Preserve. Here's the Ride Guide: https://dirtyfreehub.org/routes/oregon/tripple-ripple/

10/12/2026

New Podcast: Malheur Field Station with Elizabeth Basa. Gravel riding, stargazing, and birding—all from one remote basecamp!

Executive Director Elizabeth Basa discusses with us about the science, nature, community, and gravel cycling right inside Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. This nonprofit campus offers year-round lodging, dark skies for stargazing, and direct access to Dirty Freehub gravel routes!

Hear how Elizabeth is revitalizing the historic field station, hosting university field trips, and developing specialized gravel cycling programs paired with guided birding and stargazing night rides.

Link to podcast: https://dirtyfreehub.org/podcasts/malheur-field-station/

Malheur Field Station - The Great Basin Society, Inc. Planning a trip? Learn how booking a stay, donating a spare bicycle, or signing up for their monthly newsletter supports outdoor education.

10/11/2026

Community Ride: Priest Hole is a real gem, this takes you out through the Painted Hills in Mitchell, Oregon. The route 42 miles and 3,200 feet of climbing with the ability to cut it shorter should you run out of juice!

We are riding this Friday, October 16th, rolling out at 10:30 am from the picnic/information area. Please register through the meetup link.

Here are more details:

I spy a great weather window on Friday, so let's head to the Painted Hills for one of our favorite routes: Priest Hole. If you have done it before, you

10/11/2026

Matthew Kramer on Moon Moss, ran across a mountain lion this week on the road just after the lookout. The mountain lion had been prowling the giant meadow below the lookout. Matthew offered up this comment, "This has me thinking hard about all the solo riding I do up here…..We were both surprised. Be careful and be aware. "

Moon Moss is south of Oakridge, OR and is a 43 miler with almost 5,000 feet of climbing. Photos by Matthew Kramer. Here's the Ride Guide: https://dirtyfreehub.org/routes/oregon/moon-moss/

10/09/2026

Glorious day on our Metolius plus Bonus Lakes Community Ride. Trees are peak partying with the larch trees just starting to turn! https://dirtyfreehub.org/routes/oregon/metolius-preserve-bonus-lakes/

10/08/2026

Looking for a gravel adventure outside of Salem, Oregon? Sublimity Hills is a 28-mile loop with 2,100 feet of climbing, mixing quiet pavement with rolling gravel through the Waldo Hills.

Recent rider Sheryl Helms gave it a big thumbs-up:
“I love riding around small towns. Good mix of gravel and pavement… Good climbs, but short enough and lovely descents. Quick ride a little outside of the city. Pancakes were fantastic at the Wooden Nickel.”

She summed it up perfectly: “I’d totally ride this again. Great to get away from the traffic and cars for a while.”

One important heads-up: Sheryl encountered a large livestock guardian dog along the route. Our Ride Guide flags these dogs and includes information on how cyclists should handle an encounter. Be sure to read that section before heading out.

https://dirtyfreehub.org/routes/oregon/sublimity-hills/

10/07/2026

Where oh where has the passport taken you in Central Oregon? We have ten routes for you to finish by next October before we ask you to turn in your stamps! Routes that are riding well right now? Shaniko, Rajneeshee, Billy’s Playground, Ghost of Ashwood, Gravel Cracker, Hauling Lava and Big Red. Routes impacted by the fires? Tygh My Shoes, Meatloaf, and McKay Lollipop.

10/07/2026

Join us Friday, Oct 9th at Suttle Lake to ride the Metolius plus Bonus Lakes routes. Going to be magical! We roll out at 10:00 am. Please make sure you register so we know you are coming!

Metolius Preserve is always special; not to mention Round Lake and Suttle Lake. So let's go see the fall colors; maybe the larch trees will start turning.