North Umpqua River Trail: Steamboat to Marsters Tr1414
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Overall: 7
Aerobic: 4
Technical: 5
Steepness: 4
Flow: 8
Singletrack: 100%
The Steamboat Oregon to Marsters North Umpqua Trail combines the Panther, Calf and Marsters sections into a relatively easy riverside ride.
Type
OAB
Length
Avg: 23.5mi
Ascent
Easy
Elevation Change
TH:1100'
Avg Ascent:5100'
Ascent Incline
5%
Duration
Avg: 4hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
'Easy' is relative to other Cascade Range trails, not some city park ride.
Beginner to intermediate riders will be challenged aerobically and technically on this scenery ride, which is long, has some cliff exposure and covers some rough terrain.
The ride can be extended by starting from the Wright Creek FR4711 TH, especially if the Calf section is closed.
The Calf section may still be periodically closed due to after effects from the 2002 Apple fire, with SR138 as the alternate for that 3.7mi section.
The Marsters section passes through some old growth Doug Fir, with some 800 year old giants to ponder along the way.
Be sure to keep a full tank of gas, and get other provisions before the ride, as the Steamboat and Clearwater shops are not 24/7.
Ask the Diamond Lake Ranger Station about trail closures before traveling to the area.
Expect some trailside poison oak and prepare as needed. Try using Tecnu before the ride.
Directions: See Map. Park at the Mott bridge. NW Forest Pass required right at the TH. View Larger Map. No Map?.
OAB Directions
rocky
- TH: Ride from the Mott bridge, passing a park connector trail on the right at .6mi, at the beginning of a steep .2mi drainage climb, then a creek crossing and descent to another creek crossing at 1.1mi. After yet another creek crossing at 1.5mi, ascend several hundred feet as the trail traverses the hillside above the river, then cross another creek at 2.7mi.
- 4.5mi: After riding through the giant Doug Fir stand, descend steeply to the FR4714 Panther TH and cross the road to pick up the trail again. This is the Calf segment, which is rough due to lack of use and may be closed due to periodic flood damage, a result of erosion caused by the 2002 fire.
- 8.2mi: After several creek crossings, and a ride around Horseshoe Bend, reach the FR4750 Calf TH, the start of the Marsters section. Marsters has some cliff exposure as it traverses up and down the hillside above the now-curvy North Umpqua River.
- 11.8mi: After crossing Deception Creek at 10.6mi, reach the Marsters TH, with an option to ride the Jessie Wright section. Be sure to leave enough energy and time to get back to Steamboat, although a bailout to SR138 and a coast downhill is possible if daylight is fading.
Trail Index
This Ride
North Umpqua Trail 1414
Area
Wilderness
Illahee Lookout Trail 1539
Campgrounds
Apple Creek Campground, Canton Creek Campground, Eagle Creek Campground, Horseshoe Bend Campground, Island Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
