Carlton to Beaver

[RonC]

Rode the Nestucca River Rd. last weekend between Carlton and Beaver, on the way to Pacific City. Still a beautiful route, but not quite as nice as when the road was closed off in the middle to motor vehicles.

Thought I would warn those using Google maps that while NW Panther Creek Rd. is shown as the main road on Google maps (cutting left off of NW Meadow Lake Road), that you should just stay on Meadow Lake Road until it turns into Nestucca River Rd. Taking the Panther Creek Rd. "shortcut" results in an extra 1.5 miles of gravel, some steep enough (and deep enough gravel) that it required walking so as not to lose traction with 23c road tires. I had no problem maneuvering the expected (and previously ridden) gravel section of Nestucca River road.

Oh yeah, one other thing. The hills are steeper than they used to be.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by RonC

Oh yeah, one other thing. The hills are steeper than they used to be.

Upthrust from the coastal subduction zone, no doubt about it.

[DaveT]

Contrary to what they taught me in high school geology class about erosion, personal experience on the bike shows that mountains get higher every year.

[drosen]

Ron, when you went over Nestucca Pass, did you encounter the mile or so of gravel that is after that park on the westside of the mountain? I've gone over Meadow Lake to Beaver, but won't go any more because of that gravel, or do you know of a non-gravel route?

Originally Posted by RonC

Rode the Nestucca River Rd. last weekend between Carlton and Beaver, on the way to Pacific City. Still a beautiful route, but not quite as nice as when the road was closed off in the middle to motor vehicles.

Thought I would warn those using Google maps that while NW Panther Creek Rd. is shown as the main road on Google maps (cutting left off of NW Meadow Lake Road), that you should just stay on Meadow Lake Road until it turns into Nestucca River Rd. Taking the Panther Creek Rd. "shortcut" results in an extra 1.5 miles of gravel, some steep enough (and deep enough gravel) that it required walking so as not to lose traction with 23c road tires. I had no problem maneuvering the expected (and previously ridden) gravel section of Nestucca River road.

Oh yeah, one other thing. The hills are steeper than they used to be.

[lynnef]

Gravel is still there. Very hard packed, though.

[drosen]

Originally Posted by lynnef

Gravel is still there. Very hard packed, though.

Thanks. I wonder why the county or state doesn't pave that small part. It's a tough ride from Carlton to Beaver, but the challenge is the fun part.

[RonC]

There is a paved route that you can take to avoid the gravel, but it is not well marked. At just over 15 miles out from the center of Carlton there is a road that cuts sharply back and up to the left, called Bald Mountain Road. There used to be signage, but is is no longer marked. There is another road that cuts off to the left about a mile before it that you can use as a heads-up reminder. You take Bald Mountain about 7-8 miles to Bible Creek Rd. (I believe it's called Testament Creek on Google Maps, maybe the name has changed?). Veer to the right on Bible Creek/Testament Creek and go another 7-8 miles until you re-join Nestucca River Rd.

I was planning on taking this route, but one of my riding friends was gassed, and there is a significant amount of climbing on this paved route. It's been years since I rode this, so no guarantees on the condition of the road. But it used to be pretty good.

Regarding the gravel section on Nestucca River Rd., I think its more like 2-miles long, but it is mostly very hard packed as Lynne indicated. Part of it I was able to maneuver at up to 20 mph on 23c tires, but it was mostly a 10-15 MPH bone rattler.

[drosen]

Originally Posted by RonC

There is a paved route that you can take to avoid the gravel, but it is not well marked. At just over 15 miles out from the center of Carlton there is a road that cuts sharply back and up to the left, called Bald Mountain Road. There used to be signage, but is is no longer marked. There is another road that cuts off to the left about a mile before it that you can use as a heads-up reminder. You take Bald Mountain about 7-8 miles to Bible Creek Rd. (I believe it's called Testament Creek on Google Maps, maybe the name has changed?). Veer to the right on Bible Creek/Testament Creek and go another 7-8 miles until you re-join Nestucca River Rd.

I was planning on taking this route, but one of my riding friends was gassed, and there is a significant amount of climbing on this paved route. It's been years since I rode this, so no guarantees on the condition of the road. But it used to be pretty good.

Regarding the gravel section on Nestucca River Rd., I think its more like 2-miles long, but it is mostly very hard packed as Lynne indicated. Part of it I was able to maneuver at up to 20 mph on 23c tires, but it was mostly a 10-15 MPH bone rattler.

Fantastic. I think I'll drive it one of these days. I don't mind the climbing, but that gravel really bugs me for some reason.

[Matt P.]

Originally Posted by RonC

Rode the Nestucca River Rd. last weekend between Carlton and Beaver, on the way to Pacific City. Still a beautiful route, but not quite as nice as when the road was closed off in the middle to motor vehicles.

How many cars did you run into? When I've ridden it in the past, I encountered a grand total of 4 cars for the entire route. (that was west to east, I'd imagine there'd be more going from east to west, since the traffic is higher near Carlton when climbing up that side than if descending)

[RonC]

Originally Posted by Matt P.

How many cars did you run into?

There weren't many, maybe 10-15, so still a very quite route.