The Birds and the Bees (and the Bikes)

Distance: 200 km (125 miles)

Total climb: About 4500 feet total, 2 moderate climbs (4%) and one steep climb (8%).

Short description: Very scenic, low traffic route along the Nehalem River. Crosses the coastal range twice.

Bikely: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Vernonia-Birkenfeld-Astoria

Elevation graph

Route Map

Long description: The world’s shortest Permanent route sheet:

Start in Vernonia, take OR-47/202 (Nehalem Highway)  towards Birkenfeld and Astoria. When you reach US-101, return to Vernonia the way you came.

That’s pretty much it.  Stop at the Birkenfeld store both ways to get a receipt, and to fill your water bottles.

The ride starts in Vernonia, and the first section covers the same road along the Nehalem River that riders may be familiar from the Oregon Randonneurs spring 200k Birkie Brevet. After the control stop in Birkenfeld, the road continues with mild rollers until the beautiful nature preserve in Jewell. When I rode this permanent in January 2009, I saw three herds of elk, with a total of over 100 elks, some of them no more than 50 feet from the road, who were looking puzzled at those bright yellow people passing by.

After Jewell, the road continues at a very gentle river grade climb for a few miles, and in the winter and spring the white waters in the creek next to the road are quite a sight. The road then climbs at a 4% grade for about a mile before you crest. (In the winter, you may find snow on this section, please check the weather forecast before starting.) Since Vernonia is at about 600 ft elevation, you don’t climb as much on the way to the coast as you do on the way back.

After the summit, you descend for several miles, until the road flattens, about 10-15 miles from Astoria. The prevailing winds in this section are from the coast, so you may find some headwind. If you don’t, chances are there is going to be some headwind heading back. Right before the turnaround point there are some short, moderately steep rollers. In Astoria, there is a Dairy Queen right before US-101, on the right side. There may be other food options on 101, or into town, but I have not checked them.

Back towards Vernonia. After the first few flat miles the road climbs for a couple of miles at a fairly steep grade, around 8%. The road flattens for about a mile before climbing again, but at a less steep 4% grade, for another couple of miles. After you crest, you descent to Jewell, and continue on to Birkenfeld (control location) and Vernonia along the Nehalem River.

Notes: The only services between Vernonia and Astoria are at the Birkenfeld store. During the winter the store is closed on Sundays, and during the rest of the week it closes earlier, around 5 PM. Plan your ride accordingly, making sure to be back in Birkie before the store closes, even if the official control closing time may eb after that.

There are restrooms at the Jewell Nature Preserve, but I have not checked if there is drinking water.