Bald Mountain Road / Willamina Creek Road

Road Report provided by Joe Trombetta

If you’re up in the Northwestern Oregon’s Tillamook and Yamhill Counties, you’ll find some excellent riding up there. Twisty gnarly little roads that benefit greatly from some off-road and marginal-road experience, for certain, but very rewarding when the other roads are full of cars and RVs.

Up in the Coastal Range, 17 miles East of Carlton and off NW Nestucca Rd is Bald Mountain Rd.

Traveling North to South there is a climb followed by a long, slow descent of about 2000ft from beginning to end. The road is about 25 miles one-way and takes about an hour travel time at average speeds.

The road is a mixture of sweepers and twisties, and like Nestucca Rd, this is probably “NOT a road for beginners or recently-returning riders”. The pavement quality is excellent with little or no gravel as of May’10.

A few things to consider for canyon-carvers and speedier folk… The road starts and ends at average width but becomes one-car wide (or thinner) for most of the road. This is probably never travelled and there is 2 feet of moss lining both sides of the road. I saw no cars from either direction during my 2+ hour ride, so risking a crash while riding solo would not be a good time. This might be in some kind of state park and there are ATV trails that cross over the road all throughout the area, but I didn’t see any of those either.

There are no amenities or cell signal anywhere. There is an outhouse about halfway through but no running water. I do not remember any speed limit (or any other signs) but the scenery is where my eyes strayed when not on the road. Mostly forest with some great spots overlooking Yamhill County, bring a camera. There are lots of side-roads that either end up reconnecting to larger roads or dead-ending; well worth exploring if you have the time and gas.

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Twisties, Western Oregon | July 11th, 2010
4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Chris Says:
    June 22nd, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    6-22-2011 Just did this one today! It was a great road. It was pretty much everything Joe had said. Though I did see 2 cars and a older gent on a bicycle. (with a basket on the front) Moss and pine needles on the shoulders, a little moss in the center of the sometimes narrow road. Sheridan Vista Overlook (outhouse). Next time I will take a camera. Today would not of mattered as it was overcast and I was looking down on some of the clouds. I had not really intended the route today, and was just checking out the North end. And thought how bad could it be (I could always turn around) As I was on a Sportster, and not on a Adventurer. Before I knew it, I was on top. Was a great ride, little chilly. Twisties and Sweepers. I will do this one again!

  2. Kevin Says:
    July 5th, 2011 at 12:33 AM

    There is a bit of paved road up there if I’m not mistaken. And from what I remember you can see Mts St Helens, Hood, Jefferson and Adams.

  3. Roy Says:
    July 6th, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    I approached a portion of this ride from further to the West. Riding west along the Nestucca River Rd, 1.8 miles past the Alder Glen campground, you’ll take a hard left uphill onto what I believe is “Bible Creek Rd”. It climbs up the pass, then crests out near the Upper Nestucca OHV area…then connects to Willamina Creek Rd, heading down the hill into “Lumbertown USA”. Epic ride, no traffic even on the 4th of July Holiday.

    The moss is mostly dried up…road in excellent shape. Esp Nestucca river rd, which a crew was re-striping the centerline on the morning of 7-5-2011.

    If I would’ve taken a left at the Bible Creek/ Willamina Creek junction and headed uphill, how much further does it go?

  4. Rick Says:
    July 7th, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    I did a portion of this myself yesterday afternoon. I love riding Meadow Lake Rd to 101 and saw this little road off to the right on my way back to Hillsboro. Had no idea how far it went but I got a few miles past the overlook. I saw one car and it was parked so no issues what-so-ever on it. What a cool place to ride. I ride a KLR650 and those trails looked quite inviting. Can’t wait to go back.

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