Home, home on the range, where the mustangs and the antelope play.
That’s the tune you will be singing by this classic wild west ride. The route circumnavigates the Big Summit Prairie, a beautiful prairie deep within the Ochoco National Forest. This ride is best in late spring / early summer when the flowers are in full bloom, the grasses are green, the creeks are running full, and the antelope are perky. And if you haven’t been to the Ochoco National Forest, it’s just a gravel cyclist dream. Empty roads with beautiful views.
"Big Summit Prairie, is a U.S. Forest Service designated wildflower viewing area, with more than a hundred species of native plants, including the rare Peck’s Mariposa lily. The Audubon Society recognizes Big Summit Prairie as an important birding location, with sandhill cranes, woodpeckers, and other pine-loving bird species. A number of butterfly species frequent the Prairie during the summer, including the silver-bordered meadow fritillary butterfly, known from only three Oregon locations. Mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and Rocky Mountain elk are commonly seen in the area as well. [The Oregon Encyclopedia]"
This is one of Gravel Girl’s favorite spring rides– she loves the antelope and wild mustangs that live there. We’ve also had reports of sandhill cranes and badgers along the river so keep your eyes open. Also look out for the Peck’s mariposa lily, a tulip-like plant with lavender petals, a plant only found in the Ochoco Mountains. But to get a great feel for the ride, flip through the photos: the pictures tell the whole story. This route was also featured in Bend Magazine.
