The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission has officially designated Aufderheide Drive (Forest Service Road 19) as the state’s 18th Scenic Bikeway, marking the first such addition since 2017. The ceremony was help at the southern start of the ride, near The Office bridge in Westfir, OR — May 30, 2025
This 60-mile route winds through the heart of the Willamette National Forest, connecting Oregon Highways 58 and 126, and offers cyclists an immersive experience of Oregon’s natural beauty.
“The scenery was some of the best I’ve ever ridden through. Beautiful rivers, lakes mountains, and forests. And far and away he best downhill section of road I’ve ever ridden!”
– Big E
Named after Robert Aufderheide, former supervisor of the Willamette National Forest, the route traverses along the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers, passing notable landmarks such as Cougar Reservoir, Terwilliger Hot Springs, the historic Box Canyon Guard Station, and Constitution Grove. The bikeway also features over five campgrounds and more than 25 trailheads, providing ample opportunities for exploration.
The designation is the culmination of over a decade of collaborative efforts by Travel Lane County, Cycle Oregon, the U.S. Forest Service, McKenzie Community Partnership, McKenzie Chamber of Commerce and local cycling advocates. Informational kiosks are being installed at each end of the route, with the official opening of the Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway scheduled for spring 2025 .
“Recreational cycling generates over a billion dollars annually for Oregon’s economy, and the state’s one-of-a-kind Scenic Bikeway program offers cyclists a chance to experience Oregon’s stunning beauty in every corner,” said Andy Vobora, Vice President of Stakeholder Relations at Travel Lane County. “We’re honored to have a fourth Scenic Bikeway designated in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. Our thanks go to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and all the partners who helped make this achievement a reality.
The Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway joins the Willamette Valley, Covered Bridges, and McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeways in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region, further establishing Lane County as a premier cycling destination.
To many cyclists, the Aufderheide should have been one of the first routes on the list. It rivals the nearby McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway as one of Oregon’s Top destination rides!
However, safety issues kept the route from being added until they were addressed. Like many first service roads, the Aufderheide was build nearly a decade ago to service resource extraction from the forest – primarily timber harvesting. The south half of the road was built by a contract that used logs to fill in depressions to save money. Over time those logs decomposed and created significant sinkholes. Knowing the value of this route as a tourism draw, the forest service eventually found money to rebuild the road and address the sinkholes, eliminating a big safety concern and opening a pathway for Scenic Bikeway designation.
The route features amazing beauty, cyclists also love that there historically is very little road traffic on this route.
A special shout out to Connor Nolan from Travel Lane County and the team at Cycle Oregon for helping to take this project over the finish line. Also, this project would never have ben completed without the help from Darren Cross the head ranger of the McKenzie Ranger District and the head ranger of the Middle Fork Ranger District.
Local Businesses providing services to the Aufderheide Scenic Bikeway:
McKenzie River Mountain Resort has been a big supporter of this ride and provides a shuttle service for the Aufderheide and other local McKenzie river hikes and bike routes/trails.
Media Contact:
Andy Vobora
Vice President of Stakeholder Relations
Travel Lane County
Phone: 541.501.9398 | 541.743.8770
Email: [email protected]