The Connector
Oregon Timber Trail® Alliance Quarterly Newsletter | 2025 | Q2
The Oregon Timber Trail® Alliance needs your help. Please call your Senator today.
Senate Reconciliation - National Public Lands Available for Sale
Oregon State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS
Sources: Esri; U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau; U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Geodetic Survey (NGS)
3.3 MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND
are under threat of being sold
including IN the Oregon Timber Trail Corridor
As written, the Senate’s bill would require the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell off at least 0.5%—and up to 0.75%—of all National Forest and BLM lands, totaling up to 3.3 million acres. And unlike past proposals, which largely limited sales to lands already identified for disposal, the Senate’s bill puts virtually any multiple-use Forest Service or BLM land on the table, including places vital for outdoor recreation. While Wilderness, National Parks, and other protective designations (as well as areas with existing rights like mining claims) are excluded from potential sales, there are virtually no other safeguards on what land can be sold or for what purpose.
We respectfully urge you to call your Senator to protect public land use for all.
Thanks for subscribing to The Connector, OTTA’s quarterly newsletter, where we publish the latest news, events, and resources for those of you interested in the Oregon Timber Trail, its surrounding corridor, or more broadly, bikepacking and outdoor experiences.
In this issue, we’re highlighting the launch of a new gravel route, past and upcoming trail stewardship events, as well as the upcoming Oregon Timber Trail Race Grand Depart & Group Start. We’ve also provided links to the recordings for both Virtual Open Houses featuring Sarah Konefal, Garrett Murphy, and Chris Wilson. And - our 2025 Custom Bike Giveaway fundraiser - your chance to win a custom titanium frame, custom wheelset, and sweet bikepacking bags.
As always, the OTTA appreciates your ongoing commitment to our mission. Through the advocacy of individuals and partners - and their generous financial support - we’re able to continue focusing on providing quality trail experiences.
It's Right Around The Corner..
The Grand Depart of OTT Gravel Takes Place on June 28th!
The new OTT Gravel Route has been described as isolated, challenging, and absolutely stunning. You’ll see some of Oregon’s wildest terrain, following high rocky ridges, skirting alpine lakes, crossing rivers, and hitting a few small communities along the way. The route roughly parallels the original version. The big difference is that the gravel version doesn’t drop down to Oakridge but instead stays on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.
The Grand Depart of our inaugural Gravel Edition rolls out from Lakeview, OR on Saturday, June 28th at 8 AM. Riders will travel more than 550 miles through the high country of Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains on their way to Hood River. It’s going to be an epic challenge and an unforgettable experience!
Trail Maintenance Is A Team Sport | June 26 - 29 Work Party
Join us for the last OTT work party!
Without the dedication and hard work of so many people and partners, portions of the Timber Trail can quickly become difficult to navigate, or worse, nearly unrideable. Over Memorial Day weekend, we completed our first work party in the Fremont National Forest. A dozen volunteers logged-out and brushed about 15 miles of the trail. Thank you, everyone!
Our second work party happened the weekend of June 14 to 15th, with about a half-dozen volunteers joining Board Member Joe Miller on the 15-Mile Creek Loop and Cedar Creek Trail to clear brush and do minor tread work. Thanks to our volunteers and to the 44 Trails group for loaning us tools and hard hats.
We have one more stewardship event scheduled to take place if the forest fires hold off. This event will work on a different section of the Fremont from June 26th to 29th. If you are interested in learning more and/or volunteering, click here.
Enter The 2025 Oregon Timber Trail Race
Now Part of the Oregon Bikepacking Triple Crown (#OB3C)
While the OTTA is not affiliated with the Oregon Timber Trail Race, we do support events that promote ridership and public use of the trail. This year’s edition of the Oregon Timber Trail Race will take place July 12th. The Race Grand Depart is scheduled at 6 AM and includes both those contesting the 300 and 700 mile courses, as well as interested riders in touring mode.
To learn more about the 2025 race, sign up for communications from its organizers, or to register for the event, visit the official site: https://ottrace.wordpress.com/
Did You Miss Our Virtual Open Houses?
Featuring Sarah Konefal, Garrett Murphy, and Chris Wilson
Sarah, Garrett (AKA Move With Murph), and Chris (AKA PNW Bikepacking) shared their Timber Trail experiences with more than 150 of us! During a 90-minute virtual open house, they discussed bike set-up and ride preparation, planning and logistics, as well as course navigation, finding resources, and making adjustments when faced with dynamic trail conditions.
We had a lot of fun, learned a lot, and got tremendous feedback from those of you who attended. If you missed either or both of them — or if you want to watch them again, links to the YouTube episodes are below.
Would you like more virtual open houses?
If so, please email our Marketing & Communications Team with your suggestions. Click here to email us.
Enter to Win the 2025 OTT Custom Bike Giveaway
PEDAL AWAY WITH A CUSTOM TITANIUM FRAME, NEW WHEELSET & Sweet BIKEPACKING BAGS
Winner Takes All!
The OTTA has teamed-up with Mostly Forever Bicycles and Eastern Wheelworks to celebrate the Oregon Timber Trail’s first-ever Gravel Edition. Mostly Forever Bicycles, a fabricator and custom frame builder located in Bend and Eastern Wheelworks, a bike shop and outfitter in La Grande, OR are together sponsoring a giveaway in support of the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance and its launch of the Gravel Edition. They have generously donated the bike frame and wheelset alongside a new set of touring bags.
But you’ve got to enter by September 7th to participate. Review the giveaway’s rules, then submit your entry on our website.
*No purchase necessary to enter.
LEAVE A LEGACY
We invite you to consider including the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance in your will or estate plan to help protect bike-packing access, remote wilderness trails, and public lands for future generations. Your thoughtful gift will ensure the OTT thrives, connecting riders with local communities and preserving Oregon’s backcountry adventure opportunities for years to come.
To learn more, please email admin@oregontimbertrail.org