Here is a selection of five one-day rides, short
or longer trips, beginning and ending in John
Day, or you choose your starting point.
Keep the Shiny Side Up!
RIDE 1 65 miles
Leave John Day headed west on Hwy. 26 approx. 18 miles to
Forest Service Road 21. Sign reads Fields Creek, Murderers Creek.
Go south on FS Road 21 being sure to turn left where road T’s at
Murderers Creek as the right fork becomes gravel after a few
miles. Stay on FS Road 21 to Paulina/Izee Hwy (Grant Co. Road
63) and turn left going approx. 4 miles to Hwy. 395. Turn left and
go approx. 17 miles to Canyon City and John Day.
RIDE 2 84 miles
Leave John Day headed east on Hwy. 26, 13 miles to Prairie City.
Turn right on Main Street and left on Logan Valley Road (County
Road 62). approx. 55 miles until you reach Seneca. Turn right on
Hwy. 395 and travel north approx. 26 miles back to John Day.
RIDES
HEATHER ROOKSTOOL PHOTO
Grant County’s winding highways, scenic
views and back roads offer a treasure trove
of riding experiences for motorcyclists.
T
he scenery features starkly beautiful rock formations at
Picture Gorge, west of Dayville on Highway 26, and Cathe-
dral Rock and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
area on Highway 19, south of Kimberly. The route between
Monument and Long Creek features Sunken Mountain and
brightly colored rocky outcroppings. Highway 26 takes riders
along open fields, flanked by mountains, and through the towns of Mt.
Vernon, John Day and Prairie City, and over the lush, forested Dixie Butte
to Austin. Highway 395 winds past Canyon Mountain and south to
Seneca. Whatever route you choose, expect light traffic, curving roads
and fresh air – all amid the beauty of Grant County.
Local riders love the curves and scenery in Grant County and think
you can't get this experience anywhere else. Locals’ favorite rides include
the Monument Loop from John Day and through Kimberly, Monument
and Long Creek; the Logan Valley Loop from Canyon City to Seneca, on
a forest road to Logan Valley, and on to the Trout Farm and Prairie City;
and a longer ride that goes from John Day to Unity and to Baker City.
RIDE 3 108 miles
Leave John Day headed west on Hwy. 26 to Mt. Vernon. Turn
right at intersection and go north through Long Creek on Hwy.
395. Turn right on County Road 20, ride approx. 34 miles to Hwy.
7. Turn right on Hwy. 7 and go 1-1.5 miles to the intersection
with Hwy. 26 at Austin Junction. Turn right and ride over Dixie
Summit and into Prairie City, go 13 miles and you’re back in
John Day.
RIDE 4 125 miles
Leave John Day headed west on Hwy. 26 through Mt. Vernon
and Dayville. In Picture Gorge approx. 7 miles west of Dayville,
go north on Hwy. 19. You will pass the John Day Fossil Beds Vis-
itors Center. At the Kimberly Store you turn right to go through
Monument to Long Creek. In Long Creek turn right on Hwy.
395 and drive south to Mt. Vernon. Turn left on Hwy. 26 and go
east and you’re back in John Day.
RIDE 5 197 miles
Leave John Day headed east on Hwy. 26 through Prairie City.
At Austin Junction turn left on Hwy. 7 approx. 25 miles and
after you cross the railroad tracks watch for the sign for
Sumpter. Turn left and it’s about 2-3 miles into Sumpter. From
Sumpter go north on the same road approx. 19 miles to Gran-
ite. Continue on the same road to Ukiah. 18 miles east of Ukiah
is Lehman Hot Springs on Hwy. 244. Returning to Ukiah, go
west on Hwy. 244 to Hwy. 395. Turn left again and take 395
south to Mt. Vernon and Hwy. 26, turn left and head back to
John Day, approx. 8 miles.
MyEagleNews.com | OFFICIAL GRANT COUNTY VISITOR GUIDE 2015 | 19