Date Reviewed: 05/2006

Length: 91 miles

Technical Difficulty: Moderate to difficult for a fairly narrow, shoulderless section prone to gravel on the pavement.

Location: Road review begins in Heppner at the junction of State Hwy 207 and State Hwy 74 (N45° 21' 12" and W119° 33' 12") and ends in Mitchell at the junction of Hwy 207 and U.S. Hwy 26 (N44° 34' 9" and W120° 9' 40")

Connects With: Hwy 74 - Nye Junction to Heppner and Kahler Basin Rd

Amenities: Gas, food and lodging in Heppner, Spray and Mitchell

Places of Interest: Hardman, John Day River, Spray Pioneer Museum

Review: I rode this section of Hwy 207 in 2003, before this web site was conceived. When plans for creating the site were first proposed, this road was the first one to pop into my head as one I had to ride again so I could include it on the site. I rode it north to south this time. I don't think either direction is better than the other one. This route is great both ways.

Heppner lies in a bowl surrounded by hills, so leaving the town, there's no way to go but up. The road begins innocently enough then rapidly changes to a fairly steep serpentine raceway to the top of the ridge. See the first picture below to get an idea of how fun this part of the road is. The pavement seemed almost brand new and the corners are perfectly banked. I had passed another motorcycle at the bottom of the hill. The rider was turned around taking a picture up the hill. I could see to the top and noticed another rider sitting on his bike looking down. I was entertained by the thought that other riders were as appreciative of the road as I was. When I got to the top, I stopped to snap a picture and here came the rider who was taking the picture. He and the guy waiting at the top were riding partners. They loved this as much as I did and they had to get a picture too. It's that good!

Once at the top of the hill, the road instantly flattens and straightens out into a long straight. What a contrast, but it doesn't last very long before you're back into a very pleasant mix of corners and straights through Ruggs and Hardman. Hardman! You'll wonder if you saw the sign correctly. Are you sure it didn't say Hardtimes? The first time I saw Hardman, I did a double and a triple take. I really couldn't believe my eyes. The place looks like complete abject poverty. Half, or more, of the houses are literally falling down or have been abandoned for a long, long time. I wanted to stop and take a picture but I was afraid I would offend the few people I saw living there. The second time through, I had a different perspective. I'd read that Hardman was a bona fide ghost town. (See the link above.) According to a local I talked to, the residents don't mind someone taking a picture at all. In fact, the people who live there like their unique little town. Okay. Whatever.

Not too far after Hardman, the landscape changes about as abruptly as I've ever seen. You go around a corner and you're thrust from rolling prairie with almost no vegatation except grasses and sagebrush to a thriving pine forest. And it pretty much stays that way until just before Service Creek. The first ten miles, or so, the forested section of road is cut through a narrow slot canyon before it opens up somewhat. There are some really good twisties and sweepers through here and the pavement is real good with ample shoulders.

At about mile post 19, the road gets narrower and much more dangerous. From this point it is a rapid descent all the way to the juntion with Hwy 19 at Spray. The shoulders disappear, the pavement gets quite a bit rougher, the corners tighten and gravel is an almost constant threat. There are several miles of this part of the road that are 20 to 40 mph corners. If aware of the gravel and you ride it prudently this section is still very rewarding.

Spray is a neat little town. I almost find it out of place. It's like a little oasis in the middle of nowhere. It's tidy homes and shade trees seem a stark contrast to the surrounding harsh and dry landscape. In the early 1900s, Spray was the site of a ferry crossing for freight, stage coaches, cattle and gold to cross the John Day River and connect with the The Dalles Military Road farther west. Today, Spray is noted for their Memorial Day festivities, including a rodeo and a half marathon, sometimes run by competitors wearing cowboy boots.

Leaving Spray, the road becomes Hwy 209/Hwy 19 going west and the route changes dramatically from what has come before. You leave the hills here and spend the next 12 plus miles travleing downstream with the John Day River. The river is quite big at this point and the highway seems more like a major route (there are actually fog lines), unlike the road at any point so far. This section is composed of mostly highway-speed, and higher, sweepers with a few 40-45 mph corners thrown in to keep you on your toes. It's easy to not pay attention to the road because of the beautiful scenery as the river cuts through the desert and high canyon walls. (see the eighth picture below)

After traveling west for the last twelve miles, the route leaves Hwy 19 and takes another jog south. Service Creek is not a town, so don't expect to see buildings marking the next intersection on this route. Service Creek is a popular putin point for scenic raft trips down the John Day River. This was once a stagecoach stop. Today, there's a picnic area, campground, parking and a boat launch. This is the last leg on 207 before Mitchell and it's 25 miles of motorcycling bliss.

The road immediately starts climbing the first hill. It's about four miles to the top and five miles down the other side. The pavement is very good, very grippy and the corners are exhilarating. Once at the bottom, the road follows a beautiful valley for a couple miles before climbing again. This whole area is of significant interest to geologists who believe some of the oldest rocks in the state are here. As you ride through, you can see many unusual and spectacular rock formations, stratified hills and folded and compressed rocks in some of the highway cuts. It's up and down, gently, one more time, and at about mile post 20, the road begins a somewhat steep plunge toward Mitchell, the juction with Hwy 2 and the end of the route. This section of the road has absolutely stunning scenery of ancient volcano vents, rugged cliffs and grassy meadows. Oh yeah, the riding is nothing short of awesome too.

This 91 mile route is definitely one of my favorite roads in the state. Lots of scenery, great corners, quaint towns, history, geologic wonders and just a lot of fun. It's a road that will likely stick in your memory for a long time. It's a must-do Eastern Oregon ride!

Rider Comments

"Great pictures. Did a ride through Heppner in 06. Loved the scenery and look forward to riding the area next summer." - Jerry R., Tacoma, Washington