Date Reviewed: 08/24/06

Length: About 39 miles.

Technical Difficulty: Moderate to difficult because of many unmarked corners, some gravel in a few corners and some real tight curves.

Location: This ride report runs north to south. Begin at intersection with Hwy 7 at N44° 39' 15" & W117° 52' 25" and ends in Unity at N44° 26' 13" & W118° 11' 6".

Connects With: Hwy 245 connects Hwy 7 south of Baker City and Hwy 26 at Unity.

Amenities: Gas and groceries in Unity

Places of Interest: Unity Reservoir; dispersed camping accessed via FR 11, east and west of Dooley Mt. Summit.

Review: Even though it's one highway, you could call this route a tale of two roads. The first half couldn't be any different than the second half. Beginning in Salisbury (some maps show a settlement by this name at the intersection with Hwy 7, other maps do not; a twenty-year resident of the area I talked to had never heard of it; I don't recall any sign of a town) the first half climbs over 1700' to 5392' Dooley Mt. Summit and down the other side to the Burnt River. The second half follows the river on mostly flat, or gently rolling land with minimal elevation changes to Unity Reservoir. The first half is radically curvy and will keep you on your toes through some very technical and challenging turns. The second half is meandering and gentle, giving you ample time to simply enjoy the scenery of the river valley. The first half is mountain and forest. The second half is sage-covered rolling hills and river bottom.

Both sections are rewarding in their own way but it is the first half thrill ride that draws the motorcyclists. Beginning at the elusive Salisbury, there are less than two miles of easy riding until you hit the corners. Starting innocently enough with nice 45 mph sweepers it is only two miles before you see the first 20 mph corner. From there it doesn't let up until you're down the other side of the mountain.

The 1700' elevation gain to the summit is about an eight mile ride with a steeper, seven mile descent down the south side. The pavement is great going over the mountain with some gravel in a few corners, due to the fact the shoulders are mostly nonexistent and the turns are so tight. This mountain run is great fun but very tecnhical. At first you see some suggested speed signs but after a while they seem to disappear and leave you on your own to judge appropriate entry speeds. Either the highway engineers figure you get the message by now or else they simply ran out of 20 and 25 mph signs :-)

The road doesn't give you a break until about 15 miles when it begins to mellow with some nice 45 mph-type corners, a few welcome short straights and a less precipitous descent. At 16 miles you leave the forest and the land becomes rolling prairie. Following the Burnt River there are just enough curves, combined with great vistas of the river valley to keep the ride interesting. Even though you're off the mountain and the road is downright tame compared with the ride so far, it is not boring. If the whole ride was made up of this type, it would still be a worthwhile adventure. This is a remote and rugged landscape worthy of appreciation.

At 20 miles the pavement gets a little rougher. Not bad, just not the near-perfect asphalt going up and over the mountain. A relaxing ride now with the occasional 40-45 mph sweepers, the view of the irrigated valley with herds of cattle and horses with a backdrop of distant mountains is fine indeed. A good time to reflect on the previous 20 miles.

About the time you think all the fun stuff is behind you, at the 33 mile point the road takes a fairly dramatic turn for the better as you enter a narrow slot canyon just wide enough for the river and two lanes of asphalt. With a towering bluff on your right the road winds along the river in a series of wonderful compound curves for at least a mile. At the end of this canyon is Unity Dam and Unity Reservoir. Besides a few widely scattered farms along the valley, this is the first sign of real civilization since leaving Hwy 7. After passing the reservoir, the road is a real drone for the approximately five miles to Unity.

This is a really fun road, especially the northern half, and well worth seeking out. I highly recommend it!

Rider Comments

"I rode this stretch of road not once, but twice, during the ZRXOA rally in John Day. It's a truly awesome road with great pavement and great scenery. A must ride road for any sportbike enthusiast!" - Richard Peterson, Milwaukee, Oregon

"Being a native of Eastern Oregon, I have traveled this highway numerous times via pickup and commercial vehicle and made many of my passengers car sick. So traveling this road on my motorcycle is an awesome experience and everyone should have this route on their "Bucket List." The biggest con of hwy 245 are the rocks! Oh, and watch out for livestock and wildlife! As of this writing the southern end of the hwy as been resurfaced." - April, Ironside, Oregon