Review: The motorcycling experience on this ride is fantastic from beginning to end. It appeals to the laid back cruisers as much as to the aggressive sport bike rider. There are ridge top straights through wildflower strewn meadows as sell as tight, challenging s-curves and everything in between.

The scenery, on the other hand, is not as consistent. Unless you think fire-ravaged forest is beautiful, you could be disappointed with a good portion of NF-52. Of course fire is a natural process, and ultimately vital to the longterm health of our forests, but the 1994 Twin Lakes fire really devastated a large swath of land in which this route sits. The forest is quickly being restored, as evidenced by healthy reproduction both natural and helped along by man.

Don't let the fire damage dissuade you from NF-52. The pavement, the corners and some of the expansive views are worth it. Also, the destroyed timber notwithstanding, it is truly awe inspiring to see 22,000 acres of damaged forest and imagine the effort and the will it must have taken to reign in a conflagration of this size. And alas, a huge side benefit to you, the motorcyclist, are the great sight lines the fire created. In many places you can see several corners ahead. A real advantage if you want to ride this road in a more spirited fashion. While the whole road isn't subject to the fire damage, a good portion is. And what fun it is!

The ride starts in Ukiah. Geologists say the Ukiah basin area was once covered by a huge lake. Indian legend tells of a "great rumbling" that happened "many moons ago," and the lake vanished as though it had never been there. Originally called Camas Prairie, the name was changed to Ukiah by E.B. Gamba, the first postmaster, who had lived in Ukiah, California.

The ride out of Ukiah is a climb to an amazing ridgetop road of sweepers and straights offering beautiful vistas to the west, the south and the north. The first few miles goes through meadows of wildflowers and spotty pine forest. As the elevation increases, the forest thickens with Subalpine fir, Ponderosa pine and other high elevation vegatation.

At about 11 miles from Ukiah, the road begins to get curvy and the first of the fire damage is seen. The corners are pretty tame for a mile or so and then all of a sudden the road tightens into what sport-oriented motorcyclists dream of: perfect pavement and perfect turns with good sight lines. Fantastic! Beware the unmarked corners but revel in the fun as you're probably only a gear or two below highway speed and loving every well-engineered turn.

At around the 15 mile point, don't miss the North Fork John Day Overlook. Looking to the southeast, you're looking at the North Fork John Day Wilderness and the North Fork John Day River drainage. On a clear day, you might be able to see the Strawberry Mountains in the Malheur National Forest. Looking to the southwest, you're looking at Bridge Creek Flats. If you're lucky, you might see a herd of elk.

Twenty two miles into the ride, having appreciated the views, the pavement, the corners and the expansive fire devastation, you finally enter the unscathed forest once again. The intensity of the curves has mellowed. You're able to relax and get back in high gear, able to enjoy the view. Don't get too complacent and don't think the fun is over. In about six miles you can drop into a lower gear again for some more fun on NF-52.

The road form here to the end, at NF-51 is a mix of sweepers, a few slower corners and some nice straights through Alpine meadows and forest. NF-52 is on the western slope of the Blue Mountains and is absolutely one of the most beautiful parts of Eastern Oregon. Near the end of the route, you run into NF-51. Take a right for a mile or so to the intersection with NF-73.

While there is stunning beauty at both ends of NF-52, this is a rider's road of great pavement and fun. There are several ways to get to this road and they're all outstanding in their own right. Don't miss NF-52 if you're in the area.

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