MT HOOD ROAD CYCLING

Cycling The Devil's Backbone

If you like spending your mountain time in motion, the roads around Rainbow Trout Farm, Alder Creek, Sleepy Hollow and Marmot provide great scenic drives and cycling.  The road passing directly through Marmot was once called “The Devil’s Backbone,” and was part of the toll route Sam Barlow established for Oregon Trail pioneers. 

As you enjoy the expansive views and gentle twists and turns of these quiet roads, imagine rolling along in a covered wagon behind a yoke of oxen, wondering how much longer to Oregon City and the end of the trail. 

To give you a comparison between then and now, by car it’s about 40 minutes to drive the 30 miles from Marmot to Oregon City – but a covered wagon did only 15 or so miles a day.  What a difference!

September/October 2007 « Back to this issue...