Mileage: 28.0
Climbing: 2915′
Starting point: Mosier, OR
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So you think you’re tough? You like to ride hills? If you’re really hardcore, you can ride this as fast as the pros in the Cherry Blossom Classic. 1:15 is the average loop time for the Cat 1 men.
Not so tough? Take it easy. The beautiful views of the desert to the east of The Dalles and the Columbia River are well worth your trouble. You may not love the climb out of Mosier, but you’ll love the descent into The Dalles. And the almost-always-shady flat time trial from The Dalles to Rowena is a blast, especially in an east wind. Just don’t do this ride on a strong west wind day, or that time trial will just be a trial. Enjoy the curvy climb from Rowena to Rowena Crest (you’ve probably seen that road in car, motorcycle and cycling ads). And bask in the stellar view from the Rowena Crest viewpoint. This is a fantastic ride. No arguing with that.
Start in downtown Mosier. Take a right at Center Street. Turn left onto 3rd Ave. Bear left up the hill onto State Road. Go up. Go up more. Pass Marsh Cutoff Road on the left and climb up the hardest hill of the ride. Keep riding up. At approximately 7 miles, you’ll reach the peak of Sevenmile/State Road hill, at 1820 feet. Descend down awesome switchbacks into The Dalles. At 12 miles, take a left at Chenowith Road. Turn Left at Chenowith Loop West. When the road hits a T intersection, take a left onto Old Highway 30. Follow this for approximately 8.5 miles to the top of Rowena Crest. You’re almost done climbing at this point. Follow the 30 from Rowena Crest back into Mosier for a total of 28 miles and around 2900 feet of climbing.