Please click here to jump to Pricing within the Overview section that includes all tour details.

Crater Lake & The Cascades Bike Tour: Highlights

Cycling The Cascade Range of Southern Oregon

Our Crater Lake & The Cascades Oregon bike tour was designed to complement our Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park tours. Although the Crater Lake & The Cascades tours offers a bit more overall challenge than our Glacier tour, if one has ridden in Glacier, then our Crater Lake bike tour is a great choice!

The Crater Lake & The Cascades bike tour covers some of the most remote and car-free terrain within the Cascade Range of southeast Oregon traveling between three national forests, visiting Crater Lake, riding through dense old growth forests, and over stunning volcanic passes. This should be every cyclists bucket list tour!

Way back in 2017 we took an intermediate to advanced-level group of long time Lizard Head Cycling riders on the Crater Lake tour. These clients reported that they loved the Crater Lake bike tour with a few saying it was their favorite Lizard Head Cycling tour ever. High praise!

You can doooo it! On Lizard Head Cycling tours one can customize each day’s mileage. We offer “bumps” from each aid station. These are 10 to 15 mile shuttles down the road that put cyclists out front. This is something we are well known for. Yes, we offer full sag support each day of our tours. It is not about riding ALL the miles, it is about getting out there and giving it your best.

Overall, the Crater Lake & The Cascades tour is not considered one of our most difficult tours. Yes, there are a couple of big climbs: such as up to Crater Lake and McKenzie Pass, but overall the tour is a good tour for intermediate, upper-intermediate and advanced level… this is a fantastic bike tour!

Crater Lake Bike Tour: Testimonials

Read what previous guests on our Crater Lake & The Cascades Bike tour have been saying…

Guides Dave and Lewis were simply great. They are a great team and really seemed connected. Lunches were fabulous every day and their breakfasts were also great. They worked hard to get us around the fires and road closures.

The route is gorgeous. McKenzie Pass is outstanding and the last day route was sublime with the climb at the start and then a great, non-technical descent. I consider Crater Lake to be the most beautiful place I have seen with my own eyes in the lower 48 states.

The Steamboat Inn is fabulous – location, rooms, food, the owner. Superb. Crater Lake Lodge – a throwback to an earlier time; so cool. The Old School in Bend – unique and super comfortable. McKenzie Lodge – quirky but perfectly fine, especially with the hot springs right on site.

We all love Lizard Head and no doubt will be back for another tour! – David

Fantastic trip, leaders, people and rides. MY FAVORITE WAS MCKENZIE PASS!!!!!!! – Sue

The trip’s been great so far. Deanne and Rashid have been terrific and the weather at Crater Lake alone made the trip a success. Never expected to snowshoe in June! – David

McKenzie Pass. One of my most favorite rides ever. Our guides, Deanne and Rashid, are very good together. The massage therapist on tour is so accommodating and she is very, very good at massages. Buddy just mentioned his massage was A+. – Louise

After riding around [Crater lake] many of us went over in the afternoon to hike down to the lake for a swim and will admit that everybody thought it was amazing with the most spectacular deep blue we’ve ever experienced. Plus the temperature was really nice. – David C.

Crater Lake & The Cascades Bike Tour: Dates

Potential tour dates are listed below and not all tour dates will run. Lock in your preferred tour date early as unopened tour dates will be closed. Please see the Spring/Autumn Tour Calendar and the Summer Tour Calendar for confirmed departures. Any unopened date can be a Custom Week (9 riders required). Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891

HOT TIP! If the summer dates for the Crater Lake & The Cascades do not work for your schedule, then please consider our Colorado Cols tour as an alternative.

2026 Tour Dates

• July 19 to 25, 2026 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED
• July 26 to August 1, 2026 (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO!

• September 9 to 15, 2025 (Book Now!)

Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.

Why Should You Sign Up Now And OPEN A Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so we can commit to that date.

When you OPEN a date, you get to pick your preferred departure and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets the rider minimum. Don't wait. Just do it!

BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.

NOTE: In anticipation and encouragement of future tour sign-ups prior to reaching the tour minimum, the Lizard Head Cycling website may be updated to show TOUR A GO prior to actual tour confirmation. Even if the website says that the tour is a GO, please wait for your official Email Confirmation before booking non-refundable travel reservations.

Crater Lake & The Cascades Bike Tour: Overview

Tour Length: 7-Days Cycling/6-Nights Lodging

Arrival Town/Airport: Portland, Oregon (Portland International Airport – PDX)

Departing Town/Airport: Portland, Oregon (Portland International Airport – PDX)

Total Miles: 380 Miles (Can I keep up on this tour?)

Ability Level: Upper Intermediate (3) , Advanced (3/4) , Expert (4) – Several long climbs to higher elevations and overall higher mileage days.

Tour Cost: $3,610 per person with shared accommodations. Add $600 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (6-Nights).

Tour Discounts: Please see our Reptile Rewards & Tour Discounts page to learn more about Reptile Rewards, Tour Discounts, and Group Discounts. Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions – only the highest valued discount is provided. Please note that for discounts to apply the tour minimum must be met.

New Year Discount - Register for a 6-Day or longer 2026 road bike tour before January 7, 2026 and take $150 off. Applies to road bike tours and new registrations only. Please make sure to mention this offer when you register.
Excludes Self-Guided tours. Tour discounts cannot be combined nor are they stackable with any other discounts or promotions.

Tour Includes: 7-Days guide service, 6-Nights lodging, all meals (except 1 dinner & 1 breakfast), entrance fees, energy food, liquid refreshments, in-tour shuttles, and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages, bike rental, and massage (if available) are additional.

Non-Riding Spouses & Partners on Tour: If a non-riding spouse or partner would like to join you on tour, and they have their own transportation, they can stay in your room for the cost of the tour's single room supplement. Drivers of personal vehicles are responsible for their own park entrance passes when needed. We cover park entrance fees for cyclists. Please note that non-riders cannot check into hotels prior to guide arrival as the guides need to manage the check-in process. Checking in a large group can be challenging and take longer than normal, so non-riders need to hang back and be patient. Non-riding spouses and partners are welcome to join the Lizard Head meal plan, which includes breakfasts and dinners for $75 per day. Note: Lunches are not included for non-riders driving their own vehicles due to the inherent variability of both lunch timing and locations. Non-riders should plan to explore each day.

Lodging for 6 Nights: (subject to change)

• Night 1: Steamboat Inn, Idleyld Park, Oregon
• Nights 2 & 3: Crater Lake Lodge, Crater Lake National Park
• Night 4: McMenamins Old St. Francis School or The Oxford Hotel, Bend, Oregon
• Nights 5 & 6: Belknap Hotsprings and Lodge, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon

Meeting Hotel and Ending Hotel reservations and costs are NOT included unless specified otherwise. Guests are on their own to make reservations at the Meeting Hotel or Ending Hotel, or other nearby hotels.

Road Bike Rentals

The make, model, and specifications of rental bikes may differ from what is described below. Please contact us if you have any specific needs or have any questions about our rental bikes.

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is proud to rent Scott Bikes. The Scott Addict 10 Disc was designed from the ground up with those longer days in mind. With geometry that is less focused on racing and more on enduring, the Addict 10 will be your go-to when you’re looking to put the miles in.

The Scott Addict 10 Disc features: Carbon Frame and Fork, Shimano Ultegra 2x11 Drivetrain, 34x32 Compact Gearing, 30mm Tires, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Approx. Weight: 16.89 lbs / 7.66 kg (without pedals)

Road E-Bike Rentals

Click Here for more information on our Road E-Bike Rentals, including pricing. E-Bike rental availability is limited, so please reserve early. Although E-Bikes are great, our tours were originally designed to be ridden without motorized assistance. We keep our cyclists together with a variety of techniques, including staggered starts and "bumps" along the road.

If you have any further questions, please read more on our Rental Bikes FAQ page. You can also email us at info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com or call us at 970.728.5891

☛ Learn more about our Rental Bikes and Equipment

Meals On Tour

Lizard Head Cycling Guides provides most meals on all tours (unless otherwise noted), including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guides will prepare a daily lunch en route for nearly every tour, both road and off-road, as well as provide nutritious snacks at periodic aid stations during the day.

Most of our road tours utilize local restaurants for all meals and, occasionally, guides may prepare a dinner or two during a tour. Due to the nature of being "off the grid", most of our off-road tours feature guides preparing meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. FUN NOTE: When guides prepare a meal in camp and the guests sit around and watch, this is called "Guide TV".

We also pride ourselves on being able to cater to specific dietary requests and needs, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works best for you during your tour. Gluten free, Dairy free, Vegan, or someone who loves it all – we will keep you well-fed during the tour!

Lunches: Lizard Head Cycling Guides prepare healthy lunches to keep you going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses and, of course, plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies.

Dinners: On our road tours, Lizard Head Cycling sources our favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients and guests choose whatever they desire to eat off the menu, including: appetizer, salad, entrée, and of course, dessert... yum! Also, while on tour, if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days, sleep is the most important post-ride element.

Overall Route Map

Below is an example of the daily routes for this tour, which are subject to change based on season, available accommodations, road closures, and other factors. The actual routes will be made available to registered participants before their tour, so please view these routes as a general outline of what to expect.

Crater Lake & The Cascades Bike Tour: Itinerary*

*PLEASE NOTE: Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures, and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Also, the distances and elevation profiles shown below may not reflect the actual distances and elevations while on tour as these are provided here to give an idea as to the anticipated mileage and terrain. Please view this itinerary, the distances, and elevation profiles as a general outline of what to expect while on this tour.

Day 1: Cottage Grove to Steamboat Inn
49 miles with up to 3,935 feet of climbing

Following a two-hour shuttle from Portland, Oregon, we tackle the first day starting from Cottage Grove, Oregon soon finding ourselves deep in the dense Oregon forest. About halfway into our ride, we hit our first big climb of the tour up a Category 1 hill with an average grade of 10% and then enjoy a rapid descent to our accommodations at the Steamboat Inn.

Day 2: Steamboat Inn to Crater Lake
Standard Route: 40 miles with up to 5,250 feet of climbing
EFI Option: 63 miles with up to 7,430 feet of climbing

Today offers a challenging ride as we gradually attain an elevation gain of nearly 8,000′ inside Crater Lake National Park. From the starting hotel, the route climbs gently over the course of the day until we reach the indescribable beauty of Crater Lake.  Once on the rim, we ride west along the rim of the Crater, stopping to enjoy the views, and end the ride at Crater Lake Lodge.

Day 3: Layover – Crater Lake Loop
33 miles with up to 3,810 feet of climbing

Today is the day to take in the splendor of Crater Lake with a casual loop ride around this magnificent natural wonder. We ride in the morning and then have the afternoon to lounge at the historic Crater Lake Lodge while soaking it all in.

Day 4: Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
Standard Route: 45 miles with up to 2,220 feet of climbing
EFI Option: 69 miles with up to 3,150 feet of climbing

Today is all about the beauty of the Cascades as we ride the gorgeous Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway with magnificent views of it’s many lakes and stunning views of Mt. Bachelor. We finish in Bend, Oregon and check into our delightfully quirky accommodations at McMenamins Old St. Francis School.

Day 5: McKenzie Pass
Standard Route: 37 miles with up to 2,040 feet of climbing
EFI Option: 58 miles with up to 3,565 feet of climbing

Departing from Bend, the morning offers an easy 20 mile ride to Sisters, Oregon from where we ride up to McKenzie Pass and amaze in it’s otherworldly volcanic beauty. Those looking for a shorted distance can shuttle to Sisters. We then enjoy a 23 mile descent to end the day at Belknap Hotsprings and Lodge to take a well deserved dip in the refreshing warm waters.

Day 6: Layover – Belknap Hot Springs
Optional Blue River Reservoir Ride: 35 miles with up to 1,490 feet of climbing

After 5 days of riding, today is a perfect day to give the legs a well deserved rest in the hot springs at our lodge, or do both by engaging a ride within an old growth temperate rain forest to nearby Blue River Reservoir and then back.

Day 7: Rainforest Riding on State Highway 126
Standard Route: 39 miles with up to 1,650 feet of climbing
EFI Option: 69 miles with up to 3,595 feet of climbing

Saving what is perhaps the best for last, our final day starts from Belknap Hot Springs rides state highway 126, where we meander deep into an old growth forest. At the end, we shuttle back to the meeting hotel in Portland to end our tour. Well Done!

Crater Lake & The Cascades Bike Tour: Logistics & FAQs

General Tour & Cancellation Policies

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of our tour and cancellation policies, which can be found by clicking here.

Travel Insurance

If you have not already, now would be a great time to consider adding travel insurance to your tour. You are welcome to use any travel insurance company you would like. We recommend Generali/Trip Mate.

American Guests - use this link: http://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/get-a-quote.html?partner=LIZA0855

• The Premium Plan is the only plan which offers Pre-Existing coverage so long as the plan is purchased prior to Final Payment.
• The Premium Plan is the only plan that offers an optional Cancel For Any Reason - the policy must be purchased within 24 hours of initial trip deposit, the full trip cost must be insured, and if they cancel for Any Reason, it must be 48 hours prior to departure, and the reimbursement for an Any Reason claim is 60% of pre-paid, insured, non-refundable trip cost.
• Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-874-2442 for coverage questions and policy modifications or to purchase by phone. Agency Code: LIZA0855

Canadian Guests - use this link: https://tripmate.catravelins.ca/?utm_source=lizardhead