06/23/2026
🚴♂️Stage 1: Sisters to McKenzie⛰️
Oregon Trail Gravel returns to its roots this year, and legendary Santiam Sandbox is back. 🏜️🏝️The good news? Riders tackle it early in Stage 1, when legs are fresh and spirits are high.
At mile 22.5 for Pioneers and mile 14.5 for Settlers, riders enter the original section of the Historic Santiam Wagon Road. Built in the early 1860s to connect Central Oregon with the Willamette Valley, this route was originally designed for oxen and wagons—not gravel bikes. The road cuts through deep volcanic ash and pumice, creating eight miles of riding, pushing, and problem-solving that have become a hallmark of the Oregon Trail experience.
When riders reach the Sandbox, the field will already be well spread out. The first 6.5 miles uphill present relatively low risk despite the challenging surface. The final 1.5 miles, however, deliver the true Santiam experience: deep sand combined with sharp volcanic rock embedded in the roadbed, creating a memorable one-two punch before reaching smoother terrain. ⛰️
At mile 30.7 for Pioneers and mile 22.8 for Settlers, riders emerge from the historic wagon road onto traditional Forest Service roads. 🌲 Here, the landscape transforms dramatically as the High Desert gives way to lush forests and towering evergreens. The reward is immediate - a long descent toward the Willamette Valley on some of the smoothest and most enjoyable gravel roads in the Pacific Northwest.
For Settlers, only a handful of short climbs remain before a mostly downhill run into Blue River. Pioneers, however, still have one significant climb ahead before Aid Station 3, where opportunities await to collect Crown of the Mountain points or launch a decisive move for the stage victory. 🏆
With more than 2,000 feet of net elevation loss and smooth, fast roads making up nearly 60% of the route, Stage 1 is designed to be quick, exciting, and an unforgettable way to begin your Oregon Trail journey.
