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The Big Elk Honey Badger routes are some of my favorite for a bunch of reasons. The terrain is fairly gentle, so the climbs tend to have lesser gradients. It’s up in the big timber flanking Brown Mtn with lots of shade, making it a popular destination when the heat sets in the valley. The south and north forks of Little Butte Creek and Daley Creek cut through the routes giving you lots of places to filter water and refill a bottle with fresh, cold water. The roads are laid out in a manner that also allows for a ton of route changing to fit how far and how long you want to ride for with plenty of early bailout options or places to extend the ride. All the routes seem like there’s more descending than climbing and as a bigger guy, that’s a rare treat. Lastly, all the routes finish with a long, smooth, cool descent back to the car where a savvy rider has stashed a cold beverage or two to cut the ride dust with.All three routes start and finish at the intersection of Big Elk Rd (FS Rd 37) and Brown Mtn Rd (FS Rd 3705). While there’s no single large parking lot, there’s plenty of dispersed spots right there that will accommodate your vehicles. Make certain you car is completely off the road and no blocking
anyone and you’re golden. There’s plenty of springs and creeks to filter water from, but despite how cool and clear it looks please filter. They run cattle up here and drinking unfiltered water is an effective but not enjoyable weight loss program.
The short route is an easy 20ish mile loop on the south side of Brown Mtn that is a great taster of all the types of terrain that the area offers. When the temperatures reach the 90s in the Rogue Valley, it’s become one of my default mid week after work rides.
The mid distance is a little more rough and tumble with some extra snowmobile trail thrown in to spice thigs up a bit. It also goes right past the South Brown Mtn PCT shelter which has a pump that supplies fresh, cold potable water that doesn’t need to be filtered. It also shares the extra loop at the beginning of the ride with the long route around Robinson Butte.
The long route crosses Dead Indian Memorial Rd and takes you through the awesomely named Desolation Swamp to Clover Creek Rd. After Crossing Clover Cr Rd you get more cinder roads through the silver tip firs over to Keno Access Rd close to Surveyor Campground, and then back to Dead Indian Memorial Rd where you’ll get back on the short and medium routes.
The gravel has your typical grey logging road rock, although it’s fairly smooth, red cinder roads, dirt snow mobile trails, and smooth pavement that is out in the middle of the woods for no reason. A 40c tire with minimal tread works really well as the loose and rowdy sections are fairly short and easy.
Here’s directions to where to park. There’s lots of spots within a few hundred feet of the Google pin so if this spot is full, there’s still plenty of places to tuck in the trees and off the road. Just remember to keep your car out of the grass and vegetation as it is fire season.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/E1RR7QAmWGzhjDDB8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
Here’s the links to the routes.
Big Elk Short
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39640181
Big Elk Medium
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45032049
Big Elk Long
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43707100
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Big Elk Rd, 441 Big Elk Rd, Ashland, OR 97520, United States,Keno, Oregon
