Moonshine Park to Valsetz

About Moonshine Park to Valsetz

The route is 40 miles, with 2930' of climbing, and is 100% unpaved.

Essential information

Starting location: Moonshine Park (see location). Public parking is available.

Distance & drive time (from downtown Corvallis) (see route): 42 miles; 1 hour

RWGPS route map: 40 miles; +2930'; 100% unpaved

Limitations on public access: This route uses private timber company roads that are subject to limits on public access and fire season restrictions and closures. This area is most likely to be open between Mid-September and early July. Non-motorized travel and passenger vehicles are allowed 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunrise. The following activities or vehicles are prohibited: Camping; fires; electric bikes; motorcycles; ATVs; target shooting; trapping.

According to Weyerhaeuser, the Siletz Gorge Road from Wildcat Bridge (1 mile north of Moonshine Park) to Gravel Creek is open for motorized and non-motorized access during weekends and non-motorized access during weekdays. Non-motorized access is allowed behind locked gates. To obtain the latest status information call the Weyerhaeuser Northwest Recreation Hotline message at 888-741-5403.

Places on the route

Moonshine Park is located 4 miles northwest of Logsden on the banks of the Siletz River and offers day use areas and camping (see location).

Valsetz was a timber company town that was established in 1919 and had a population of over 1000 in the mid-20th century. It was decommissioned by the company and destroyed in 1984. Today, you can still see some of the towns streets, the foundations of buildings and houses, and the remains of a large reservoir known as Lake Valsetz.

Valsetz Falls is a series of cascades over a narrow rocky gorge (see video). It is at mile 13.3 of this route.

Ride with GPS route map

Other considerations

Active logging operations: These areas are subject to active logging operations, which means you could encounter log trucks. Such activity typically occurs during the work week, and less so on weekends, particularly on Sundays. If you hear a log truck approaching, get off the road and wait for it to pass. This is for your own safety and in recognition that you are a guest on private property.

Log truck gravel: Most of these roads have reasonable sized gravel much of the time. For that, I recommend a minimum recommended tire width of 40mm. However, these roads are subject to being freshly graveled with big and loose gravel from time to time. For this kind of gravel, you likely will be happier on tires that are at least 2" (~50mm) wide.