About Valsetz to The Valley of the Giants
The Valley of the Giants is a 51 acre natural area that contains a stand of old-growth Douglas Firs and Western Hemlocks, many of which are over 200 feet tall and 400 to 500 years old. From Valsetz, follow Siletz River Road for about 5 miles before turning north on Road 500. This road follows the North Fork of the Siletz River for 7.6 miles to the Valley of the Giants. The route is 23 miles, with 1900' of climbing, and is 100% unpaved. See below for other routes to The Valley of the Giants.
Essential information
Starting location: Valsetz (see location). Parking is available at a gravel lot at this location.
Distance & drive time (from downtown Corvallis) (see route): 37 miles; 1 hour and 15 minutes
RWGPS route map: 23 miles, +1900'; 100% unpaved
Limitations on public access: This route uses roads owned by private timber companies 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.
More information: I published this route on the MTB Project: Siletz River Road (mile 22 to mile 16); and Valley of the Giants Road.
Places on the route
The Valley of the Giants is a 51 acre natural area that contains a stand of old-growth Douglas Firs and Western Hemlocks, many of which are over 200 feet tall and 400 to 500 years old. It is owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is in a very remote part of the Coast Range about 35 miles northwest of Corvallis as the crow flies.
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.
Ride with GPS route map
Optional extension to Valsetz Falls
Valsetz Falls is a series of cascades over a narrow rocky gorge on the Siletz River (see video) (see location). This is a 6 mile round trip rom the intersection of Siletz River Road and Road 500. At mile 1 on this route, I recommend also exploring a mile or two up Gravel Creek Road (which is on the route from Valsetz to Drift Creek Falls).
RWGPS route map: 6 miles, +560'; 100% unpaved
Related or similar routes
From Falls City
Falls City to The Valley of the Giants: 55 miles; +5300'; 97% unpaved
From Fort Hoskins
Fort Hoskins to The Valley of the Giants: 59 miles; +3540'; 86% unpaved
From The Steel Bridge
Steel Bridge to Valley of the Giants: 49 miles, +3350'; 100% unpaved
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.