We road this trail in mid-September 2009, camping along the way on public land near the trail, using Giant Sedona bikes with the O. E Kenda tires. We were very glad to escape a puncture on the rough cinder or sharp crushed rock which makes up most of the trail length. We used the well-equipped Sprague River store for resupply (no bike parts though).

This trail can be rated either as a high adventure or a nightmare, depending on your tolerance for a rough surface, minimal improvement, and extensive cow damage. We enjoyed it from Klamath Falls to its bitter end at a locked Nature Conservancy gate entering Sycan Marsh. We had to walk the last few miles as it was impossible to ride, even walking on the loose cinders was a chore.

After the paved few miles near Klamath Falls some sections have been improved with a smaller compacted gravel. It was not clear to us why some segments were improved and some not. Cattle and horses dig up the new surface however and it would probably take re-rolling every year to maintain it. This would be a fantastic, national-quality trail if it was paved.

Some segments of the trail in the Sprague River valley go thorugh what are essentially cattle feed lots and the rolling surface there is awful and manure covered. Some segments are driven on by ranch workers and are somewhat compacted by that activity. Some segments are driven on by quads and other recreationists in the national forest.

Amazing that a "state park" would be in such hideous shape. Funding and staffing are badly needed.

This is a rugged trail. The miles are not technical, but the trail surface in most places is a challenge because of the rolling friction from the rock bed. Last September 2008, we went to Oregon to ride parts of the OC & E trail. We camped at Horse Glade Campground. Nice Campground, quiet. The first day we pedalled to Sycan Marsh. The first mile was so rough, I almost gave up. But after a while I got used to pedalling with a lot of rolling friction and constant rock movement. The train trestle was awesome, and the edge of the Marsh was nice to see. The next day, we pedaled towards Beatty. One of the ranches we passed through had two people removing drift fences along the trail. The ranch was using the road surface for their trucks. At least their truck made an slightly easier surface to pedal. Nice country to pedal through. When we got to the flat near Beauty, we turned around. The flat areas were overgrown with bushes and grass. Next we camped in Klammath Falls. The paved trail out of Klammath Falls is nice. A mile after the pavement ends, the trail became difficult to ride. It looks like dirt is being brought in to make a better surface. Next day we started at Switchbacks Trailheads. First we went towards Sprague River, Nice trail on the hill. About a mile from Sprague River, the tail was reasonably over grown. Once on the flat after Sprague River the trail was okay, but lots of rolling friction. We pedaled the other way, past Switchback Trail head towards Dairy. The trail was great down the hill. Very nice. But this only lasted a couple of miles, then back to the major rolling friction from loose gravel. Beautiful scenery. Quiet trail. Good to go once. I would go again of the trail surface is improved.

We started at Switchback Mountain near mile marker 33 and headed Northeast. We really enjoyed the trail until mile marker 49. The cattle fences aren't being maintained near Beatty. We couldn't get through the large number of cows and bulls and were forced to back track and camp on the trail. These large animals are really intimidating for younger explorers and those without experience with cattle. A single rider could possibly get through but not families. We had to turn back and our four day excursion ended on day two with great dissapointment. This trail does not work without the cooperation of the cattle ranchers and they spend all their time just trying to get by.