Lander Cutoff Rd s(u) by Bicycle - Velo

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Lander Cutoff Rd s(u)

The Lander cutoff is a historic shortcut north of the original Oregon trail. In my opionion it is also one of the scenically most interesting sections, not only on the Oregon Trail, which generally stuck close to valley bottoms, but also on the GDMBR, which actually seeks out scenic high passages - and found one here. All that in spite of the fact that elevation difference between low and high points is really very smal. But the far horizon and all that is in between makes it expansive and imaginative.

1.START-END WEST-1:Wy28 crosses county line on way to South Pass
2.profile turns north onto Lander Cutoff Rd
3.jct with Elkhorn Cutoff Rd from west
4.TOP, 8160ft
5.jct with Big Sandy Rd to Wind River Range trailheads
6.profile turns south on Big Sandy - Elkhorn Rd
7.START-END WEST-2:Big Sandy - Elkhorn Rd crosses Little Sandy Creek, immediately before jct with Elkhorn Cutoff Rd

Approaches

From East. The Lander Cutoff leaves Wy28 well east of the summit of the paved road. It is however a lot closer to the designated historic summit of the orginal Oregon Trail over South Pass (even if after inspecting the map, ist still seems that there are somewhat higher points to the east).

In order to bolster the rather limited elevation difference between the lowest and highest point, I included a good portion of the Wy28 approach from the west side.

The Lander cutoff Rd heads in a northerly direction, aiming for the entrance of a high and wide valley parallel to the main ridge of the Winds. After slowly and almost imperptively climbing a shallow ridge, you find yourself all of a sudden with a panoramic view of the Oregon Buttes and Pacific Butte area to the south, and a last large scenic roller through a Wyoming sized dip into this wide scenic valley allong the main range of the Winds. The road stays well up on that landscape saucer, heading closer to the high moountains. So during my ride, I was tempted to stop for pictures every several minutes. Without an altimeter it is impossible to tell which one of these unpredictable rollers crests at the real summit. It seems to happen a short distance after the jct with Elkhorn Cutoff Rd, which form a shoulder summit itself at the interscetion.

From West. (described downwards) At this point I was rather exhausted in the scenic department. Good views continue, but anythign except perfect light with perfect fore and background failed to get me off the bike. After the turnoff to the Big Sandy trailheads, the road climbs over something called Muddy Ridge, which has a strange manmade appearing shape, like an engineered dam across two hills in the foothills. But it is all natural geologic precesses. Following my instincts, I would easily label that ridge as the summit point, But the elevation profile shows it differently. At the junction with the Elkhorn - Big Sandy Rd, the profile follows Elkorn Rd down to the jct with Elkhorm Cutoff Rd, in order to demonstrate the dayride below.

cLiCk on image , arrows , or thumbnails to advance slideshow

Dayride with this point as highest summit

COMPLETELY UNPAVED:

( < Oregon Buttes Rd s(u) | Wagon Hound Rd s(u) > )

Lander Cutoff Rd s(u) , Elkhorn Cutoff Rd(sh) : Oregon Buttes Rd , not far from its jct with Wy28 > Lander Cutoff Rd north > Lander Cutoff rd s(u) > Muddy Ridge > Elkhorn - Big Sandy Rd west > Elkhorn Cutoff Rd north > Elkhorn Cutoff Rd(sh) > Lander Cutoff Rd east back to starting point on Oregon Buttes Rd: 70.5miles with 4610ft of climbing in 7:06hrs (garmin etrex 32x m6:25.06.24)