Cyclists compete in the Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic held April 3-5, 2009, The Dalles, Ore. (Photo by Brian Barker, KATU News)

THE DALLES, Ore. - A new pocket map offers an insider's guide to road cycling in and around The Dalles, in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.

"Some of the best cycling in Oregon is here at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, where we get less than half the rain of Portland or Hood River," said Dana Schmidling, Executive Director of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.  "We want to use cycling to differentiate The Dalles' visitor proposition and let the world know we have some of the best cycling in the Northwest."

The map features five rides of varying difficulty:

• Riverfront Trail to Discovery Center
• Mosier Loop
• The Dalles-Hood River
• Cherry Heights Loop
• Eight Mile Road and Fifteen Mile Road Loops (avoid this route from August 15 through Sept. 25 duringthe wheat harvest)

Download and print the map (pdf) here:

• Page 1 | Page 2

What you should know before you go:

• The cherry orchards bloom in April and May and the harvest season is in June.  This is a beautiful time to visit but be aware that you may encounter slow-moving vehicles.
• The wheat harvest begins in mid-August and runs through mid-September.  Watch for farm trucks and ride to the right of the road.

Upcoming cycling events in The Dalles:

• April 26, 2009 - Fifth annual Cherry of a Ride, benefiting St. Mary's Academy in The Dalles.  Runs in conjunction with The Dalles Cherry Festival.  Routes run 30 to 100 miles.  Limit of 500 riders.
• June 3-7, 2009 - Seventh annual Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, a five-day, five-stage race.  Touted as one of the toughest races in the country. Here's a video clip from last year's event: