COHVOPS
General Information
The Millican/ODOT Pit is located east of Millican on Highway 20
in an Oregon Department of Transportation gravel pit. The Millican/ODOT
pit is considered the best play area in the state of Oregon. It
provides challenges for riders at all levels of experience. The
gravel mounds provide excellent jumping opportunities. There are
flats around the perimeter of the pit.
The Millican/ODOT pit has ample parking space for vehicles towing
trailers and camping. A kiosk keeps riders informed of regulations
and closures as well as providing maps of nearby OHV trail systems.
A chemical toilet is on site. The site also serves as a staging
area for access to North Millican OHV Trail System and Millican
Plateau OHV Trail System.
The play area is designed for Class I and Class III ATV's, which
are quads, three-wheelers, and motorcycles less than 50" wide.
It is not a play area for four-wheel drives. Oregon Department of
Transportation hauls rock out of the pit occasionally, so please
ride carefully and pay attention to traffic in and out of the pit.
The Millican/ODOT Pit is open all year but dry, dusty conditions
may inhibit use during the late summer months. Likewise, snow in
the winter may discourage riders winter riding.
This facility is being developed and maintained for your enjoyment
through a cooperative effort by the Bureau of Land Management, the
Forest Service, Oregon ATV Fund, Central Oregon Motorcycle and ATV
Club and many other volunteers.
How To Get There
From Bend: Follow Highway 20 east about 26 miles to Millican.
Proceed east another mile to the pit on the north side of the Highway.
Know Before You Go. Call Ahead For Information.
For any questions relating to trails, closures, conduct, rules,
regulations and/or concerns please contact...
- OHV Hotline -- 24 hour recorded information, (541) 383-4010
- OHV Specialist -- Prineville District BLM, 3050 NE Third,
Prineville, OR 97754, (541) 416-6700
- Field Manager -- Prineville District BLM, 3050 NE Third,
Prineville, OR 97754, (541) 416-6700
Maps, Signs, and Photos
Camping
Dispersed camping is allowed at the pit. Please be considerate
of riders when camping, park in areas that do not impede riding.
No water is available at the pit. An information kiosk with a map
box is located at the entrance to the pit. A portable toilet is
located on the site as well. There is no garbage collection so please
PACK IT OUT!
Fire
Campfires are permitted, but please keep them small and don't leave
them unattended. Please do not build campfires on the pavement.
High winds and dry conditions can fuel a wildfire even at unlikely
times of the year. Spark arrestors are required on your OHVs, chainsaws,
and generators year round.
Later in the summer, there may be restrictions on campfires, smoking,
BBQs, and off-road use, so please check at the Prineville District
BLM office or watch for regulations posted at trailheads, staging
areas and major access roads.
Safety
While the Millican/ODOT Pit is directly adjacent to Highway 20,
there are limited facilities in the immediate area. Therefore, riders
should be equipped to be self-sufficient. Riders should wear appropriate
safety gear, carry a first aid kit and never ride alone. Most Forest
Service personnel have radios and can give assistance. There is
a cellular phone repeater on the east end of Pine Mountain and coverage
is fair in the Pit.
The Millican/ODOT pit is an active pit used by the state highway
department. On occasion rock is hauled out of the pit, so
please become aware of activities within the pit before riding.
Also be aware of other riders as well as campers. Riding fast
is hazardous and not recommended.
Tips for Play Areas
- Ride defensively
- Know where the other riders are at all times
- Use spotters when jumping
- Never jump a hill without knowing what is on the other side
- Never ride impaired
- Never ride with a passenger
- Never ride alone
- Always stay on the right side of jump poles
Soils
While the soils at the Millican/ODOT Pit are pebbly and easily
displaced, the play area was specifically designed to accommodate
higher impact riding. Activities such as jumping, and spinning "cookies"
are expected and even welcomed in areas such as the Millican/ODOT
pit and other specially designated play areas. With this in mind,
please reserve these high impact activities for play areas and Tread
Lightly on trails, parking lots and gravel roads.
Plants
Plant life on the High Desert is sparse and fragile which makes
its role in the ecosystem even more critical. Not only do plants
dazzle us with delicate beauty, they also help stabilize the soil,
provide needed nutrients, retain moisture, and provide food and
shelter for all forms of wildlife. Some of the plants are listed
as Sensitive Species and are mandated to be protected. You can help
protect these plants and maintain a healthy ecosystem by staying
on the designated trails and areas.
Noxious weeds are plants that are not natural residents of this
ecosystem. Some are poisonous, spread rapidly, and can out-compete
native plants for light and water. Seeds from noxious weeds can
lodge in tires or tight places on your OHV and other vehicles and
can easily be transported from place to place. The spread of these
weeds can be reduced by thoroughly washing your equipment before
leaving home.
Wildlife
There are many forms of wildlife in the Millican area. Please remember
that this is their home seven days a week and that you are a visitor.
You can avoid being an intruder by keeping your noise down and staying
on the designated trails. When you encounter wildlife, slow down,
watch and enjoy them, but keep moving.
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