Cowboy Dinner Tree: More Than a Restaurant
There are many kinds of motorcycling destinations that we cover at RoadRUNNER, from specific roads to charming town and beautiful natural monuments. What we don’t typically cover is individual restaurants.
Of course, you can always find an exception. Cowboy Dinner Tree is one of those because it’s more than a restaurant.
Sitting outside the tiny town of Silver Lake, OR, the location has been feeding passersby for a long, long time. The story goes that this spot used to be more or less the halfway point on a cattle drive from Silver Lake down south to Sycan Marsh.
As such, it was a great place to stop for something to eat. This original “Dinner Tree” was reportedly nothing more than a chuck wagon from which the proprietor served meals fit to satisfy a cowboy’s hunger.
Today, the restaurant has updated to a rustic… Let’s say “cabin” instead of a “shack.” What hasn’t changed, however, are the cowboy-sized meals.
If you’re used to extensive menus and substitutions, don’t expect that here. In true cowboy fashion, Cowboy Dinner Tree has exactly two menu items—a 30-ounce steak or a chicken.
And that’s for one person. The restaurant doesn’t allow plate sharing, so make sure you ride here hungry.
Fortunately, they do let you take the inevitable leftovers with you. The remnants of your meal should feed you for an additional two days on the road.
Should you find yourself in such a stuffed post-dinner stupor that you can’t possibly get back on your bike, Cowboy Dinner Tree also has lodgings available. Four different cabins are up for rent, with two of them offering a concrete platform for parking your bike.
Booking one of the cabins gives you a good base from which to explore southern Oregon and its surrounding regions. You’ll have within easy access Crater Lake, Upper Klamath Lake, several beautiful national forests with their roads and trails, and the Pacific coastline.
If you decide to try pitting your stomach against Cowboy Dinner Tree’s portions, a couple of considerations. First, they prepare all food to order and you must have a reservation. Second, the restaurant doesn’t accept cards or checks—it’s cash only.
In case you’re one to enjoy an after-ride beer, there’s no alcohol service, either.
Nonetheless, Cowboy Dinner Tree is less of a restaurant and more of a destination in itself. Sure, you can simply stop over to grab a dinner (and lunch and dinner for the next day) but it’s well worth your while to came and stay the night.
Facts & Info
Nearby Attractions
- Upper Klamath Lake
- Crater Lake
- Fremont National Forest
Nearby Roads
You won’t have to go far from the Cowboy Dinner Tree to find a great riding road. The Oregon Outback Scenic Byway is just five miles north of the restaurant.
This route, consisting of SR 31 and US 395 covers roughly 170 miles between La Pine and New Pine Creek. It showcases the more rugged side of Oregon, with arid grasslands, rocky mountains, and alkali flats.
For a more stereotypical Oregon experience, with the verdant forests you’d expect, you can head west from Silver Lake on CR 676 and SR 138. Just keep going and you’ll eventually reach the Pacific Ocean and the famous US 101.
Wherever you ride here, though, fill your tank whenever you get the chance. You traverse 150 miles (or more) without encountering gas stations, so err on the side of caution.
Best Time to Travel
Oregon is a great place year-round, but for motorcycling, the most ideal months are June through October. The weather is at its best and Oregon’s notorious rain stays mostly in check (you should still pack your rain gear), but you may also have to tangle with some tourist crowds.
Spring and later fall are also good options if you want to enjoy peace, quiet, and slightly lower hotel rates. Just keep in mind that various types of wet and/or cold stuff may fall from the sky.