Oregon's 5 Most Popular Trail Networks According to Trailforks Data

Oregon is a large and geographically diverse state, with a long coastline, abundant bodies of water, lush evergreen and mixed forests, deserts, volcanoes, and loads of mustached IPA drinkers. It is also one of the most revered parts of the country amongst the mountain bike community, with riding opportunities that reflect the diverse landscape. It has a storied history, and is seeing sizeable growth in parts of the state that were previously vacant.

We wanted to see which networks in the Beaver State were the most popular, and so we headed to our sister site Trailforks to get the intel. Trailforks is a trail management system for riders, builders and associations and it aims to provide the very best tools to inventory, maintain, promote and showcase trail networks. By using the Trailforks ridelog feature, we were able to take a look at which trail networks across the state are the most ridden. While this is accurate based on user input, this is not a list of favorites per se. It is a direct reflection of Trailforks usage, and if you want to ensure that your own riding has an impact on lists like this, you can do so by connecting your Strava account to Trailforks, or by simply using the tracking feature in the Trailforks app itself. This information can make for some spirited conversation, but more importantly can be leveraged by trail associations in their advocacy efforts.



Post Canyon is situated along a ridge in the Cascade mountains just outside of Hood River, OR. Mount Hood looms large to the south and the Columbia River sits at the very bottom, 3,200 feet below the highest trail in the network. Post Canyon is a shared use network, allowing mountain bikes, hikers, equestrians, dirt bikes, and ATV users access to various segments of trail depending on the mode. Post Canyon contains over 60 miles of multi-use trails, with a vertical relief of 3,357 feet, and is built on both Forest Service land as well as the Hood River County Forestry dept. HRATS, otherwise known as the Hood River Area Trail Stewards, is the trail association responsible for much of the trail building and advocacy at Post Canyon.

Post Canyon mountain biking trails





Phil’s is a network of intersecting trails of varying degrees of difficulty, offering hundreds of miles of sweet singletrack. It is the local’s choice for mountain biking in the Bend area. The trailhead is still just minutes from downtown, but the opportunities for exploration are endless, as riders span out west toward Mt. Bachelor. The system reaches its high point at Swampy Sno-Park on the Cascade Lakes Highway- 3,370 feet above town. While diving into the ridelog data for Phil's, Trailforks includes additional networks as a part of this one, including both Swampy Sno-Park and Wanoga, so for the purposes of this exercise, Phil's will represent the aforementioned zones. There are 168 miles available spread out across 98 different trails. The Central Oregon Trail Alliance is the advocacy organization responsible for the development and maintenance of Phil's trails.

Phil's mountain biking trails





Sandy Ridge is a purpose built network of trails in the Mount Hood Corridor. There are currently 15 miles of trail available ranging from beginner friendly to expert only. The main lot for Sandy Ridge is located off of E. Barlow Trail Rd and is free for users. While there are no climbing trails at the moment, there is a meandering and easy enough access road for access to the top of the network 1,300 feet above the parking lot. Sandy Ridge is incredibly popular among those who call Portland home, and has played host to a number of enduros and other events over the course of its 11+ years in existence, which has served to elevate its profile during that time. The 18 trails at Sandy Ridge are cared for by the Northwest Trail Alliance.

Sandy Ridge mountain biking trails





Just 34 miles west of Portland, LL Stub Stewart State Park offers 1,800 acres of rolling hills, forest glades, gleaming streams and wildflowers, all crisscrossed with over several miles of trails. Trek in deep canyons or picnic in the shade. Follow a woodland trail into the far reaches of the park; let your curiosity take you out to play. And when you've reminded yourself just how good it feels to stretch in the sun and watch things grow, choose a quiet campsite or a cozy cabin and relax under the stars. $5 Day Parking Pass REQUIRED. You can also purchase an annual pass for $30, or biannual for $50. There are 15 miles of trail for mountain bikers currently, and there are plans for the continued development and construction of new trail in the years to come by the Northwest Trail Alliance.

LL Stub Stewart State Park mountain biking trails





Located about 20 miles to the south of Hood River, the 44 Trails network is the largest collection of singletrack trails in the Hood River region. The total mileage available is upwards of 122, and the available vertical relief from the highest point to the lowest point of the available trails is in excess of 4,000 feet. While the trails are in relative close proximity to both Hood River and Portland, the trails also run adjacent to a wilderness area and are very much of the backcountry variety. The network wraps around the southeastern flank of Mount Hood, and the vast majority of the riding is rated for intermediate to advanced riders. The 44 Trails are advocated for, and maintained by 44 Trails Organization.

44 Trails mountain biking trails

LL Stub Stewart State Park, 44 Trails, Sandy Ridge, Post Canyon, Phil's

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