Top 5 Bike Trails in Oregon
- Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail
It was intended to be “The King of Roads,” the world’s most beautiful highway. The Columbia River Highway has been hailed as a marvel of engineering since 1916, its curvilinear grace a fitting complement to the landscape through which it ribbons. The paved bike/pedestrian connection between Hood River and The Dalles is one of many ongoing efforts to restore and reconnect long-neglected sections of the highway.
- McKenzie River Trail
The Mckenzie River Trail is among the few stunning waterfall singletracks in Oregon, with rest stops an hour west of Sisters and an hour east of Eugene.
The trail’s slope is mild enough that you’ll get a good workout regardless of which direction you ride. The high eastern half contains a tricky piece of tire-eating lava rock and is much more root-infested than the west end. As you travel westward, the route becomes quicker and has a more natural flow, which is typical of Pacific Northwest river trails.
Along its 30-mile length, the trail passes a stunning blue lake, a dozen mountain springs, and four times swaps the banks of its eponymous river. Hemlock and vine maple color the forest’s midstory, which is blanketed with soft moss and sword ferns.
- Springwater Corridor
This family-friendly 21.5-mile route that runs along the Willamette River from Portland to Boring is everything but ordinary. The Springwater Corridor is not just a recreational destination, but it also serves as a crucial active-transportation route for commuters, because to its linkages to the region’s light rail and bus systems.
This trail offers a little bit of everything for trail lovers, from the busy center of Oregon’s most populated city to the suburbs and into the natural and agricultural countryside—and beautiful vistas of Mount Hood are always close at hand.
- The Alpine Trail
Although the Alpine Trail is part of the Oakridge Mountain Bike Trail System, it is regarded as one of Oregon’s top routes and deserves its own focus. You may take a shuttle to this path or make a day of it by parking at the foot of Alpine Trail, riding up North Fork Trail, swinging left onto the service road, and staying left all the way to the summit. While rising, you will pass the Alpine Trail and have the option to shorten the climb; nevertheless, part of what makes Alpine renowned is the sheer length of the drop.
- Nestucca River Road
Residents of Portland find joy in their city’s closeness to the beach. It’s even possible to ride your bike there. There’s a wonderful low-traffic trail between Jewell and Mist to Astoria. Nothing, however, compares to the Nestucca River Road, a hidden gem. Begin at Hillsboro, the MAX terminal on the west side, then proceed south across rolling farmland to Carlton. Ignore the town’s potential for pinot noir and continue west on Meadow Lake Road towards the Coast Range.