Here’s a heads up for the 44 Trails System:
ALL TRAILS along the 44 corridor have been cleared this spring and are OPEN.

Thanks to Ranger Thornton, and both Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts plus a variety of dedicated help, ALL TRAILS along the 44 corridor are open! This means all the major blowdown that happened over the winter has been cleared. It does not mean that new trees won’t fall. We’ve had two months of wind since the main clearing work took place and, word is, there are a few places with new trees down.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, it still blocks the trail! Jokes, aside, trees fall in the forest year round, and any storm, any time of the year can bring down new trees on the 44 Trails. Many of the same systems that bring the famed wind to the Gorge, deliver winds in the forest, too.  In other words, there can be new blowdown any time and on any trail.

Over 1000 downed trees were cleared this season in the 44 Trails corridor. But we all need to be aware and ride with caution, because new trees will come down. We encourage you to send us a note if you encounter new blowdown, so we can work with the USFS to get it cleared.

We understand that most, if not all, forest users realize that conditions change in a forest environment; please help us explain this to those that may be lacking awareness!

Happy trails!