USFS Opens Day Use – 44 Trails Status

Posted on May 29, 2020 by 44trails

The Mt. Hood National Forest is reopening most developed day-use and trailhead sites to recreational users beginning Friday May 29, 2020. This includes the 44 mountain bike trails!

Recreation Managers are coordinating with campground concessionaires, completing spring maintenance, and training seasonal staff. Several sites will not open immediately, including most campgrounds. These sites will open slowly as they are assessed for public and employee safety.

For a complete list of open and closed recreation sites, please check the Mt. Hood National Forest’s website: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/conditions

Some facilities, such as vault bathrooms, may not be maintained daily. It is recommended that all visitors be prepared to provide for their own sanitation and be as self-contained as possible while recreating.

As far as 44 Trails status – the following trails have been logged out and are rideable:

SuperConnector #449

Lookout #450 (upper elevation still has snow)

44 Trails is 100% volunteer run – all donations go directly to trail maintenance

Please remember E-bike use is prohibited on non-motorized trails within the Mt Hood National Forest – read more about E-bike regulations

Go Beyond Racing Donates $1K to 44 Trails Association

Posted on August 16, 2018 by 44trails

Go Beyond Racing – Wy’East Wonder Event Donates $1k to 44 Trails Association

Wy’East Wonder 50M / 50K – image courtesy Go Beyond Racing

Go Beyond Racing held the first annual Wy’East Wonder 50M and 50K trail run event in June. The event, a point-to-point race run mostly on two ridges, featured Gunsight Ridge and Surveyor’s Ridge trails on the 44 Trails network.

It attracted 250 athletes (the max number) and went off without a hitch. Todd and Renee from Go Beyond Racing stepped up to help with trail maintenance before the event and made a generous $1K donation to the 44 Trails Association (as well as the Hood River Valley High School cross country team) after the event.

Thank you Go Beyond Racing for appreciating the 44 Trail network and the work required to keep the trails clear and well maintained!

Go Beyond Racing Wy’East Wonder donation to 44 Trails and Hood River Valley Highschool Cross Country Team

44 Trails is run entirely by volunteer support and all financial contributions go directly toward trail maintenance and infrastructure costs like signage, armoring materials and contract labor.

Mt Hood National Forest E-Bike Closure Rules

Posted on July 17, 2018 by 44trails

E-bike closure policy for Mt Hood National Forest and 44 Trails

As e-bikes gain popularity around the country, it is important to understand that all non-motorized trails on the Mt Hood National Forest – including the 44 Trails network – are closed to e-bike use.

The USFS considers all classes of e-bikes to be “motorized” and e-bikes are permitted only on motorized OHV trails and roads within federal land.

Follow this link to read the full 2016 USFS memo on electric bikes and trail management.

So, this means that the 44 Trails network is closed to all classes of e-bike use. And it does not matter whether you are “using” the e-assist or not. The USFS is posting new signs (pictured above) this week at all trail heads on the 44 network.

Where can e-bikes be used on the National Forest?

E-bikes are permitted on roads and trails in our National Forest that are designated for motorized OHV use. There are several locations on the Mt Hood National Forest including Rock Creek OHV and McCubbins Gulch OHV as well as the National Forest road system. The 44 Trails Association encourages e-bike users to consult local bike shops and the USFS Hood River and Barlow district offices for more details on the OHV areas – see links below.

What should you do if you encounter riders on e-bikes?

Well, most importantly, be nice. We are not looking to add to any divide or create one of our own. But it is important to let e-bike users know that essentially all non-motorized trails on National Forest Land are closed to all e-bike use, but that there are places on the National Forest where e-bikes can be ridden – namely any trail or road designated for motorized OHV use..

Where to get more information on places with e-bike access:

Hood River Bicycles – Dirty Finger Bike Shop – Mountain View Cycles

USFS Hood River District – USFS Barlow District

Surveyor’s Ridge Re-Route Project June 9

Posted on June 4, 2018 by 44trails

The Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Continues on Saturday June 9

Oh yeah, we’re still working on the Surveyor’s Ridge re-route. Come on up tot he 44 Zone on Saturday, June 9 to lend a hand. Can’t make it? Make a donation!

The new route adds single track miles and reroutes the trail away from The Dalles Watershed Pipeline, which is about to get replaced, thus disrupting the original Surveyor’s route. READ MORE about the Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Project and check out project map.

Trail Work Day – Surveyor’s Ridge Reroute Project SATURDAY JUNE 9, 2018

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
Hardhats (bike helmets ok), long pants, work gloves and work boots, water.

WHEN:
Saturday, June 9, 2018 @ 9am – 2pm (plenty of time for a post-work-project ride)
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR and sign-in at the SnoPark and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

PROJECT:
Handbuilt singletrack on Surveyor’s ridge re-route. We will be doing rough in and route trimming/clearing.

TOOLS:
Helmet/hardhat (bike helmets ok), long pants, gloves, and work boots required.
Hand tools only – Flat Shovels, McLeods, Metal Rakes, loppers, Pulaskis (NO chainsaws necessary).

Here is the map showing the approximate route of the Surveyor’s Ridge trail project. The existing trail (yellow) will be disrupted by the new pipeline – the new route (blue) shows the tentative routes to connect with the SuperConnector (brown) near the 17 Road.

44 Trails Summer Trail Work Schedule – help finish the new Surveyor’s Ridge Singletrack

Posted on April 3, 2018 by 44trails

Mountain bike season is warming up in the lower Hood River Valley with excellent trail conditions from Post Canyon to Syncline. It will be another six weeks or more before the 44 single track trails are snow-free and ready to ride but we have our work schedule.

May 12 – Surveyor’s Ridge – the new single track connector is almost done – but we need your help to connect it all.

June 9 – Likely a second work day to get the new Surveyor’s single track fully rideable

Sept 22 – TBA

Oct 20 – TBA

Lots of new signage for the 44 trails ready for installation too!

Timothy Lake Area Trails – PGE trail user survey

Posted on November 28, 2017 by 44trails

If you have ever been to Timothy Lake, you are likely familiar with the fact that Portland General Electric (PGE) manages some of the area. In fact, PGE manages about 25 miles of mixed use trails—a majority of which are open to mountain biking.

PGE is undertaking a management plan update and are reaching out to the mountain bike community to get some feedback and further guide their process.

Take the PGE Timothy Lake area trails survey!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X8MM375

Here are a few words from PGE about the project:

PROEJCT SUMMARY: As a park of Portland General Electric’s (PGE) Recreation Resource Management Plan, we are planning, conducting, and completing improvements to the Timothy Lake trail system in the Mount Hood National Forest.

Projects will include the following:

Construction of four smaller trails to create hiking and mountain biking loops off the main Timothy Lake trail.
Overhaul of the trail wayfinding system around Timothy Lake.
Creation of an adopt-a-trail program for trail maintenance.
Reduction of user conflicts on the trails through signage, reroutes, and new trail construction.
Improvement of the overall condition of the trails: Removal of safety hazards, mitigation of resource damage, repair of structures, restoration trail tread and travel corridor.

PROJECT TIMELINE: In 2017 and 2018, PGE will be conducting trail condition assessments, surveying trail users, compiling data, and collaborating with stakeholder groups for the Timothy Lake Trail Improvements Implementation Plan. In 2019, PGE will submit a completed implementation plan. The plan will include a 5 to 6-year phased approach to trail improvements and construction. All improvements will be completed by the end of 2025.

Thank You Sixth Street Bistro in Hood River

Posted on September 30, 2017 by 44trails

Enjoy a SINGLETRACK BURGER and Support Hood River Mountain Bike Trails – Thank You Sixth Street Bistro!

The Singletrack Burger is a Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger featuring a half-pound beef patty, topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, barbeque sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and served down at the long-running locals’ favorite – the Sixth Street Bistro and Pub in Hood River.

Sixth Street owners, Chris and Stacie Creasy, named the burger and linked it to the wide variety of mountain biking in Hood River by donating $1 for every Singletrack burger sold to local mountain bike trail groups including the 44 Trails Association and HRATS (post canyon trails). The Sixth Street Burgers and beers on tap have been a local staple for aprés ride fare for many years.

The Sixth Street has been supporting local trail development with the Singletrack Burger for almost three years, which translates to thousands of dollars going back to Hood River mountain bike trail maintenance! Thank you Sixth Street!

Next time you find yourself mountain biking in Hood River, treat yourself and the local trails with a Singletrack Burger.

Mountain View Cycles has 44 Trails T-Shirts and Hats

Posted on September 20, 2017 by 44trails

44 Trails Tees and Hats are available at Mountain View Cycles in Hood River!

Mountain View Cycles in Hood River has the 44 Trails Association Ball Caps and T-Shirts on sale – $20 bucks gets you a hat or a tee and we’ve got women’s tees too!

Not only is $20 a bargain for some stylin’ goods, but Mountain View donates all of the proceeds right back to 44 Trails! 100% of the money goes to the trails in the form of materials and labor. The bulk of our labor comes from you, our dedicated volunteers, but we keep a fund to pay pro’s for some of the heavy lifting associated with clearing blowdown and new trail development.

Thanks for your support Mountain View Cycles!

Thank You Hood River Bicycles

Posted on September 18, 2017 by 44trails

NEW SIGNAGE COMING SOON – Thanks to Hood River Bicycles!

Numerous great businesses and cyclist support the 44 Trails Association with their labor, donations and logistics support (just look at the banners on the right of our home page). But we need to offer a special thanks to Hood River Bicycles (HRB) for their recent generous and ongoing support.

New style signage – more coming soon!

Old 44 Trails Signs – cool but in need of updating

Not only has HRB been dedicating a percent of their demo bike proceeds to 44 Trails for the past few years, they have made an additional, generous donation specifically for the purchase of new signage on Surveyor’s Ridge and other needed signage updates on the 44 Trails network! We thank you HRB and all of the folks who will benefit from the new signs will thank you!

The mountain bike and Hood River business communities have been super supportive of our work up on the 44 network and we ask that you, the peddlers and users of the 44 trails network, show your appreciation by giving our supporters your business! Thanks again Hood River Bicycles!

The Moment – the history of freeride mountain biking – movie trailer

Posted on September 15, 2017 by 44trails

There’s a new mountain bike movie hitting the street: The Moment. It’s a full-length documentary on the history of freeride mountain biking. It’s heavy on gritty vintage footage from Kamloops, North Shore and Rossland, BC and includes interviews with the pioneers of the sport. Think Dog Town and the Z-Boys but centered around the rise of freeride mountain biking. It won’t hit screens until December, but there’s a great interview with the director, Darcy Turenne, in Bike Mag and the movie trailer is below.