Category Archives: Trail Conditions

trail conditions hood river and mt hood area mountain biking

Mt Hood National Forest Campfire Ban

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mt hood single track mt bikingAugust 5, 2020: The USFS has announced a campfire ban on the Mt Hood National Forest. The ban applies to all camping – developed or not – in and around the 44 Trails zone. The trails remain open and rideable!

Campfires prohibited on Mt. Hood National Forest

Due to dry and hot conditions, campfires are now prohibited across the Mt. Hood National Forest, including in developed campgrounds.

All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited under a Forest Order.  Portable cooking stoves and lanterns using liquefied or bottled fuel are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off.

July was much drier than average, and August and September are predicted to have higher than average temperatures.  These conditions will continue to increase the risk of wildfire- especially on the east side of the forest.  At the same time, Mt. Hood is experiencing extremely high visitation, increasing the number of preventable fires.

Forest Service crews extinguished over 100 abandoned campfires across the Mt. Hood National Forest in July.  With the current dry, hot conditions any wildfire start poses a greater threat to firefighter safety, public safety, and personal property.  This year every preventable fire also increases our firefighters’ risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, which could impact our ability to respond to fires as the season continues.

“We know campfires are a big part of camping, but this year especially we all need to do our part to prevent wildfires,” said Dirk Shupe, Fire Management Staff Officer for the Mt. Hood National Forest.  “Fires caused by abandoned or escaped campfires create unnecessary risk for firefighters, our communities, and the forest.”

More forest information and the full text of the Forest Order is on the Mt. Hood National Forest website at:https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mthood/fire.  The forest also shares recreation, fire, and safety updates on its Facebook and Twitter accounts at: @MtHoodNF.

For more information about the local and regional fire outlook visit: https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/predict/outlook.aspx

USFS Opens Day Use – 44 Trails Status

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44 mountain bike trailsThe 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

44 Trails Work Party Saturday, June 29

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We are back at it this coming Saturday, June 29 to continue working on the Surveyor’s Ridge reroute project

Help us create hand-built singletrack!

We will be doing tread work and light brushing of the Surveyor’s reroute.

The new trail creates four miles of singletrack and improves interconnectivity to trails in the vicinity by connecting with the Super Connector, Cooks Meadows and the Superduper Connector.

WHEN: 
Saturday June 29, 2019 @ 9am – 2pm
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR at the sign-in and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

Bring your bike and ride after the trail work!

PROJECT:
Light duty brushing and treadwork on Surveyor’s ridge re-route.

TOOLS: 
Helmet or Hardhat REQUIRED (bike helmets ok)
Long pants, gloves and work boots REQUIRED
Water – please bring drinking water for yourself
Please bring your own hand tool of choice: Flat Shovel, Spade shovel, McCleod, Loppers, Metal Rake, Pulaskis. Hand Saw

TRAIL CONDITIONS UPDATE
The majority of trails are open! Fifteen Mile, Cedar Creek, Knebal, Bottle Praiire, High Prairie, 450, Eight Mile etc. Bring your bike and rde after the trail day.

Can’t join us? Donate to help fund future trail projects in the 44 zone!

Surveyor’s Ridge Trail Work – June 8, 2019

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44T-surveyors ridge trailBig thanks to everyone who joined us on the May 25 work day!
We are back at it this coming Saturday, June 8 to continue working on the Surveyor’s Ridge reroute project

Help us create hand-built singletrack!

We will be doing light tread work and brushing of the reroute. The new trail creates four miles of singletrack and improves interconnectivity to trails in the vicinity by connecting with the Super Connector, Cooks Meadows and the Superduper Connector.

WHEN: 
Saturday June 8, 2019 @ 9am – 2pm
Meet 9am @ Little John SnoPark on Highway 35
We’ll have coffee thanks to Dog River Coffee in HR at the sign-in and then move up to the work site as a group. Lunch will be provided by NY City Subs in Hood River.

PROJECT:
Light duty brushing and treadwork on Surveyor’s ridge re-route.

TOOLS: 
Helmet or Hardhat REQUIRED (bike helmets ok)
Long pants, gloves and work boots REQUIRED
Water – please bring drinking water for yourself
Please bring your hand tool of choice: Flat Shovel, McCleod, Loppers, Metal Rake, Pulaskis.

TRAIL CONDITIONS UPDATE
And more trails are open! You can add Fifteen Mile and Cedar Creek to the list of open trails, which includes: Knebal Springs, Eightmile, Bottle Prairie, Superconnector, Surveyors and Dog River.

Some lingering snow and mud persist above 4500 feet. So High Prairie and 450 are not quite open for riding.

Can’t join us? Donate to help fund future trail projects in the 44 zone!

Wildflower Season and Great Trail Conditions

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44 Trails mountain bike network - Bottle Prairie TrailIt’s wildflower season up the 44 Trails mountain bike network.

Trails are in prime condition right now! Beat the heat in Hood River and head to the Mt. Hood National Forest for some of the best trail conditions of the season.

The wild flowers are peaking and trails are riding great. We’ve got the bulk of the trail system cleared of downed trees and its just lingering high elevation spots and more remote trail sections (Boulder/Forest Creek/Gunsight Butte) that still have snow and/or blowdown. Lookout, Cooks, Knebal, Eightmile, Fifteenmile, Surveyors, Dog River, Bottle Prairie, etc are all good to go.

44 Trails mountain bike network wildflower season

44 Trails Conditions July 1 – High Elevation Status

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Hey 44 Trail mountain bikers, despite the summer heat the past couple of weeks, high elevation trails remain blocked by snow and blowdown; and we’re not just talking the occasional snow patch. Gunsight Butte trail #685 still has 3-5 foot snow berms and lots of trees down on the trail. Where snow is melted, there is standing/running water. There are even trees still embedded into the snow. It looks like the ridge got hammered with broken tops over the winter.
Our recommendation is to stay on the lower elevation trails until snow has a chance to melt further and we’ve had a chance to clear trees. Most of the roads are clear but the Bennett Pass road is still blocked by snow.
Here’s the latest 44 trails conditions report as of Saturday July 1, 2017:

The Best Singletrack Mountain Biking on the Mt Hood National Forest

Gunsight Ridge Trail #685 – Closed by significant snow and downed trees. 3-5 foot snow berms – Estimate 2-3 weeks before clear.

Boulder Lake / Forest Creek zone – Less snow but not yet maintained or cleared of trees

Cooks Meadow trail #639 –  Ridable with caution – a few downed trees – upper section has a few areas under construction but it’s open to ride – carry a hand saw and help cut out the lingering blowdown. Hope to have the few remaining trees cleared by July 4.
Lookout / #450 – Ridable with caution – 3-4 trees down and a few small snow patches – carry a hand saw and help cut out the lingering blowdown.

Knebal Springs Trail #474 – Cleared and OPEN 
Bottle Prairie Trail #455 – Cleared and OPEN 
Eightmile Trail #496 – Cleared and OPEN 
Oak Ridge Trail #688A – Cleared and OPEN
Super Connector – Cleared and OPEN
Dog River Trail # 675 – Cleared and OPEN
Surveyor’s Ridge Trail #688 – Cleared and OPEN
15 Mile / Cedar Creek loop trails #456/#457 – Clear and OPEN

gunsight mountain bike trailGunsight ridge mountain bike trails

Latest 44 Trails Conditions Update June 26

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Singletrack Mountain Biking Mt Hood National Forest – Our first trail work day is July 22 – more details soon! Sign up for our email list to be notified of work days, trail conditions, and to get a free digital map of the area!

singletrack mt biking mt hood national forest

Here’s the latest 44 trails conditions report as of Monday June 26, 2017:

The Best Singletrack Mountain Biking Mt Hood National Forest

Knebal Springs Trail #474 – Cleared and OPEN 
Bottle Prairie Trail #455 – Cleared and OPEN 
Eightmile Trail #496 – Cleared and OPEN 
Oak Ridge Trail #688A – Cleared and OPEN
Super Connector – Cleared and OPEN
Dog River Trail # 675 – Cleared and OPEN
Surveyor’s Ridge Trail #688 – Cleared and OPEN
15 Mile / Cedar Creek loop trails #456/#457 – Clear and OPEN
Cooks Meadow trail #639 –  Ridable with caution – a few downed trees – upper section has a few areas under construction but it’s open to ride – carry a hand saw and help cut out the lingering blowdown.
Lookout / #450 – Ridable with caution – 3-4 trees down and a few small snow patches – carry a hand saw and help cut out the lingering blowdown.

Extra Beta

– Cooks Meadow has a handfull of small trees and couple sections are still under construction but rideable with caution

– Lookout / 450 has four trees down and a few patches of snow – all rideable with caution.

If you plan to ride and have a handsaw – please cut back five feet either side of trail!

44 and 4410 roads are fully open – High country trails like Gunsight, Boulder, Forest Creek still have significant snow sections and unknown tree blowdown.

44 Trails Conditions Update – June 9

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44 Trails  Conditions Report – Surveyor’s, Fifteenmile, Eightmile, Knebal and more!
Knebal Spring, Surveyors and moreWe’ve got more trails open in the 44 zone!

Here’s the latest report as of Friday June 9, 2017

Knebal Springs Trail #474 – Cleared and OPEN – a few snow patches but ridable
Bottle Prairie Trail #455 – Cleared and OPEN – a few snow patches but ridable
Eightmile Trail #496 – Cleared and OPEN – a few snow patches but ridable
Oak Ridge Trail #688A – Cleared and OPEN
Super Connector – Cleared and OPEN
Dog River Trail # 675 – Cleared and OPEN
Surveyor’s Ridge Trail #688 – Cleared and OPEN
15 Mile / Cedar Creek loop trails #456/#457 – Clear and OPEN

Cooks Meadow trail #639 –  BLOWDOWN likely – snow possible upper end
Lookout / #450 – CLOSED – SNOW / BLOWDOWN

The 44 Road is fully open but the 4410 and other spur roads in the area still have snow, especially above 4,500 feet. High country trails like Gunsight, Boulder, Forest Creek are still under significant snow.

Eightmile, Knebal and Fifteen mile campgrounds are also open!

44 Trails Conditions Report – Knebal and Eightmile OPEN

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44 trails singletrackWe’ve got more trails open in time for the long weekend!

Here’s the latest report as of Thursday May 25, 2017

Knebal Springs Trail #474 – Cleared and OPEN – a few snow patches but ridable
Bottle Prairie Trail #455 – Cleared and OPEN – a few snow patches but ridable
Eightmile Trail #496 – Cleared and OPEN – a few snow patches but ridable
Oak Ridge Trail #688A – Cleared and OPEN
Super Connector – Cleared and OPEN
Dog River Trail # 675 – Cleared and OPEN
Surveyor’s Ridge Trail #688 – Cleared and OPEN

15 Mile / Cedar Creek loop trails #456/#457 – CLOSED – SNOW / BLOWDOWN

Cooks Meadow trail #639 – CLOSED – SNOW / BLOWDOWN
Lookout / #450 – CLOSED – SNOW / BLOWDOWN

The 44 Road is fully open but the 4410 and other spur roads in the area still have snow, especially above 4,000 feet. High country trails like Gunsight, Boulder, Forest Creek are still under significant snow.

Enjoy the lower elevation riding – the dirt is in great shape but there are wet sections, even on Knebal and Eightmile – so please be mindful.

Eightmile and Knebal campgrounds are also open.

44 Trails Conditions Report – May 2017

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Here’s the latest spring trail update for the 44 Trails mountain bike trail network.

The 44 road is snow free and open and lower elevation trails are opening up. There is still snow and blowdown on the trail system but there a few things opening up for access: Here’s what we know as of May 19:

Surveyor’s #688 is open and rideable

Dog River #675 is open and rideable

You will find blowdown and isolated snow patches on much of the remaining trail system. Trails on the east side are more apt to be snow free, but we have not had any large scale blowdown removal yet. If you head up and ride – we’d love to hear what you find to help prioritize our blowdown removal. 44 at 44trails dot org is the place to send trail reports.

Thanks!