Attention Trail Users
There is a permitted event up in the 44 Trails zone on July 16. You can ride, hike, run etc, but please expect more traffic than usual and yield to the runners!
June 25 Trail Work Party
Eightmile Loop Tread Work
We need your help on the Eightmile Loop Trail (#496)!
Join us Saturday, June 25 for tread work project repairing trail, moving gravel and armoring tread. Eightmile is one of the most-used trails on the system, and it’s time to give it some love so it runs smoothy all summer.
We’ll meet up at the Little John SnoPark on Highway 35 and caravan up to the work site from there. Project involves shovel work, rock moving, raking, moving reject material and some light brushing.
WHERE: We will meet at the Little John SnoPark on Highway 35 Map
WHEN: 9am Saturday, June 25
WHAT: Tread work and armoring to repair and fortify parts of the Eightmile loop trail
REQUIRED = Long pants, work gloves, eye protection and work boots!
Please bring any of the following tools: Wheel Barows, Flat Shovels, Metal Rakes, Loppers, Pruning Saws, McLeods
Dress for the weather and don’t forget a daypack, water, snacks, etc
Bring your bike to ride in the afternoon!
We will supply hard hats and lunch.
Wy’East Wonder Trail Running Race June 12
Wy’East Wonder Trail Running Race June 12
HELLO 44 TRAIL USERS
Please be aware that there is a permitted trail running race on Sunday June 12th.
Trails involved:
Surveyors Ridge, Super Connector, Knebel Springs, Bottle Prairie, 8-Mile, and Oak Ridge
Please watch out for runners. They will be watching out for you too.
Do not disturb the orange course markings, as this could endanger racers. The markings are removed immediately following the race.
All trails are open to other designated users during the event.
Course maps are on the race website: www.wyeastwonder.com
Trail Brushing – Lookout #450 and Cooks Meadow #639
Big thanks to the crew who helped brush Lookout trail #450 and Cooks Meadow trail #639 last week! And thanks to New York City Sub Shop in Hood River for lunch!
The 44 Trail System is in great shape right now. There are a few new trees across 15-Mile between the Cedar Creek trail crossings, but nothing you can’t hop over. Enjoy!
July 25 Trail Work Day
July 25 Trail Work Day
Help us brush 450 and Cooks
Our next trail day is Sunday, July 25. Focus will be brushing 450 and lower Cooks. Please meet up at the Little John SnoPark on Highway 35. We will caravan up to the work site(s) from there. Project is mostly pruning saw and lopper work to clear sight lines and improve clearance on popular trails. Plan on time to ride in the afternoon.
WHERE: We will meet at the Little John SnoPark on Highway 35 Map
WHEN: 9am Sunday, July 25
WHAT: Trail brushing to improve sight lines and trail clearance
Long pants, work gloves, eye protection and work boots required!
Don’t forget daypack, sunscreen, water, snacks, hand sanitizer, toilet paper . . .
We will supply tools, hard hats and lunch. If you have a favorite pruning saw or set of loppers of your own, bring ’em along!
June 26 – East Fork Trail Work
June 26 Trail Work Day
We need your help!
Join us for work on the southern end of the East Fork Trail #650. Due to flooding of the Hood River, much of the southern portion of the East Fork trail has been relocated onto NF-620 where it weaves in and out of the old road bed. Our work day will focus on clearing the corridor of encroaching vegetation, improving drainage and smoothing out abrupt drain cuts. We will also be installing trail signage at locations where the trail leaves the old roadbed.
WHERE: We will meet at the NF-3520 gate right off of OR-35 (hwy 35) See Map – It’s about 30 miles south of Hood River on Highway 35 (about 2.8 miles south of the 44 road turn off on the west side of 35)
WHEN: 9am Saturday, June 26
WHAT: Long pants, work gloves, eye protection and work boots required!
Don’t forget daypack, sunscreen, water, snacks, hand sanitizer, toilet paper . . .
We will supply tools, hard hats and lunch. If you have a favorite handtool of your own, bring it along!
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Can’t Attend? DONATE! 44T is volunteer run. All donations go back to trail maintenance.
Mt Hood 44 Trails Conditions Report
Time to get your pedal on! The largest network of singletrack mountain bike trails on the Mt Hood National Forest is ready for riding. The lower 44 Trails network is log-free!
There is still some lingering snow in the dark corners and upper reaches, but here’s the list of rideable lower 44 network singletrack trails:
SuperConnector #449
Cooks #639 (to 1.5 miles above crossing with 4410 road)
Lookout #450 (clear to junction w/15Mile – upper elevation have snow/mud/trees)
Follow us on Instagram for updates!
Join us for a trailwork day this summer! – Dates are June 26, July 17, September 25
44 Trails is 100% volunteer organization. All donations go directly to trail maintenance and keeping trails rideable!
Trail Conditions + 2021 Trail Work Schedule
The snow is largely gone below 4500 feet in the 44 Zone, and riding season is upon us. Please note that there are still a lot of trees down on the trail system as of May 15. Surveyors is in good shape, but spring logout for the remaining trails is not yet complete.
We hope to have lower trails – including Surveyors, SuperConnector, Knebal, 8Mile, Bottle Prairie, 15Mile – ready to ride by Memorial Day weekend. We will post the latest update here by Friday May 28.
In the meantime, please mark your calendars for our 2021 trail work schedule. We plan to host three work days this summer: June 26, July 17, Sept 25. More details to follow.
44 Trails is 100% volunteer organization. All donations go directly to trail maintenance and keeping trails rideable!
White River Fire Closures
It’s Fire Season
Fire season has kicked into gear. A fire located in the White River area of the Mt. Hood National Forest is causing road and trail closures adjacent to popular 44 Trails riding areas. You can get the latest details on White River fire closures on the InciWeb site.
At this time, popular trails like Knebal, High Prairie, 15 Mile, 8 Mile, Surveyor’s, etc are all open.
White River Fire Closures
The main areas impacted by fire closures include Crane Creek, Crane Prairie, Boulder Lake, Forest Creek, Hidden Meadows, Bonney Meadows. Bennett Pass is also effected. Anyone planning to head that way should re-evaluate their plans and read the detailed fire closures information.
Mt Hood National Forest Campfire Ban
August 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