| Things to Do » Outdoors and Recreation » Cycling » Mountain biking |
The Willamette Valley is bookended by a pair of mountain ranges the Coast Range to the west, and the Cascades to the east both offering mountain bike trails through forested wilderness. The West Cascades, especially, offers world-renowned trails The International Mountain Bicycling Association has even dubbed Oakridge a gold-level destination one of only seven areas in the world to receive the honor. So here's how to start riding the region's famous trails.
The mountain bike trails at Alsea Falls Recreation Site (pictured below) promise rollers, berms, rock gardens, hips, rock chutes, banked turns, and exposed root features for an exciting challenge through a lush, second-growth forest. And when you're done, check out Alsea Falls itself; the 30-foot waterfall is a genuine gem of the Coast Range.
The Oak Creek-Dimple Hill-Vineyard Mountain Loop clocking in at just under 21 miles, with nearly 1,900 feet of elevation gain offers a mix of road riding and mountain biking through the network of trails at McDonald and Dunn Research Forests.
We've also put together a guide to gravel riding and mountain biking around the Willamette Valley, with trails around Falls City, Sublimity, Westfir, Oakridge, and along the McKenzie River.
Bicycle Way Of Life is one of Eugene's most popular bike shops and sits just a few minutes from nearby bike paths along the Willamette River. Rentals range from road and mountain bikes to trailers and car racks.
Life Cycle Bike Shop in Eugene is popular with the mountain biking crowd for its current-year rental fleets and friendly terms; adventurous riders can rent bikes for up to a week.
The Westfir Lodge & Mountain Market is perhaps the region's most celebrated overnight outpost in the Westfir-Oakridge area, a region renowned for its world-class mountain biking trails. Sitting at the base of the popular Alpine Trail in the Willamette National Forest, Westfir Lodge rents out gear, offers shuttle service to popular trailheads, and dishes up filling fare for a full day in the woods.
