As we noted last week, the planning process for River View Natural Area is already well underway. This 146 acre parcel of land sandwiched between the Willamette River, Lewis & Clark College, River View Cemetery, and SW Palatine Hill Road, is being restored and re-imagined for public use and conservation. One of the uses being considered is off-road bicycling.
The non-profit Northwest Trail Alliance has a representative on the Project Advisory Committee and they want to get more people involved in the process. The ride is taking place this Saturday (November 9th) in advance of an official community meeting and open house event being hosted by Portland Parks & Recreation next Tuesday (November 12th).
Here’s more from the NWTA:
We will be meeting at 9:45am at Sellwood Cycles (7953 SE 13th Ave) and will ride for an hour or so. It will be wet and muddy, so please plan and dress accordingly. Although we are advocating for beginner trails in the future, the trails are not currently “beginner-friendly” due to their steepness, roots, and mud. This is an intermediate/advanced ride as a result. We hope to see you there!
More importantly, there is a Community Meeting for Riverview next week and we need your help. The Public Advisory Committee and Portland Parks & Recreation want to hear your opinions on trails, and we need as many mountain bikers there as possible! We are in a unique position to give input while the concept plan is being developed. The meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2013: Community Meeting/Open House, 5:30-7:30 PM, PDX Church, 125 SW Miles.
And here are a few shots of the existing trails as they looked in August 2012…
Learn more about River View in our archives and on the City’s website.
Would love to see some more variety of trails there (including some better trails to climb back up). Could be (is) a great area for mountain biking, and should get quite a few L&C riders out.
its got a decent 10% climbing trail that goes up (even on a cross bike). I ride single speed there all the time. That said, the majority of trails are expert descents, and I’ve yet to convince my beginner wife to make it out there because of the steepness. The property has TONS of potential for multiple trails of differing difficulties. Come on out to share the word at the meeting on the 12th
I’ve only ridden over there once and it was not the most pleasant thing on my rigid SS. Guess I must have missed the up trail, as I ended up doing a lot of hiking instead.
Not sure I can make the meeting, but I’ll try.
the northern-most trail is the only really cleanable climb heading back up. but it would be nice to have a climbing trail more like the new stuff at the very bottom. I’ll be there wednesday night!
12th is Tuesday
We rode it Sunday and had a blast (minus some complaining about the way up from the boys). I am super excited to have this nearby and am kicking myself for not getting out there soon. The clay was starting to get slick and it’s probably slicker now. Check your speed and ditto on not bringing beginners right now.
I didn’t get a chance to check out the North route up. I want to do that. We took Riverview up the first time – since 43 is not safe, then a convoluted path through Dunthorpe and L&C, and then pushed it up the Southern most route the third time.
If you live on the West side and want to meet us there we will be leaving Sellwood Cycles around 10am. We will ride over there and climb the cemetery and should be at the top trailhead around 10:20 or so. Though we won’t be riding every trail up there, it will be a great opportunity to get a “lay of the land” and learn a bit about the space. Having a place like this in the middle of the city is an incredibly unique opportunity for Portland, as is being involved this early in the process as a user group. Please make your voice heard local off-road cyclists!
If you want to learn a lot about the space here is a link for you to check out. http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/469393
NWTA, keep up the good work! Now if only State Parks would allow bikes on the equestrian trails at Tryon Creek…………..hinthint.