The donation will help make
more of this possible.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland-based Universal Cycles has donated $15,000 to the Northwest Trail Alliance to help in their ongoing mission to build more mountain bike trails in the Portland metro area.

The donation will go towards the local matching funds required for a a $55,248 grant the NWTA received last fall. That grant, which the NWTA was awarded through the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) will be used to purchase trail building equipment.

The NWTA is currently involved with trail building projects in many areas including Stub Stewart State Park, Forest Park, Cascade Locks, Sandy Ridge, and others. The RTP grant and this new $15,000 donations from Universal will allow them to buy a "Ditch Witch" machine and other tools to complement the ST240 trail building machine they purchased back in 2010. (more...)

No joke.

Is it possible to have fun on a mountain bike in Forest Park? Ask five different people and you're likely to get five different answers. In the end, I think it depends on what you consider fun.

On Sunday, I ventured out to discover some new (to me) roads and found that the park — despite having only 1/3 mile of singletrack open to bicycles — still has something to offer knobby-tired visitors.

I first considered exploring Forest Park's northern reach nearly three years ago. Back in February 2010, I joined a park ranger to survey damage of an unauthorized bike trail that had been carved south of where BPA Road intersects with Newton. On Sunday, I returned to that locked gate, which is right off Highway 30 less than a mile north of Linnton. My plan was to stay on BPA Road and connect up to Skyline Rd about 1,000 feet and 2 and 1/2 miles up. (more...)

A major new mountain bike park on Mt. Hood is all set to move forward. The United States Forest Service (USFS) has just approved the permit for the Timberline Mountain Bike Park, concluding that the plans are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and that as proposed would have "no significant impact."

The new mountain bike park was proposed back in 2010 by RLK & Company, the same company behind the Timberline Lodge Ski Area. To create the new park, RLK has already hired the same consulting firm that developed the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia.
(more...)

Home page of Sharing the PCT.

The 2,663 mile Pacific Crest Trail is a hiking paradise that stretches from Canada to Mexico and winds through Washington, Oregon, and California. Up until 1988, people were allowed to ride bicycles on the trail; but then the U.S. Forest Service decided to ban bikes completely. Now, a new campaign dubbed Sharing the PCT has formed to re-assess that decision and mountain bike advocates in Oregon will likely play a role.

Bike advocates say the 1988 ban was done too abruptly, without public comment or opportunity to appeal. The Oregon-based group, Disciples of Dirt, who fully supports the mission of Sharing the PCT, wrote on their website that the ban was "just fear and misunderstanding, mixed with a lot of well funded ignorance." (more...)

Still from new video

As we shared back in July, the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA) held their first summer kid's camp this past summer. A new video (watch it below) released today shares the impact that camp had on the kids, in their own words.

Over the four day camp, 20 kids (led by experienced guides) visited different riding spots throughout the Portland region. They learned about nature, how to be good trail stewards, and of course, they learned how to ride in a way most of them had never even considered before. It's one thing to hop down a curb in front of your house, but it's an entirely different experience to roll over a log while riding down a trail in the forest, or to move smoothly over a berm at a pump track at the local park. (more...)

A view of the Cascades from
Bunchgrass Ridge Trail.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Just back from a long weekend in Oakridge, Oregon — "the mountain biking capital of the Northwest". Over five years ago I proclaimed (jokingly) that I wanted to move there and now I'm wondering why it's taken me so long to return.

Oakridge is a small and quiet former logging town situated between rivers and mountains about 40 miles east of Eugene. The timber industry once dominated, but today the local economy is all about outdoor recreation. In August 2010 even National Public Radio noticed Oakridge and devoted a special report to the town that is trying to "reinvent itself." (more...)

Good clean fun.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Lumberyard Bike Park has announced a new partnership with the Madison South Neighborhood Association to fund free passes for local high school students.

The Lumberyard is located on NE 82nd Ave, right across the street from Madison High School. At the suggestion of people in the neighborhood, The Lumberyard has set up a special fund that anyone can contribute to. As the fund fills up, The Lumberyard will set aside park passes and admission to after school programs at no cost for selected Madison High School students. The Lumberyard says they'll match all the funds raised by the community, and Madison High administrators and teachers will choose students based on factors including attendance and academic performance.
(more...)

In case you haven't noticed, Portland-based Northwest Trail Alliance is really becoming a strong force for good in the region. They are building trails, building relationships, and building a movement around mountain biking. NWTA President Jon Pheanis just shared a cool checklist in their monthly newsletter that's worth more attention. Check it out...

The Mountain Biker Checklist: 10 Things You Should Do Before Fall

VOLUNTEER: Help get the trails you ride into shape. Or help at any of our upcoming events like Sunday Parkways or Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. Check out the calendar to find out more.
EXPLORE: Go somewhere new. Check out our website and see what's near you.
GO FAR: Summer is winding down so now is the time to ride any of our regions' single track.
STAY CLOSE: There's no need to drive. Ride the Springwater Trail out to Powell Butte or take Max to the Ventura Park pump track.
INTRODUCE A FRIEND: Take someone new out on a mountain bike and share your passion.
RECYCLE: Take your old mountain bike or bike parts to the Community Cycling Center. Someone will really appreciate it.
DONATE: Your cash donations go directly to supporting all of our excellent programs. Even just a little goes a long way.
TELL US A STORY: Go somewhere new this summer? Have advice, something amazing, or funny to tell us? Send us your story and we'll get it on our website or our newsletter. You can always submit a topic to present at our monthly membership meetings.
LEAD: We need your help guiding a ride, heading one of our programs and volunteering your time as a board member. Contact us for more information.
GET INVOLVED: Frustrated, passionate or just grateful? Come early to one of our monthly membership meetings and see what you can do. We're also looking for a few 2013-2014 board members.

Volunteers gathered at the Riverview property
for a work party yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Yesterday I rolled out to southwest Portland to get a closer look at the Riverview property — and I am now even more optimistic about its potential as a riding area. Riverview could become what is now major missing element of Portland's bicycling ecosystem — a fun place to ride singletrack that doesn't require two hours of driving.

The City of Portland purchased the 146 acre parcel from Riverview Cemetery back in May. The property is in a heavily wooded area bordered by Lewis & Clark College (to the south), the cemetery (to the north), Highway 43 (to the east), and SW Palatine Hill Road (to the west). For years, the land has been used by nearby residents, Lewis & Clark College students, people without homes, and people who weren't afraid to ride their mountain bikes on the technical, steep, and private trails (thankfully, trespassing laws were never enforced by the owners).

Now that it's owned by the City, Riverview is no longer a secret. (more...)

Detail of event poster.

With summer weather finally looking like it's here to stay, I can't think of a better time to kick-off the Northwest Trail Alliance's annual Trailfest mountain biking festival. This year's theme is "Fun in every direction!"

Beginning this evening with a ride in Forest Park (meet at 5:30 pm in parking lot of Fat Tire Farm on NW 27th and Thurman), the Northwest Trail Alliance will host five days of rides and events. Trailfest is a way for the group to highlight local off-road riding opportunities, share what they've accomplished in the last year, and find more members and volunteers for their advocacy efforts. (more...)