Category Archives: Trail Conditions

trail conditions hood river and mt hood area mountain biking

Hood River Mountain Bike Trails – 44 Trails Conditions Report

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Hood River Mountain Bike trails

Attention 44 riders, we’ve been busy clearing spring blowdown on Hood River’s finest single track. Here’s the latest update on what trails have been cleared and are ready to ride in the 44 zone for Memorial Day weekend:

44 trails conditions report44 Trails Conditions

Dog River Trail # 675 – open
Surveyor’s Ridge Trail #688 – open
Knebal Springs Trail #474 – open
Bottle Prairie Trail #455- open
Eightmile Trail #496- open
Oak Ridge Trail #688A – open
Super Connector – open

Fifteenmile Trail #456 – Clear
Cooks Meadow Trail #639 -Clear

Higher elevation trails including upper 450, Boulder Lakes area and Bonnie Meadows have not been cleared of blowdown and are still too wet to ride. Please refrain from riding upper elevation areas that are still wet. Riding wet trails degrades the tread and fuels the argument for those who oppose mountain bike use.

Please respect the multi-use aspect of all trails in the 44 Zone and be prepared for new downed trees and changing conditions. There’s still some trail damage on open trails where downed trees have torn up the existing tread or uprooted trees have blown out the tread, so be alert for hazards. In other words, respect your fellow users and use your head! Have fun out there this weekend.

Hood River mountain bike trail conditions

Spring 2016 Trail Update

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44 trails mt hoodSpring has come early this year and the high country snow around the 44 zone is rapidly melting away! The 44 road is fully open, but some of the spurs – including the 4410 road to High Prairie – are still blocked by snow.

As usual, winter has left us with a mess of blowdown on the trails. We are working on getting things cleared out, albeit slowly.

Here’s what’s currently been cleared:

  • Surveyor’s Ridge north of the two track (Shellrock Mountain)
  • Knebal from 8-Mile trailhead north to Super Connector
  • Dog River (full)

We hope to have Knebal/Super Connector/Dakine Trail trail clear to the Knebal parking area this week (May 15-20) and, hopefully, 15-Mile, remaining Surveyor’s and more by Memorial Day weekend.

Of course, new trees could come down and there’s always a little more brush leaning in on the trails this time of year until they fully spring back from being buried all winter.

FYI, attempting to ride uncleared trails will yield varying success. Depending on the degree of blowdown, you might get an open mile or two only to find yourself faced with an extensive stretch of climbing and bike carrying. So, if you head up to explore, be ready for an adventure. The spring brushout of blowdown is a chainsaw intensive project that requires being certified by the USFS, so we have a select crew of certified sawyers making their way through the network as time allows. If you are up exploring and hear saw work, please approach slowly!

We should have a new trail conditions update by May 20. In the meantime, the lower elevation trails around the Hood River Valley are in fine form. Happy riding.

Mark your calendars for the following events:
July 9 – second annual TRAILGATE event – ride 44 zone, eat, drink and music –
details soon – read about last year’s event

July 23 – Cooks Meadow Extension Trail work – read about Cooks Meadow Extension
Aug 20 – Cooks Meadow Extension Trail work – read about Cooks Meadow Extension
Sept 24 – Surveyor’s/Super Connect connector – more details on this project in June
Oct 8 – Surveyor’s/Super Connect connector – more details on this project in June

 

44 Trails Conditions Report Nov 2015

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44 trails conditions reportAttention 44 riders! There is a lot of new blowdown on the 44 trail system thanks to last weekend’s storms.

The rain did great things for the trail tread, but you should be prepared for lots of downed trees.

Even the new Cooks Meadow extension project, which was cleared just two weeks ago, was full of blowdown on Sunday.

It gives you a taste of what it’s like in the spring before we get up and start clearing! If the weather stays mild this winter, we’ll do what we can to do some clearing.

44 Trails conditions report November 2015

Fire Closure – Mt Hood National Forest

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Badger Lake fire mt hoodIf you have not heard, there is a fire near Badger Lake on the Barlow District of the Mt Hood National Forest.

It’s not directly affecting the bulk of the 44 Trails zone, but there are a number of closures to consider if you are headed up to the area, most notably High Prairie, Gumjuwac, Gunsight and most everything adjacent to Badger lake including the Boulder Lake.

Badger lake Fire mapHere’s the latest official info from the USFS. 

Media Information Line: 503-668-1791/503-668-1776
Public Fire Information: (541) 467-2291
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

10/6/15 UPDATE:

The Badger Lake Fire is approximately 60 acres in size and burning in heavy dead and down timber. The fire is located northwest of Badger Lake in the Badger Lake Wilderness. Steep terrain, limited road access and an abundance of snags (standing dead trees) pose challenges for firefighter safety. Retardant was dropped on Forest Road 3550 yesterday with the goal of keeping the fire within the wilderness. Additional retardant has been ordered. Two helicopters continue to work on the fire.

The Badger Lake Fire began on Saturday, October 3, 2015. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Base Camp for the Fire is at Badger Lake Campground.

An area closure is in effect for the area surrounding the fire to protect public and firefighter safety as crews work to contain the fire. The closure includes roads, trails and developed recreation sites. Please contact the Barlow Ranger Station for details or the website address below.

PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES: Approximately 70 personnel, including 2 20 person crews, 4 Type 6 Engines, 1 Type 1 helicopter, and 1 Type 2 helicopter, and 12 rappellers.

SPECIAL MESSAGES/CLOSURES: An area closure is in effect for the Badger Lake Fire. For more information on the closure go to the Mt. Hood NF Closure webpage.

Badger Lake Fire Closure
Effected roads:

  • 3500640 Closed
  • 3500641 Closed
  • 3500642 Closed
  • 3500660 Closed
  • 3540000 Closed
  • 3540011 Closed
  • 3540012 Closed
  • 3540630 Closed
  • 3540640 Closed
  • 3540641 Closed
  • 3550000 Closed
  • 3550620 Closed
  • 4860000 Closed
  • 4860140 Closed
  • 4860160 Closed
  • 4880000 Closed
  • 4891000 Closed
  • 4891120 Closed

Effected Trails:

  • 465         PINE CREEK Closed
  • 477         BADGER CREEK CUTOFF Portion Closed
  • 458         DIVIDE Closed
  • 478         CRANE CREEK Portion Closed – North End
  • 464         CRANE PRAIRIE Portion Closed
  • 466         THREE MILE Closed
  • 479A      BADGER LAKE Closed
  • 480         GUMJUWAC Closed
  • 680         JEAN LAKE Closed
  • 467         POST CAMP Closed
  • 477A      WEST FORK Closed
  • 685B      CAMP WINDY Closed
  • 463         BOULDER LAKE Portion Closed
  • 493         HIGH PRAIRIE Closed
  • 685         GUNSIGHT BUTTE Closed
  • 479         BADGER CREEK Portion Closed (West of Bonney Crossing)

Effected Rec Sites are

  • Badger Lake C.G. Closed
  • Camp Windy C.G Closed
  • Bonney Meadows Closed