REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Where else to ride in OR, 50+?

4415 Views 48 Replies 17 Participants Last post by SWriverstone, 12 mo ago

JStrube

Discussion Starter · Feb 8, 2022

So my wife and I have done a "Tour de Oregon" every couple years for about 10 years. We take a meandering trip north, and eventually visit her cousin in WA, then take a different route south. We have ridden Oakridge, Bend (usually hiring Cog Wild as a guide), McKenzie River Trail (1/2 was too technical for our taste), and Peterson Ridge in Sisters. We have traveled through some other areas, like Newport, Astoria, and Pendleton, but have never ridden any of them other than on pavement.

To be honest, we are 50+, not rippers, and like to keep our tires on the ground. My favorite trail system is the nice mellow Peterson Ridge Trail in Sisters. I can ride up it and down, and can do 20-30 miles of nice mellow riding. Where else can I find this kind of riding? Dirt, mellow, easy climb we don't have to hike, nice in return, not crazy? Not really looking for shuttle trails like Oakridge, or anything like Whistler.

Thanks in advance,

John.

1 - 20 of 49 Posts

Ogre

· #2 · Feb 8, 2022 (Edited)

These are not shuttled/ guided routes, but if you like Peterson Ridge:

Near Oakridge if you wanted to do a week of tires on ground no-shuttle riding
- WALDO if you haven't ridden it, A+ (Near Oakridge) A bit tougher than Sisters but you can out-and-back the north shore for an easier adventure.
- Middle Fork Trail out of Oakridge! Just out and back from butcher knife is fun and better than MRT I think.
- Timpanagos and the crazy fun stuff up there
- Shorter, closer to town: Larison Creek (Larison Rock is it's downhill cousin but Creek is good tires on ground stuff)
North Umpqua trail... not sure what's burned and what's not, but Deer Leap and down is likely up your ally. Dread and Terror is spectacular, but it's a lot more challenging than Peterson Ridge. The name exaggerates the challenge level but if your technical skills aren't good, you'll be pushing your bike on some stretches for sure.
Near McKensie River/ Sisters O'Leary/ Ollalie/ King Castle. My only shuttle assist recommendation. Use Horse Creek Lodge, it's not really like OROR shuttle rides, longer more like gravity assist XC with tires on ground. Or hit it hard and whoop it up.
Road 44 trails east of Hood offers a nice 3-5 day camp-n-ride area or stay in one of the towns nearby
Silver Falls (Near Salem) Day trip or if you are doing a multi day ride
You could do a Coast loop:
- Bandon (South Oregon Coast)
- Cape Mountain (Central Oregon Coast)
- I've heard good things about Newport but haven't ridden there.
- Likewise I've heard good things about Tilamook trails
The bottom 100 miles of the Oregon Timber trail!!!! Super under used section of trail. Just awesome stuff.

There is more, but I've not been there. My bucket list includes:

Newman Crater (I think that what it's called) South East of Bend
The rad stuff near Baker City (awesome town name)

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Nat

· #3 · Feb 8, 2022

2

Ogre said:
Newman Crater (I think that what it's called) South East of Bend

Newman:

Forehead Hair Glasses Head Hairstyle

Newberry:

Water Sky Cloud Plant Mountain

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Sparticus

· #4 · Feb 8, 2022

And henceforth it'll always be Newman Crater to moi.
=sParty

Reactions: 3

Nat

· #5 · Feb 8, 2022

Sparticus said:
And henceforth it'll always be Newman Crater to moi.
=sParty

Me too

Reactions: 1

Sparticus

· #6 · Feb 8, 2022

Trying to think of trails in Orygun as innocuous / undemanding as Peterson Ridge... having a hard time coming up with anything.
Maybe Deschutes River Trail? Maston?
Catamount Trail in Silver Falls State Park east of Salem can be pretty mellow if you climb Lookout Mtn Rd and descend the trail.
Whiskey Run's singletracks on the north side of the hwy are rather calm. (South side's got some spice.)
Good luck!
=sParty

Reactions: 1

Ogre

· #7 · Feb 9, 2022

Yeah, Peterson Ridge & Phils at Bend are really sort of the mellowest around.

Reactions: 1

Nat

· #8 · Feb 9, 2022

Madras East Hills might suit your tastes. It's pretty exposed so I wouldn't want to go in the middle of a summer day.

JStrube

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 9, 2022

Thanks everyone, some great suggestions! Probably some trails near places we have stopped, and just not investigated.

mudflap

· #10 · Feb 9, 2022

Ogre said:

The rad stuff near Baker City (awesome town name)

Please expound - I'm just across the border in Idaho.
Thanks for all the trail info. I been looking...

Shark

· #11 · Feb 9, 2022

Elkhorn crest trail, I only had time to ride about 1/3 as an out b back. Beautiful scenery, and it gets narrow, if you like exposure.

Was tough climb up the gravel....

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Sparticus

· #12 · Feb 9, 2022

This thread about the Elkhorn Crest is a bit dated...

www.mtbr.com

Elkhorn Crest BOB trip (photos)

SeenYourCrash & me, 9/4-7/08

www.mtbr.com

Crash & I approached from Marble Pass; rode up to the pass from Phillips Res.
=sParty

Reactions: 1

Ogre

· #13 · Feb 9, 2022

I haven't ridden it, but Elkhorn Crest is what I was talking about. It's on my bucket list.

Likely not remotely in the same class of ride as Peterson Ridge though.

eshew

· #14 · Feb 9, 2022

Not sure where in WA the cousin is located but Castle Rock WA has some pretty darn amazing trails, but all off the grid. PM me if you want any more info, the trails are legal but just not advertised. Currently there is active logging going on as well. Weekend access is the best. The old men always love to bring out new people, but be prepared for a lot of riding and a solid pace.

For the OR side Rocky Point is an option, need to me a member of NWTA though

WHALENARD

· #15 · Feb 9, 2022

The stuff in Tillamook is fairly chill. Plenty of camping right there too if that's what you're doing.
Brown's Camp
Gale's Creek
Wilson River Trail
Storey Burn

I wouldn't call any of that destination worthy exactly but I would say the same about Peterson ridge.

However, I would call the 44s on Hood outside of Hood River destination worthy and that's pretty chill fun riding.

44 Trails Association

hood river area mountain biking trails

www.44trails.org

I wouldn't consider a lot of the stuff mentioned here fits your criteria exactly.

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Ogre

· #16 · Feb 9, 2022

WHALENARD said:
The stuff in Tillamook is fairly chill. Plenty of camping right there too if that's what you're doing.
Brown's Camp
Gale's Creek
Wilson River Trail
Storey Burn

I wouldn't call any of that destination worthy exactly but I would say the same about Peterson ridge.

However, I would call the 44s on Hood outside of Hood River destination worthy and that's pretty chill fun riding.

44 Trails Association

hood river area mountain biking trails

www.44trails.org

I wouldn't consider a lot of the stuff mentioned here fits your criteria exactly.

I'm over 50 I'm an expert on what trails are suitable for 50+ year olds.

(Actually I agree, I got excited when I made the list)

Though Silver Falls and Cape Horn are definitely in the ballpark. Just a bit more climbing.

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Sparticus

· #17 · Feb 9, 2022

Ogre said:
... and Cape Horn ...

Ogre, I wonder if you mean Cape Mtn north of Florence?
You just gotta slow down on the inhalable meds, my friend.

=sParty

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JStrube

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 9, 2022

WHALENARD said:
The stuff in Tillamook is fairly chill. Plenty of camping right there too if that's what you're doing.
Brown's Camp
Gale's Creek
Wilson River Trail
Storey Burn

I wouldn't call any of that destination worthy exactly but I would say the same about Peterson ridge.

However, I would call the 44s on Hood outside of Hood River destination worthy and that's pretty chill fun riding.

44 Trails Association

hood river area mountain biking trails

www.44trails.org

I wouldn't consider a lot of the stuff mentioned here fits your criteria exactly.

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Cool. We have gone through Tillamook, and typically trailer camp. To me, destination worthy is in the eye of the beholder. I don’t need big hits and rad climbs…. Just want some chill riding that keeps me active. I do like trees and shade… I'm too big a boy for the hard climbs, I’ll go up, I just need some miles to do it. Even at my lightest, climbs are tough. Locally, all I get is straight up and straight down off road, so I stick to farm roads and the road. since drivers are stupider than ever, staying off the road.

JStrube

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 9, 2022

eshew said:
Not sure where in WA the cousin is located but Castle Rock WA has some pretty darn amazing trails, but all off the grid. PM me if you want any more info, the trails are legal but just not advertised. Currently there is active logging going on as well. Weekend access is the best. The old men always love to bring out new people, but be prepared for a lot of riding and a solid pace.

For the OR side Rocky Point is an option, need to me a member of NWTA though

He is in La Center. We really haven’t explored much of Washington outside of that…. I should.

TR Chensley

· #20 · Feb 9, 2022

I got a couple buddies pushing 50 and they rave about Gales Creek

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