Ride Stats
- Trail Description:
- Single Track Trail
- Best During:
- Spring & Summer
- Trip Distance:
- 25 Miles
- Ride Time:
- 3 - 5 Hours
- Elevation Gain:
- 1,200 feet
- Overall Rating:
- Intermediate
Out-And-Back Mileage Log
- 0.0
- From your car, ride down the gravel road for a short distance. Find the trailhead (#675) where the road turns and begins to head uphill. Trailhead elevation 2,150 feet.
- 2.0
- Trail crosses Dog River and climbs to a saddle above Hood River and Highway 35. The trail becomes steeper at this point.
- 6.0
- Trail junction with Zig Zag trail #678. Zig Zag decends steeply to Hwy 35. Go left instead, now on Surveyor's Ridge Trail (#688). In less than a mile you will reach the intersection of FS Roads 44 & 620. This is the turn around point, unless you wish to continue on Surveyor's Ridge Trail.
More Info
Hood River Ranger District
Mt. Hood National Forest
6780 Highway 35
Parkdale, OR 97041
(503) 352-6002
Mountain Bike Resource - Trails - Lower McKenzie River Ride Summary
Ride Description
This ride follows the lower half of the 27 mile McKenzie National Recreation Trail (#3507).
The lower section of the McKenzie National Recreation Trail is significantly less technical, but more crowded, than the upper half. The ride can be done as an out and back, a loop, or as a point-to-point using the two car shuttle system. If using the shuttle system you may want to combine this ride with the Upper McKenzie River trail for 27 miles of riding pleasure.
NOTE: This trail is one of the most politically sensitive in the state. In fact, the US Forest service just recently reopened the upper portion of the trail to bikers. A frequent rider notes that the trail signage is ambigous so that many hikers feel that bikes are NOT allowed. It will take just one careless rider to close this trail forever, so please excercise your best trail manners when riding this one. It's too valuable to lose.
Directions To Trailhead
From I-5 take Exit 194 and head east on Hwy 126. Continue on 126 for about 50 miles until you reach the town of McKenzie Bridge. Continue for another 2 miles where you will find parking on the left at the southern trailhead. From this point you can either ride out-and-back on trail, or continue up Hwy 126 to the Trail Bridge Campground (or any other point along the way) and return on trail. If you are using the two car shuttle system then leave one car below and continue up to any one of several trailheads along the way. If you wish to do all 27 miles of this trail then continue on up to the Santiam Wagon Road Trailhead, about 21 miles from McKenzie Bridge.
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