The best mountain bike trails in Southern Oregon’s eastern Cascades

No issue what amount rider you are, there’s ample mountain biking terrain that’s just correct for you in Southern Oregon, from rookie pump and bounce tracks for children to steep, rapidly and complex routes for state-of-the-art riders.

The location, which lies just throughout the border from northern California, delivers a two-wheeled version of a wine nation escape exactly where you can sip, style or indulge in something extraordinary. And just like high-quality wine, the trails circulation on and on, providing days really worth of discovery and recreation.

You can experience Mount Ashland, shuttling up the towering mountain, then having path following trail back to Ashland. You can investigate the terrain all around Medford and Grant’s Pass. Or you can head 90 minutes to the east, the place the city of Klamath Falls offers an remarkable array of trails on Spence Mountain, Brown Mountain, Moore Mountain and other hot spots.

Klamath’s Cascade tracks

Klamath Falls, which lies on the dry side of the Cascade vary on Klamath Lake, features a 50 % dozen trail units for mountain and gravel biking. The best-developed of these is Spence Mountain, a 28-mile community of skillfully developed, community-use trails on7,400 acres of non-public land. The volunteer-operate Klamath Trails Alliance is the steward of this biking paradise.

Two trailheads access Spence Mountain — the closest to Klamath Falls is about 15 miles west of city on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (Highway 140). To obtain the next trailhead, stick to indicators to Eagle Ridge Park off Highway 140. Parking and restrooms are out there at both trailheads.

Following renting a Trek Leading Gasoline bicycle from friendly, well-stocked Zach’s Bikes in downtown Klamath Falls, I fulfilled up with a regional rider, Drew Honzel, from the Klamath Trails Alliance, for a single monitor experience at Spence on the relatively simple and scenic Shoalwater and Old Eagle trails. This is one of the easier and shorter rides (4.5 miles) in Spence there are loads of other options for lengthy, technically complicated rides with rock gardens, hairpin turns,steep climbs and berms that increase a pleasurable, flowy feel to the experience.

Our route followed a sweet extend of single track, reasonably ascending through a younger forest of fir, cedar and pine trees and sweeping sights of upper Klamath Lake, the marshes of Shoalwater Bay and snow-creased stratovolcano Mount McLoughlin in the length.

As we rode along the lakeshore, Honzel, a retired mill government, remarked “What’s not to appreciate about mountain biking in Klamath? Even though I’m just about 66 years aged, I truly feel like a kid again whilst riding.”

You will uncover a quantity of other noteworthy path networks in the Klamath Falls area, this sort of as Moore Mountain and Brown Mountain, each in-depth on the helpful mapping application, Trailforks.com. (Suggestion: Obtain individuals path maps on your absolutely-charged cellphone ahead of you journey.) Moore Mountain is correct in town and has more than 15 miles of multi-use trails, quite a few fantastic for commencing riders and for kids practicing their techniques in Moore’s bicycle park. Brown Mountain and the Substantial Lakes trails near the summit of Highway 140 offer 18 to 23 miles of mountain bike and gravel routes via outdated growth forest and lava flows.

Refuel afterward at The Falls Taphouse, a beer backyard with a massive craft brew range and two foodstuff vehicles. Or head for Rodeos,the locals’ preference for post-ride drinks and food — fantastic salads and best top quality pizzas furthermore a wall of craft beers in coolers.

Medford adventures

The city of Medford tends to make a practical Southern Oregon launch pad, with a range of affordable hotels and a regional airport with common flights from SFO — and mountain biking possibilities.

Head to Prescott Mountain and RoxyAnn Peak: With 14 miles of trails, this is the best solitary-keep track of biking spot in Medford. The multi-use and e-bike friendly routes are located on metropolis land and had been crafted by the Rogue Valley Mountain Bicycle Association.

Amongst Grants Pass and Medford, the Bureau of Land Management’s Mountain of the Rogue options seven miles of trails, such as a flow trail and pump trail. This multi-use trail network was crafted for mountain biking and is a wonderful alternative to Ashland Mountain, in particular for younger riders and newbies.

Post-experience? Widespread Block Brewing is spacious and modern with indoor and outside tented seating. The Rogue Runner IPA is particularly delicious. Purchase brews and foods — don’t miss the fried cheese curds — from a bar that appears to be like like a converted delivery container.

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If You Go

Klamath Trails Alliance: Find a prosperity of facts and detailed trail maps for off-highway biking areas in and around Klamath Falls at klamathtrails.org.