Mountain Bike Oregon
The crew in Oakridge Oregon have been putting on a Mountain Bike Festival for over 10 years. Their formula has been incredibly successful which is a testament to their dedication to the trails and to ensure you have a good time.
Check out the details at their Mountain Bike Oregeon Website. We were there in 2010 and were so impressed we had to go back, so we did this year. Each year they offer guided rides and a shuttle, new this year is that you should sign up for them. This is good and bad, but even if you didn’t sign up they will work to get you on the rides you want. Even if you don’t know the trails, don’t worry, they are all good! Also this year they had food carts instead of catering dinner, they also had regular shuttles into town so you could eat there. You could also ride into town pretty easily. Again the cost of the even included free beer!
We had a longer then expected drive to Oakridge since traffic around Portland was really bad. Seems the I-5 is becoming more congested, oh well. Just prepare for lots of traffic on this corridor.
Information for the rides in this area can be found at the MTB Project Website. I also found a great Oakridge map that can be used with the PDF Maps Android and Iphone App at Adventure Maps.
Day1 Ride – Lawler Hardesty || Day 2 Ride – Middle Fork || Day 3 Ride – Alpine || McKenzie River Trail Links to the Trip Reports
The first ride we signed up for was the Lawler Hardesty shuttle. These are two 8miles or so rides that they combine with a shuttle to maximize your trail riding, nice!
Sweet Berms
Parking area at the bottom of Lawler
Loading up the Shuttle Van
Shuttle drop off, Hardesty Start
Hardesty Trail
Gratuitous out and back on the Hardisty Ride
The trail was worth it
Clover patches line the trail
Cool burnt forest
Maps and info
Day 2 – Middle Fork Ride.
MBO says it’s 32 miles, 4500ft climbing, 1000ft descending. That’s about right!
We started the shuttle at Timpanogas Lake, did a short out and back to Indigo Lake then started the descent. The group pretty much stayed together, there was only one crash where a guy had to bail. The shuttles met us a few times on the descent so you could bail if you needed. The ride ended at a bridge with easy access to the river so we could wash the sweat and dust off our bodies!
Timpanogas Lake parking
Indigo Lake out and back
More flowy trails
Cool burn area we rode through
A few bridges to cross, some blowdown.This trail does see regular maintenance!
Another group was doing the lower middle fork shuttle as well
Jake happy to be shuttlin’
Nap time in the campsite
Our track from 2015
The track on the bottom of the page is for the full Middle Fork when we rode it in 2010. This track also includes the drive.