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Surveyors Ridge
15 reviews
4.33 of 5
Surveyors ridge trail 688 is 12.2 miles by itself but add Dog river and Oak ridge trail 688A you have a loop that goes 23 miles or so. I started at the beginning of Dog River trail and rode up where it runs into a gravel road about a mile of it that takes you to Surveyors Ridge trail head. Surveyors Ridge is fairly flat with awsome views of Mt. Hood and the valley below. 90 percent single track. Don't miss Oak Ridge 688A for the ride of your life back down to 35 which leaves you with a grueling ride back to your rig about 4 miles on 35 with a good shoulder width for bikes. Dog River up hill is a Dog and would be alot more fun to maybe ride this in reverse but the uphill of Oak Ridge trail 688A may be a bitch as well but it would be nicer to coast to your rig at the end. Take lots of water and have a great ride.
From Hood River take 35 South to the beginning of Dog River trail, on the left about 5 miles past the ranger station just before crossing Hood River. To access the loop at it's high point continue up 35 to FR 44, turn left and park at FR 620 on the left.
Summary: This is a MUST ride if your new and old to the area of Hood River. I was out on business and got a great opportunity to experience what the west is know of "The Views"! I agree with the previous reviews, Beginners beware. The trail was dusty so if you're following someone stay back 500 ft. The most grueling part of the ride was the 10 mile uphill climb up road 17 to RT 44. We parked at the exit of Trail 688 and climbed the entire way to the top of the ridge. It was a great sunny day with the best views of Mt. Hood. Thank goodness for digital. The trail pretty much made it's way through dense firs and pines as it hugged the side of the western slopes of the mountains. Towards the end of TR688 it climbed up to an overlook and then proceeded to dump you out past the intersection of Oak. Once you end TR688 at the powerlines you are too electrified with energy that you can hear buzzing all around. To bad the exit area has been clear cut but you do get a good shot of Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood all at the same time. So if your in the area for only one day this is the trail to ride. It took us 2:45 of wheel time but we were moving nonstop to beat the sun. We finsihed up as the sun disappeared behind the ridges. What perfect timing.
When you get back into Hood River stop in at the 6th Street Bistro and say Hi to Chris at the bar and have his favorite the Pai da Thai (Spicy!!) and some of the great local brew. My favorite was the Black Butte Porter. It was so good I had to bring back some on the plane back east. If your a beer lover stop in at the Big Horse Ales on the side of the hill in downtown Hood and have the sampling of their special brewing, the Nightmare Imperial Stout was my favorite.
Recommended Route: We took fire road 17 off of route 35 and drove up the road for 6 miles and parked at the gravel road on the right just past the powerlines. Then ride up fireroad 17 and stay on it until you come to RT44 and bear right onto RT44 and you come to the trail intersection about 2miles down the paved road. It was all up hill to this point. Then take TR688 all the way to the powerlines and then take the gravel all the way back down to the car. A good 24 mile loop with climbs that are possible. 14 miles of singletrack fun.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Gorge Trail 400 in Bonneville. Climb to the top if you can!!
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Summary: A rolling singletrack on the side of a ridge. The trail is in good shape with some overgrown bushes that brush up against you as you ride. If I was a good moutain biker, I would walk the trail and cut back the bushes. The trail tends to get dusty by the middle of summer. An outback is not particularily strenous but very fun; however, it will get your heart beating. A very nice ride with gorgeous views. Nothing super technical except some rocks in the trail near the north end of the ride. Beginners should be careful.
Recommended Route: I rode from Smullin at the bottom of Oak Ridge up to Dog River trail to Surveyor's Ridge and then down Oak Ridge. This is rougly 25 miles and is a gut buster. It took me almost 4 hours with some breaks to enjoy the scenery and BS with the guys. The ride down Oak Ridge is difficult with loose rock and sharp switchbacks. I have ridden up it. Stupid! I ended up pushing a lot due to the extreme climb and loose rock. I ain't that tough. You may be!
Other recommended trails in the same area: I really enjoy Whoop De Doo right out of Hood River; however, it is grown over with poison oak. Hate that stuff. It takes about two hours to ride.
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Summary: WOW! We camped at Knebal Spring CG, a great place with mostly other mtbers. Rode out 1720 to 17 and caught Surveyor's just were the singletrack starts. It was overcast, slight drizzle, the wildflowers were out in full bloom and the trail was in perfect condition. Surveyor's was lots of fun, make sure to take time to check out the overlooks and viewpoints.
Took 688a down. I was able to do less than half the swithbacks. The erosion and banking make these sketchy. I used lots of brake pad, but it was still fun.
Back up Hwy 35 for 4 miles, then the DOG. Dog River is a 6 mile 3500' climb. It goes from hard to harder. Beautiful foliage, esp at the start - but a dog. There is one fun downhill on the singletrack (stay right at the junction with the gravel road). Then lollipop back to Knebal KG.
Recommended Route: 30 mile loop from Knebal CG down 688a and up Dog River trail. 5700' of total climbing. Truely an EPIC...
Other recommended trails in the same area: Knebal with 8-mile loop for the second day when the quads are hurting
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Review Date June 24, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Nate
, from Kansas City, MO
Summary: Great ride. Incredible scenery, great singletrack. I was riding my sister-in-law's entry-level Trek. Thing's a tank, probably weighs 35 lbs (felt like it, anyway)... the climb up Dog River definitely made my tongue hang, and I got off and pushed a lot. It was very pretty, though, and worth doing. Ya gotta earn it. When I got near the end of Dog River, there's a place to access a FS road (620?), but I'm glad I didn't take it. Veer to the right instead, and you get a mile or so(?) of descent on the Dog River trail - fast, flowing, oh so sweet, to a junction where the Dog River Trail finally hooks up with Surveyor's Ridge Trail. Surveyor's Ridge - awesome. Once on Surveyor's ridge, there are ups and downs but no more sustained climbing. Dipping and rising, a bit of double track around the meadow at the south end, but otherwise great flowing singletrack. Amazing views. Great fun. I found myself smiling and whooping with joy. The drop down Oak Ridge wasn't as much fun as I was hoping it'd be - lots of very tight switchbacks made things pretty sketchy in places. But I don't want to sound like a complainer. All in all, this is a great ride. I consider myself an intermediate to advanced rider, and this trail was a blast. But it's not overly technical, and you need not be an expert cyclist to enjoy this ride. It's awesome.
Recommended Route: I'm visiting my brother in Portland, so I don't know the area. After talking to the guys at the shop in Hood River, I parked at Oak Ridge trailhead, rode up highway 35 to Dog River and climbed to the top, then rode the length of Surveyor's ridge, south to north. Finish with the drop down the Oak Ridge switchbacks to the parking lot. Don't know how many miles it was, but I was out for about 5 hours at a fairly lolly-gag pace. All the trail junctions are well marked with wooden signs, but I was glad I had a map. The simple paper map I got for free at the shop worked fine.
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Review Date June 14, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Marzocchi
, from Portland
Summary: I just rode this trail for the first time. Its an absolutely beautiful place to ride. I can't believe I've waited this long to ride this one. There are a few technical areas where one can climb over small rocks but for the most part its just great single track. ONE OF THE BEST RIDES IN OREGON P.S.- To the lamer that gave this trail a bad review below: Its not the trails fault you bent your rim. Get some good components loser.
Recommended Route: South to North and ride FS17 on the way back. Or you could shuttle it if you are a wimp.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Not Larch Mt. Its lame
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