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Surveyors Ridge
18 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: The views of Mt. Hood are great and the actual trail is ok. A few fun downs and the rocks towards the end were great, overall the riding was...ok. I hate to be such a downer, but parking under high voltage lines, with clear cuts everywhere and paved busy FS roads took away from the experience.
Recommended Route: We parked under the wires and peddled up to the trail and then came back.
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Summary: I rode Surveyor's Ridge yesterday. Upon the suggestion of a mechanic at Discover Bikes, I started from the bottom of Dog River Trail, rode down 35, climbed up Oak Ridge Trail and Surveyor's Ridge, and finished by riding down the Dog River Trail. I DO NOT recommend this direction. It felt like I was climbing all day. Going up Oak Ridge is a pain in @$$. There is a large section in the middle that is steep and covered in large gravel that killed traction and forced me to climb it on foot. I may have been able to pick my way up most of it on my bike, but would have been more tiring than it was worth.
I recommend parking at the bottom of Oakridge and heading the other way around the loop. This was what I was planning to do before I received the "advice" of the local mechanic. The only exception is if you're a racer and need a killer training ride. All in all, however, this is one of the most beautifully scenic rides I have ever done and I plan to return here and do it my way. There are multiple view-points from which you get a great view of Mt. Hood and the valley below, which is filled with orchards and vineyards.
Recommended Route: Park at the Oak Ridge trail head. There's a sign if you are heading south on OR-35, but not north. I can't remember the whole name of the road, but it started with "skul.." and is a few miles north of the Dog River trail head. From the base of Oak Ridge, Ride south on 35 to the Dog River trail. Climb up Dog River. There are a couple of forks on this trail that I am not sure of, but you should be fine if you head upward. Continue to Cooks Meadow Trail, which turns into a double-track that takes to you the head of Surveyors Ridge trail. Ride down Surveyors Trail. After about 10 miles (I'm guessing) on Surveyors Ridge, you will need to take the Left onto Oak Ridge trail. Be prepared for the loose and steep switch backs in the middle and finish back where you parked. There is a useful map here:
http://discoverbicycles.com/traildetails.cfm?TrailID=2
Other recommended trails in the same area: New to area
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Summary: Next to Ape Canyon (Mt. St. Helens in Washington), perhaps the most glorious vista in NW Oregon / SW Washington. Total length is right at 13 miles one way. This trek provides many direct views of Mt. Hood at eye level across the valley, along with almost aerial views of the Hood River Valley below. There is, I believe, about a 1600-ft net elevation gain when riding from north to south, but probably 2/3 of this is in the north 1/3 of the trail, which is also the most technical. There are plenty of ups and downs either way, but most of these are under 1/4 mile climbs (the 4 miles at the north end being the exception, where it is largely uphill north-to-south).
Recommended Route: Take Hwy 35 between 10 & 11 miles out of Hood River.
Left on Pine Mont Drive, then six miles to the trail head 1/4 mile up the gravel road on the right.
Ride it as an out-and-back. Forget the slog up the 17 road, where you are on the wrong side of the ridge to even see Mt. Hood and will probably just eat lots of vehicle dust.
This is much better done as an out-and-back from the north end. Reverse the order if you want the hardest part at the midpoint of your ride. If you are a true massochist, start down on Hwy 35 at the Dog River trailhead, ride up Dog River trail, then down Surveyor's Ridge, then down Oak Ridge to Hwy 35.
For the occasional rider, do a south-to-north ride with a shuttle. That way, you do not have to fight the steeper and more technical uphill section at the north end.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Bypass Pine Mont Drive & go another 16 miles south to Hwy 44. About 3-1/2 miles on this gets you to the upper trailhead of Surveyor's Ridge. From here you can take Dog River trail down to Hwy 35 (remember, though, what goes down must come back up or be shuttled). Or, continue east on Hwy 44 perhaps 1/4 mile, then drive six miles up to High Prairie and find trail 450 - a blazingly fast downhill back to Hwy 44.
Stay away from Oak Ridge at the bottom of Surveyor's Ridge unless you like lots of switchbacks with large loose rocks, which describes the middle third of this trail that connects Surveyor's Ridge to Hwy 35.
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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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