The Ultimate Portland Cycling Guide

📍 Address: 22505 Black Rock Rd, Falls City, OR 97344

🌐 Website: Black Rock Mountain Bike Association Website

Distance from Portland: ~65 miles (~1 hr 30 min drive)

Difficulty: Intermediate – Expert

Black Rock is one of Oregon’s most iconic freeride mountain bike destinations, designed and maintained by the Black Rock Mountain Bike Association (BRMBA). Located outside Falls City, the trail system is entirely gravity-fed, offering everything from fast flow lines to massive wooden features, ladder drops, gap jumps, and technical downhill runs.

Standout trails include Banzai Downhill, a fun and flowy line with ride-arounds for newer riders, and Sickter Gnar, which lives up to its name with huge drops, jumps, and rock gardens. Expert-only trails like Granny’s Kitchen and Sunday Stroll showcase massive wooden stunts and mandatory gaps, making Black Rock a true proving ground for advanced riders. For those looking to progress skills, Basic Training provides a designated practice area with features that mirror what’s found on the bigger trails.

This is a shuttle-only system with no climbing trails, so plan accordingly. Black Rock is well-signed, free to ride, and open year-round, though conditions are best in spring and fall when the soil is tacky. Helmets are mandatory, and full-face protection plus pads are highly recommended.

📍 Address: Post Canyon Dr, Hood River, OR 97031

🌐 Website: HRATS Website

Distance from Portland: ~63 miles (~1 hr 15 min drive)

Difficulty: Beginner – Expert

Post Canyon is one of Oregon’s most expansive and diverse mountain bike networks, featuring 86 trails and over 66 km of riding. Located on the west side of Hood River, this system offers everything from flowing XC singletrack to jump lines, freeride drops, and technical descents. Riders can link trails together in countless ways, making it equally fun for all-day exploration or quick laps.

Standout areas include Family Man, a progression park perfect for skills building, and Seven Streams, a classic entry point that feeds into twisty climbs and descents. Advanced riders flock to lines like Mitchell Ridge and Bad Motor Scooter for big jumps and technical challenges.

The trails are built on the Hood River County Tree Farm, with mountain biking considered a secondary use, so respecting conditions and closures is critical. Post Canyon rides best spring through fall, ideally a day after light rain when the dirt is tacky. Freeze-thaw conditions can cause trail damage, so avoid riding after heavy rain or sub-freezing nights.

Parking Info: A Hood River County Parking Pass is required at trailheads. Popular parking spots include Post Canyon Road, Seven Streams, Family Man staging area, Binns Hill, and Kingsley Campground.

📍 Address: 20955–23999 Rocky Point Rd, Scappoose, OR 97056

🌐 Website: NWTA Rocky Point info (https://nw-trail.org/trails/rocky-point/)

Distance from Portland: ~20 miles (~30–35 min drive)

Difficulty: Beginner – Expert

The Tualatin Mountain Forest, known to riders as Rocky Point, is an OSU research and demonstration forest with ~3,100 acres and ~40 miles of singletrack optimized for mountain biking (walking allowed). Expect a mix of fast flow, tech, and jump lines spread across north/south zones, with gravel connectors for building bigger loops. As of May 2025, ownership transferred to Oregon State University, with public access and MTB prioritized through a stewardship partnership with NWTA.

Access: NWTA membership + signed waiver required for entry (no bike band or parking tag needed since 2023). Members and guests must follow OSU Research Forest visitor policies. Adults can sign a waiver for minors; minors must ride with authorized adult supervision. Logging operations occur, respect closures and signage.

Good to know: Closest major MTB network to Portland; rides well most of the year but check conditions/alerts. History runs deep, routes evolved from old moto/horse trails and have been transformed by thousands of NWTA volunteer hours.

Suggested Intro Loop (North Side):

Start at the parking lot → cross to RP United → right on Andyland → return via RP United (use Trailforks for mapping).

📍 Address: 26300 NW Phillips Road, Buxton, OR 97112

🌐 Website: NWTA Stub Stewart info

Distance from Portland: ~34 miles (~35–40 min drive)

Difficulty: Beginner – Expert

Just 30 minutes west of Portland, LL Stub Stewart State Park offers 1,800 acres of riding with 15+ miles of dedicated MTB trails. The network includes everything from family-friendly beginner loops to freeride lines with drops, jumps, and technical features. Trails are generally open year-round, making it one of the most reliable riding zones in the region.

Highlights:

• Dedicated mountain bike-only zone developed with NWTA and Westside Trail Federation.
  
• A mix of flowy XC singletrack, technical descents, and freeride trails.
  
• Well-suited for progression, new riders can build confidence while experts find advanced lines and double black features.
  

History: Planning began in the 1990s, but the park officially opened in 2007 with equestrian, hiking, and camping access. Thanks to NWTA (then PUMP) and hundreds of volunteers, MTB trails were incorporated early on. The first trails opened in 2012, and the system has since expanded to over 15 miles.

Good to know:

• Parking: $5 daily permit or annual Oregon State Parks pass required.
  
• Hours: Open 24/7.
  
• Community-built: Trails continue to evolve with NWTA and Oregon State Parks collaboration.
  

Stub Stewart is the go-to spot for year-round MTB close to Portland, with options for all skill levels and plenty of room to grow as a rider.

📍 Address: Along I-205 Bike & Pedestrian Path, Portland, OR 97220

🌐 Website: Gateway Green Park

Distance from Downtown Portland: ~8 miles (~20 min by bike / ~15 min by car + walk-in)

Difficulty: All Levels

Gateway Green is Portland’s first dedicated bike park, providing a much-needed off-road cycling hub in East Portland. Accessible only by bike or foot, the park sits along the I-205 multi-use path, creating a car-free, urban riding destination that connects directly to the city’s trail and cycling network.

Highlights:

• Pump track, skills area, and jump lines for riders of all abilities.
  
• Singletrack trails designed for progression, from beginner loops to technical features.
  
• Open daily, 5am–9pm with free access.
  

Good to Know:

• This is a car-free park, visitors must access by bike or on foot from the I-205 path. Closest entry is near the Gateway Transit Center.
  
• Trails and features are sensitive to rain; riders should follow wet weather rules (no riding if you leave a track or mud sticks to features).
  
• Dogs are welcome but must remain on a leash.
  

Gateway Green is perfect for quick sessions, skills progression, and family-friendly riding, making it one of Portland’s most accessible MTB playgrounds right inside the city.