44 Trail System

Fun ride if you can arrange a shuttle. Combine with Cook’s Meadow for 15 miles of DH fun with just a few technical sections. Plenty of good riding on Mt. Hood’s east side.

This is one of the last true mtn bike rides in the area. Similar to Round & Lookout in the Ochocos. Remote, so much variety, ripping downhill when tacky and a grunt of a climb.... and you're likely to see nobody there.
6 stars

Rode the trail S to N. Fun trail and great views of Hood. Took me way longer than it should have to ride, because I had to keep stopping and looking at the mountain. My take aways were
1) don't ride back on the road, stay on the trail, it's more fun
2) don't bother with Bald Butte, climbing back up isn't worth the so-so double track ride down
3) saw a bear on the trail, so keep your head on a swivel out there

Thanks to 44 Trails, I played around on some of the other trails, and they look great

Narrow trail that gains over 1400' elevation in less than 4 miles. Trail has a wilderness feel as none of the switchbacks are bermed and the vegetation can get up close and personal. Probably not the best trail to blast DH on the return trip. Ride can become a loop by using FS road 4410 (gravel) just off the Surveyors Ridge TH.

Traversing Surveyor's Ridge has been billed by many a must-ride, Oregon classic, but not for reasons you might think. While you will find a variety of surface and terrain from smooth needle-pack under thick forest to rugged mountain side exposure; impacted rock gardens, and swooping descents; the real reason to ride Surveyor's Ridge is for the views of Mount Hood not found anywhere else by mountain bike in the Hood River area.
Surveyor's proper begins at the top of the Dog River Trail - a six mile, 2,000-foot ascending/descending trail - and runs north/south for 10 miles if you stop short of the the ridge's descent. Surveyor's is in constant undulation as it hops from one side of the ridge to the other exchanging unparralled panoramas of the vast Eastern Oregon backcountry with the lofty heights of Mount Hood.
Surveyor's leaves a little to be desired in terms of fun factor as any descent along the ridge is too often met with short and sometimes steep grunts keeping in check any chance for sustainable speeds. Just as fast as you enter a section of flowy goodness in the downhill direction, you are met with an equal but opposite pitch going uphill interrupting rhythm. Alas, what Surveyor's lacks in thrilling singletrack, it makes up for in views which has added to my own perspective of what "fun" really is.
Read my entire report on Hood River-area riding by searching The Hood Report on Singletracks.com

Absolutely great trail. I rode Dog River to Surveryors Ridge to Oak Ridge. You can leave a car at Oak ridge, pedal down the road a ways, go up Dog River, and end back at your car. It's a big day, but this trail is a blast. Dog River is a dog of a climb, Surveyors is amazing singletrack, flowy, little techy, unreal Mt Hood views. Oak Ridge is steep, loose switchbacks and very entertaining. Highly recommend this ride. It's a solid day, so be ready.

If you just do Surveyors (shuttle), you can do it either direction. I read South-North is the way most people do, but I also have no idea, that's the only way I rode it.

Though not too technical there is plenty of climbing to test your fitness & dedication on the way up. All is paid off when you reach the top and head down. 4 miles, practically all that can be spent off the saddle.
There are many trails in this area so one could spend a few days riding and enjoying the scenery. Overlooked by many.

I really like this trail. Although either direction would be fun, I rode Knebal counterclock then 8 mile clockwise. After climbing only about a mile on Knebal, it opens up to some higher speed flow in and out of meadows and hillside trails. The climb out is a mild grade. 8 Mile offers an epic view about halfway through as you climb to a fire tower. I'm most anxious to get back out there to ride it counterclock to descend the long creekside trail rather than climbing out at the end. Great trails with a remote backcountry feel.

Everyone should ride this trail. If you are a beginner, this is the perfect ride to gain confidence. Just over 6 miles, the loop can be ridden in either direction. More seasoned riders can tie in a loop with Bottle Brush Prairie and Knebel Springs Trails. Leaving from the same TH you can manage 17 miles and 3,000' elevation gain along that route.

If you can only ride one trail in Oregon, make it this one. Starts with 5 miles of a fast flowing singletrack/doubletrack combination that is nothing but smiles. The journey begins in earnest at the end of the doubletrack. The next 7 miles involve ridge line rides through the forest with many open areas that reveal Mt. Hood and the surrounding valley. Enough uphill and downhill sections to keep you busy. Plenty of rocks but no overloaded tough areas. The last 3 miles is a fun filled 1,000' descent. Just before the 13 mile mark you reach parking underneath huge powerlines, where you can turn around, use Highway 17 as a loop or have your shuttle vehicle waiting.

This is a great ride with awesome views! Stop in and get a map in Hood River as there are a lot of options here. Ride as much of this area as you can, your riding on an active volcano!

I rode this trail a year ago as my second ever MTB trail. The trail system links are quite decent in this area. (Did Knebel Springs same time last year, and that's a GREAT trail). The flow down to 8 mile CG is pretty awesome. Though, there was one corner that snuck up on me because I wasn't paying close enough attention. I damn near launched off the trail and right into a downed log. Whoops. Definitely a medium beginner level trail.

Rode this clockwise. Dirt was in good shape but getting dusty. Great trail for beginners. Just enough exposure to all the requisite skills required without being too much. The trail should motivates you to practice for more challenging intermediate single tracks. If you aren't a beginner, ride one of the many other trails in the area.

The trail was in great shape. Very easy to find and well marked. A really great intermediate loop. The ride is nice both directions but counter-clockwise gives you the flowing decent down the creek to 8 mile campground... really nice!

I just pulled this up on google, the road is called Brooks Meadow rd but also labeled Natl Forest Develop rd 44 on the map. It is aprox 25 miles south of the town of Hood River.
I hope they havent completely logged this area since then, it wass a pretty cool ride.

I realize the directions are a few years old but I looked for this and was unable to find it because I had no idea how far to drive on 35 to reach "road 44" or if "road 44" had been renamed.

At about 1 mile up the switchbacks I ran a cross a notice stating that the trail was closed ahead due to logging operations. Not hearing any chainsaws I continued on only to find there had been logging there but not anything current, the trail was open and free of any debris.
Given a chance to do this trail again I would start at #2 – I prefer to get all the climbing over and done with and save the downhill for the end, the campground area would also provide a safer place to park your vehicle.
* Review edited 11/1/2007