Great track out and back. Definitely some uphill sections to be taken seriously no matter your ride level.
The Reehers descent is a blast, but gets steep at points, forcing a guy/girl to use his/her brakes a bit more than going back. I reached the 9.5 mile mark at the bridge just before the last 1.7 mile section to Reehers Camp, and found the trail to be mushy, not well used, and kind of boring for the first half mile, so I turned around. Coming back up out of Reehers can be a bit daunting if you aren't well conditioned, and if you don't have good tires. I find that my hard tail has a hard time getting up over some of the tree roots due to lack of flex. Full suspension riders shouldn't have a problem. Would help if my legs were stronger too. :)
The descent back into Gales Creek is almost completely down hill flow, with the exception of a few uphill sections towards the end. During the rainy season, there tends to be muddy sections on corners, so be careful that you don't hit a blind corner too fast if its wet, or you may just end up on the ground, likely in pain.
All in all, its a fantastic trail, and amazing for conditioning and strengthening the legs. I would not at all consider this to be a beginners track, though. If you're a beginner, I would do something more like Elk Creek, or Wilson River. Unless you already train in the gym, and do tons of leg work, fitted into a circuit style session, I suggest going elsewhere, unless you're brave. I rate it at intermediate to difficult due to uphill sections.
If you like riding singletrack through a canopy of trees, then this is the trail for you. About 45min to an hour from Portland. Not crowded at all when I have been there.
Great track out and back. Definitely some uphill sections to be taken seriously no matter your ride level.
The Reehers descent is a blast, but gets steep at points, forcing a guy/girl to use his/her brakes a bit more than going back. I reached the 9.5 mile mark at the bridge just before the last 1.7 mile section to Reehers Camp, and found the trail to be mushy, not well used, and kind of boring for the first half mile, so I turned around. Coming back up out of Reehers can be a bit daunting if you aren't well conditioned, and if you don't have good tires. I find that my hard tail has a hard time getting up over some of the tree roots due to lack of flex. Full suspension riders shouldn't have a problem. Would help if my legs were stronger too. :)
The descent back into Gales Creek is almost completely down hill flow, with the exception of a few uphill sections towards the end. During the rainy season, there tends to be muddy sections on corners, so be careful that you don't hit a blind corner too fast if its wet, or you may just end up on the ground, likely in pain.
All in all, its a fantastic trail, and amazing for conditioning and strengthening the legs. I would not at all consider this to be a beginners track, though. If you're a beginner, I would do something more like Elk Creek, or Wilson River. Unless you already train in the gym, and do tons of leg work, fitted into a circuit style session, I suggest going elsewhere, unless you're brave. I rate it at intermediate to difficult due to uphill sections.
| ThankIf you like riding singletrack through a canopy of trees, then this is the trail for you. About 45min to an hour from Portland. Not crowded at all when I have been there.
| Thank