West Fork trail in Oakridge, OR. Photo posted by AK_Dan.
Oakridge, OR bills itself as the “mountain biking capital of the Northwest” and while we haven’t ridden there yet ourselves, they have a pretty good argument so far. With more than 500 miles of singletrack in the mountains outside town I’d say that puts Oakridge in serious contention for the mountain biking capital of not just the Northwest but the entire US. I know, I know, other towns like Moab have more famous trails but where else can you find 500 miles of legal singletrack?
What makes Oakridge even more compelling to mountain bikers is the local brew scene. In my mind beer and biking go hand-in-hand and the Northwest is typically known for some great microbrews. The article I read mentions the Brewers Union Local 180 brewpub where they make their own cask-conditioned ale – tasty.
Oakridge presents a great model for other areas around the country that have been hit hard by job losses due to dying industries. Local business owners are realizing mountain bikers are willing to travel to ride great dirt and we typically spend a few bucks to do it (not to mention the bar tab!).
One Oakridge City Council member predicts the Oakridge MTB scene will really blow up in 2-5 years so plan your trip now to beat the crowds!
2 Comments
May 14, 2009
The terrain of the area is very steep so take your good legs. The weather can be on the wet side but that translates into some very dense, lush forests. Once again this necessitates the need of a good map and the ability to use it, checking in with the locals is advised.
There are several lakes in the area, quite a few small campgrounds and a few small hotels in town.
Jun 28, 2009