Mountain biking has become incredibly popular in the Oakridge [1] area, which is not surprising given that there are an estimated 350 miles of single-track within an hour’s drive of town. Find information and detailed trail descriptions at www.mtbikeoregon.com [2].
Novice bikers and families can start with the Salmon Creek Trail, which starts in town and heads along generally flat terrain to Salmon Creek Falls.
Also just outside town, starting at Greenwaters Park near the fish hatchery, Larison Rock is a thrilling, technical 5-mile downhill ride. Then, unless you’ve arranged a car shuttle, it’s a bit of a slog back to the start. (An easier though longer route back follows Forest Road 2102.)
The nearly 30-mile-long Middle Fork River Trail is a good bet for more experienced mountain bikers who want to test their stamina. It starts at the Sand Prairie campground south of town and heads south and east along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.
Oakridge [1] hosts a couple of mountain-bike events, one in mid-July and the other in August (503/459-4508, www.mtbikeoregon.com [2], $280) with guided rides of the area’s trails, meals, beer, and camping.
Road cyclists needn’t avoid Oakridge; the Aufderheide Scenic Byway [3] is an excellent low-traffic paved road along the North Fork of the Willamette River.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oregon/the-willamette-valley/oakridge
[2] http://www.mtbikeoregon.com
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oregon/the-willamette-valley/the-mckenzie-river-highway/sights/aufderheide-national-scenic-byway