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Geographic region: Tualatin Hills
Municipality/town: Gaston
Route configuration: loop
Distance: 13.5 miles
Min/max elevation: 314’/399’
Total ascent: 719’
Max grade: 4.4% up/4.6% down
Surface: ~11.5 miles dirt path with some roots, ~2 miles paved road
Bikes allowed: yes (mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: late spring to fall (gets quite muddy in rainy months)
Permits: day-use parking permit required ($7); can be purchased (cash or card via self-pay station) at entrance on SW Scoggins Valley Rd or at C-Ramp parking lot
Traffic: light foot/bike traffic on trails; light car traffic on roads
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 38 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Henry Hagg Lake. Park at Recreation Area C on SW West Shore Dr on the west side of the lake. Permits are required and can be purchased at the south entrance of the lake.
From the parking lot near the lake, head south on Henry Hagg Lake Trail (HHLT) – go 0.9 mi
@0.9 mi: L on SW West Shore Dr – go 0.1 m
@1.0 mi: L on HHLT – go 2.9 mi
@3.9 mi: continue straight on SW W Shore Dr – go 0.8 mi
(There is a trail on the other side of the guardrail)
@4.7 mi: L on HHLT – go 0.1 mi
@4.8 mi: L on road heading to parking lot – go 0.1 mi
@4.9 mi: R on HHLT – go 1.1 mi
@6.0 mi: L on SW Herr Rd into parking lot – go 0.1 mi
@6.1 mi: at northwest end of parking lot, continue on HHLT – go 3.5 mi
@9.6 mi: L on SW Scoggins Valley Rd – go 0.2 mi
@9.8 mi: L on HHLT – go 1.9 mi
@11.7 mi: L on SW West Shore Dr – go 0.6 mi
@12.3 mi: L on HHLT – go 1.2 mi
End @13.5 mi
Henry Hagg Lake is a man-made reservoir northwest of Gaston. In addition to a paved road with a wide bike lane circling the lake, there is also a dirt path that almost entirely follows the perimeter.
This route follows the Henry Hagg Lake Trail, starting at Recreation Area C on the west side of the lake. This course follows this single-track trail around the edge of the lake counter-clockwise, with just a few very brief sections on the road. The directions detail how to get around the lake via the trail, but even if you didn’t have them with you, you likely would be able to figure it out as you follow the lake so closely, and the trails are mostly well-marked.
Though the trail hugs the lake pretty closely most of the time, it is nearly relentless with small inclines and declines throughout the course, making for a decent amount of climbing in the end. While the trail is open year-round, it gets very muddy during the rainy months, which makes it difficult for both running and biking. There are some intermittent roots to clamber over as well.
It’s worth it to arrive before dawn to see the gorgeous sunrise over the lake as you make your way around.
NOTE: This route, which is largely on Stimson Lumber land, is open to pedestrians and bikers (no e-bikes) on weekends and after 4 pm weekdays. Also, Stimson Lumber Company closes all public access when Industrial Fire Precaution Level reaches level II (2) or higher. See following link for current Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to determine closures: https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/ifpl.html
Geographic region: Tualatin Hills, Coast Range
Municipality/town: Gaston
Route configuration: out-and-back with loop
Distance: 21.6 miles
Min/max elevation: 270’/1,368’
Total ascent: 2,266'
Max grade: 9.7% up/6.1% down
Surface: ~21 miles gravel/dirt road (some larger rocks), <0.5 mile paved road
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended). E-bikes are no longer allowed on Stimson Logging Company property (Stimson Mainline Rd and Stinson Tree Farm Rd)
Obstacles: 3 gates (closed to automobile traffic but allows pedestrians and bikers to cross):
gate on Stimson Mainline Rd ~0.5 miles west of intersection with SW Lee Rd
gate on Tualatin Rd
gate on SW Lee Falls Rd a few hundred feet east of intersection with Tualatin Rd
Best months: spring, summer, fall (higher areas may be covered in snow during the winter)
Permits: none required
Traffic: virtually no traffic in the areas from Stimson Mainline to Lee Falls and back on the weekends; light to very light on the remainder
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): no. Consider bringing bear spray.
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 37 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate 9948 SW Lee Falls Rd, Gaston, OR. Park on SW Lee Falls Rd near the intersection with SW Patton Valley Road.
Head N on SW Lee Rd – go 1.6 mi
@1.6 mi: L on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 3.9 mi
@5.5 mi: Slight L on Tualatin Rd – go 2.9 mi
@6.2 mi: stay straight/L at Y
@6.9 mi: stay L at Y
@7.9 mi: R at Y (gate @8.0 mi)
@8.3 mi: continue S through gravel parking area – go 200’
@8.4 mi: L on SW Lee Falls Rd – go 1.2 mi
@9.6 mi: Turn around at Lee Falls
Head back on SW Lee Falls Rd – go 1.2 mi
@10.8 mi: R on Tualatin Rd (gravel parking area) – go 2.9 mi
@11.3 mi: stay L at T
@12.5 mi: stay R at Y
@13.6 mi: stay L at Y
@13.7 mi: L on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 0.1 mi
@13.8 mi: R on Stinson Tree Farm Rd – go 213 ft
@13.9 mi: R to stay on Stinson Tree Farm Rd – go 1.7 mi
@15.6 mi: L on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 2.4 mi
@18.0 mi: L on SW Lee Rd – go 0.4 mi
@18.4 mi: R on SW West Shore Dr – go 0.3 mi
@18.7 mi: R on unnamed road – go 0.2 mi
@18.9 mi: R on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 1.0 mi
@19.9 mi: L on SW Lee Rd – go 1.6 mi
End @21.5 mi
The original route (Route 23-OLD) started in Cherry Grove and made a small loop near Hagg Lake, then continued on with a bigger loop west into the Coast Range, wrapping around to pass along Lee Falls and back to Cherry Grove. A small portion of SW Lee Falls Road is no longer accessible to the public, and thus I’ve created a variation (Route 23-NEW), which still allows access to the beautiful Lee Falls. I’m keeping the old version in case that small private section opens up to the public again. The description below is for the new variation.
Starting just east of Cherry Grove, this route heads north through farmlands, then heads west into the Coast Range via Stimson Mainline logging road. A half mile up this road, you will see a gate that is often closed, but you are free to cross. These first five miles are uphill, but most is not terribly steep, and you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of a lush, forested valley to the south.
At 5.5 miles, you will turn left onto Tualatin Road, a more primitive double-track road that winds through Douglas fir and some deciduous trees with a welcome long downhill. There is a closed gate to go around at 8 miles. At 8.4 miles, you will turn left onto SW Lee Falls Road. You will quickly come upon a gate that, on the other side, states that no entrance is allowed to the west of it in order to protect Hillsboro Reservoir, but this route does not go near that. You will proceed east along SW Lee Falls Road, bordering the Tualatin River, for just over a mile to get to Lee Falls. It’s not a huge waterfall, but it’s lovely and worth a stop to enjoy.
After enjoying the view of Lee Falls, you will head back the way you came, all the way up to Stimson Mainline Road. Here you will turn left for just a tenth of a mile before turning right onto Stinson Tree Farm Road. In a couple hundred feet, turn right again to stay on Stinson Tree Farm Road, where you will be at the peak of the route. This road is another rustic double track road that rolls through Douglas fir forest.
At 13.7 miles, you will rejoin Stimson Mainline Road and coast all the way down to SW Lee Road again. Here, you will turn left on SW Lee Road which will drop you down to the only paved section of the route, a 0.3-mile piece on SW West Shore Drive, which borders Hagg Lake. You will then loop back toward Stimson Mainline Road again, with a steady but gradual mile or so climb through the trees and past a few homes, before turning left on SW Lee Road back to the starting point.
NOTE: This route, which is on Stimson Lumber land, is open to pedestrians and bikers (no e-bikes) on weekends and after 4 pm weekdays. Also, Stimson Lumber Company closes all public access when Industrial Fire Precaution Level reaches level II (2) or higher. See following link for current Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to determine closures: https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/ifpl.html
Geographic region: Tualatin Hills, Oregon Coast Range
Municipality/town: Gaston
Route configuration: out-and-back with a loop (with optional dogleg)
Distance: 21.7 miles (23.7 miles with optional dogleg)
Min/max elevation: 588’/1,990’ (2,040’ with optional dogleg)
Total ascent: 1,902’ (2,150’ with optional dogleg)
Max grade: 9.7% up/6.2% down
Surface: all gravel/dirt road (some larger rocks)
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended). E-bikes are no longer allowed on Stimson Logging Company property, which encompasses the majority of this route.
Obstacles: gate on Stimson Mainline Rd about 0.5 miles west of intersection with SW Lee Rd, closed to automobile traffic but allows pedestrians and bikers to cross
Best months: spring, summer, fall (higher areas may be covered in snow during the winter)
Permits: none required
Traffic: none
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): no. Consider bringing bear spray.
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 36 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Henry Hagg Lake. From SW Scoggins Valley Rd on the southeast entrance of the lake, turn L on W West Shore Dr – go 0.7 mi. Continue on SW W Shore Dr – go 0.7 mi. Turn L on SW Lee Rd – go 0.4 mi. Park on the corner of SW Lee Rd and Stimson Mainline Rd.
Head west on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 2.4 mi
(There is a gate at 0.5 mi)
@2.4 mi: R on Stinson Tree Farm Rd – go 1.7 mi
@4.1 mi: R to stay on Stinson Tree Farm Rd – go 1.1 mi
@5.2 mi: Stinson Tree Farm Rd changes to unnamed road – go 3.6 mi
@5.8 mi: stay L at Y
@6.4 mi: stay R at Y
@6.7 mi: stay straight/L
@8.8 mi: L on Baseline Ridge Rd at T – go 1.1 mi
@9.9 mi: L on Old Railroad Grade Rd at Y – go 4.3 mi
@14.2 mi: continue straight/L on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 7.5 mi
[OPTIONAL DOGLEG TO GET TO THE TOP OF TUTTLE POINT: at 15.0 mi: L on Wood Rd (there is a sign, and it’s also near the a milepost 8.5 on Stimson Mnln) for 1.0 mile to a gravel pit; see the view and head back to Stimson Mnln and turn L to head back]
End @21.7 mi
Entirely on logging roads, this serene route is all but guaranteed to be void of traffic on the weekends. And even though it’s deep in logging country, it consists of many heavily forested areas along with panoramic views of lush valleys and peaks of the Coast Range.
You will start with a gradual uphill on Stimson Mainline Road through Douglas fir at various stages of regrowth. By mile point 2.4, you will turn right onto Stinson Tree Farm Road, a more primitive double-track road with thicker tree cover. Just after four miles, you will turn right, heading north to start a large loop on a mostly forested section which includes a mix of Douglas firs and alders. Along this northbound section, you will be treated with intermittent views of the babbling Sain Creek which parallels the road.
After turning west on Baseline Ridge Road, you will reach the peak of the entire route within a quarter of a mile, still in dense forest. At this point, you will head downhill through more forested area before turning south on Old Railroad Grade Road. You will soon be rewarded with expansive views of the Coast Range.
Around the 13.5-mile mark, you will be directly north of Tuttle Point, a 2,040-foot peak shrouded by dense trees. You will soon rejoin Stimson Mainline Road to head back to the starting point. At the 15.0-mile mark, you may choose the optional dogleg to climb to the top of Tuttle Point on Wood Road (there is a small sign). The road climbs one mile to a gravel pit at the peak, where you can see a panoramic view to the southeast.
As you make you way back to the starting point on Stimson Mainline Road, you will be treated with more stunning, wide-open views of hills and valleys rich with greenery. Some of the cragged hillsides have been more recently harvested, but you will already be able to see new trees popping up amongst low-lying vegetation. The last nearly seven miles along this stretch are a gentle downhill, making for an easy glide to the finish.
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