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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, Tillamook
Route configuration: out-and-back with a loop
Distance: 22.3 miles
Min/max elevation: 379’/2,350’
Total ascent: 2,652’
Max grade: 11.8% up/11.8% down
Surface: 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 part of the route that is north of the gate (2.3 miles from the start).
Obstacles: gate at 2.3 miles in on SW Scoggins Valley 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: very light the first and last two miles; virtually none for the remainder on the weekends
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): no. Consider bringing bear spray.
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. Take SW Scoggins Valley Rd 4.6 mi past the entrance fee station (permit not needed for the location of the start). Turn R on the gravel portion of SW Scoggins Valley Rd (SW W Shore Dr continues L). Go 300’ and park on the corner of SW Scoggins Valley Rd and SW Stepien Rd.
Head northeast on SW Scoggins Valley Rd – go 9.0 mi
(@2.3 mi: there will be a gate to cross)
@4.9 mi: stay straight/R at Y
@6.6 mi: L at Y
@6.9 mi: R at large triangle
@9.0 mi: continue straight on SW Scoggins Creek Rd (NW Old Wilson River Rd turns R) – go 0.2 mi
@9.1 mi: stay straight at 4-way intersection – go 0.1 mi
@9.2 mi: L at Y on unnamed road – go 2.0 mi
@10.0 mi: L at Y (on some maps, this road is South Saddle Mountain [SSM] 200)
@10.9 mi: L at Y
@11.0 mi: L at Y
@11.2 mi: straight/L on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 0.4 mi
@11.6 mi: L at Y (on some maps, this road is South Saddle Mountain [SSM] 300) – go 2.0 mi
@12.4 mi: stay straight/R
@13.5 mi: stay straight
@13.6 mi: R on SW Scoggins Valley Rd – go 8.7 mi
End @22.3 mi
Starting near the northern tip of Hagg Lake, this route follows along a ridge bordering Scoggins Valley, making a loop in the Coast Range before heading back. The route starts climbing uphill right away, and within a mile or so you can see a beautiful view of the lake. There are homes here and there bordering the road for the first couple of miles, leading up to a gate at 2.3 miles. Though motor vehicles are not allowed past this gate, pedestrians and bikers (no e-bikes, though) are allowed to cross on weekends or on weekdays after 4 pm.
As you wind your way up the logging road, you will catch stunning views of Scoggins Valley as well as pass through thick patches of Douglas fir trees at various stages of growth. You may see logging operations, but they aren’t running on the weekends.
Toward the northwest end of the route, you will make a counter-clockwise loop through more forest. The road gets a little rougher here on parts of this loop, but it’s still easy to tackle on foot or mountain bike. Some of the roads on this loop are unnamed, so be sure to pay careful attention to the directions and keep an offline map of the area on your phone handy.
After you finish the loop, the rest of the way back is mostly flat or downhill, making for a gentle finish. The views on the way back are just as gorgeous as on the way out.
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, Tillamook
Route configuration: out-and-back with a loop
Distance: 21.5 miles
Min/max elevation: 731’/2,340’
Total ascent: 2,511’
Max grade: 9.5% up/11.5% down
Surface: 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 entirety of this route.
Obstacles: gate at start/end of route, 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: virtually none on the weekends
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): no. Consider bringing bear spray.
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 40 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. Take SW Scoggins Valley Rd 4.6 mi past the entrance fee station (permit not needed for the location of the start). Turn R on the gravel portion of SW Scoggins Valley Rd (SW W Shore Dr continues L). Go 300’ and turn L to stay on SW Scoggins Valley Rd (SW Stepien Rd goes straight) – go 2.3 mi and park at the gate.
Head northeast on SW Scoggins Valley Rd – go 6.7 mi
2.6 mi: stay straight/R at Y
@4.4 mi: L at Y
@4.7 mi: R at large triangle
@6.7 mi: continue straight on SW Scoggins Creek Rd (NW Old Wilson River Rd turns R) – go 0.2 mi
6.8 mi: stay straight at 4-way intersection – go 0.1 mi
6.9 mi: L at Y on unnamed road – go 2.0 mi
7.7 mi: L at Y (on some maps, this road is South Saddle Mountain [SSM] 200)
@8.6 mi: L at Y
@8.7 mi: L at Y
@9.0 mi: straight/L on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 0.9 mi
@9.9 mi: L on unnamed road – go 1.0 mi
@11.0 mi: L on unnamed road – go 2.9 mi
@13.9 mi: R on unnamed road – go 0.1 mi
@14.0 mi: R on SW Scoggins Valley Rd – go 5.8 mi
@19.8 mi: L on unnamed road: go up steep hill about 0.5 mi for a great view and then turn around
@ L on SW Scoggins Valley Rd – go 0.8 mi
End @21.5 mi
Similar to Route 25, this course heads northwest on SW Scoggins Valley Road with a loop at the end. But this route starts a bit farther out (at a gate that prohibits motor vehicle traffic but allows pedestrians and bikers on the weekends). The loop at the northwest end of the course is partially different than Route 25, and the ending of the route has a special little dogleg up a steep but short hill for some fantastic views.
The first three miles of the course is steady and moderately steep climb. This road, NW Scoggins Valley Road borders the beautiful Scoggins Valley. As you climb your way up, you will be able to get some beautiful wide views of lush hills and valley between winding through thick patches of trees. This is a logging road, so you will likely pass by some active logging areas which are closed on the weekends.
This course, as in with many courses in logging country, has several roads branching off intermittently. Be sure to bring the provided directions, map, and an offline map of the area saved to your phone to keep you on track. The roads on the loop portion of the course get a little rougher but are still easily navigable on foot or mountain bike. The loop, which is about seven-and-a-half miles long, largely winds through coniferous and deciduous forested areas.
Once you finish the loop, you will head back on NW Scoggins Valley Road, enjoying a relaxing downhill with more views from a different perspective than on the way out. Less than a mile away from the gate where you started, there is a short dogleg detour that will take you up a quite steep hill. But you need go just half a mile, and you will be rewarded with stunning views of hills and valleys in the Tualatin Hills and Coast Range. It truly is worth it to make the extra effort to see it.
NOTE: The southern half of this route 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: Oregon Coast Range
Municipality/town: Tillamook, Gaston
Route configuration: out-and-back
Distance: 20.5 miles
Min/max elevation: 1,793’/3,456’
Total ascent: 3,356’
Max grade: 10.1% up/11.3% down
Surface: gravel, dirt road (some larger rocks closer toward the summit)
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended). E-bikes are no longer allowed on Stimson Logging Company property, which encompasses southern half of this route.
Obstacles: 3 gates (closed to automobile traffic but allows pedestrians and bikers to cross):
gate at beginning of road up to east peak of South Saddle Mountain
gate just south of South Saddle Mountain
gate just past beginning of road up to west peak of South Saddle Mountain
Also look out for off highway vehicles near beginning/end of route
Best months: spring, summer, fall (higher areas may be covered in snow during the winter)
Permits: none required
Traffic: virtually no traffic on the weekends (there may be logging traffic during the week), except the first and last mile or so can have off-highway vehicle traffic (and they can go quite fast and wild, so be alert)
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): no. Consider bringing bear spray.
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 43 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: From Hwy 26 W, take Hwy 6 W – go 18.5 mi. Turn L on Beaver Dam Rd – go 300’. Turn R to stay on Beaver Dam Rd – go 0.7 mi. Turn R on University Falls Rd – go 1.9 mi. Turn L on unnamed road – go 400’. Turn L on unnamed road – go 0.2 mi. Park at intersection with Beaver Dam Rd.
Head west on Beaver Dam Rd – go 4.1 mi
@1.9 mi: stay straight/R at Y
@2.7 mi: stay L at Y
@4.1 mi: R on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 150’
@4.1 mi: L to stay on Saddle Mountain Rd, also called Cedar Rd – go 0.8 mi
@4.9 mi: L at triangle to continue on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 0.6 mi
@5.5 mi: L (over or around gate) to go up east peak of South Saddle Mountain – go ~0.3 mi, look at view (climb up the rocks to get to the very top if desired), and turn around – go ~0.3 mi back to the main road
@6.1 mi: L on unnamed road (there may be a closed gate to cross) – go 1.1 mi
@7.0 mi: stay L at Y
@7.2 mi: R on Cedar Rd – go 1.6 mi
@8.1 mi: stay straight/L at Y
@5.8 mi: Slight L on Stimson Mainline Rd – go 1.2 mi
@10.1 mi (or wherever desired): turn around and head back on Stimson Mainline Rd t – go 1.2 mi
@11.3 mi: Slight R on Cedar Rd – go 1.5 mi
@12.8 mi: L on unnamed road – go 1.2 mi
@14.0 mi: L (around gate) to go up west peak of South Saddle Mountain – go ~0.5 mi, look at view, loop around tower if desired, and turn around – go ~0.5 mi back to the main road
@15.1 mi: L on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 0.5 mi
@15.6 mi: R at triangle to stay on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 0.8 mi
@16.4 mi: R to stay on Saddle Mountain Rd – go 150’
@16.5 mi: L on Beaver Dam Rd – go 1.3 mi
@17.8 mi: R to stay on Beaver Dam Rd – go 2.7 mi
End @20.5 mi
This route has the most ascent and the highest peak altitude of all the routes in this guide, but this makes for some fantastic views. South Saddle Mountain, which tops out at 3,457 feet and is the tallest peak in Washington County, is actually higher than the much more well-known Saddle Mountain 60 miles north.
The route starts a few miles off Highway 6 in a popular off-highway vehicle (OHV) area. If you start near sunrise, you can avoid much of the OHV traffic there. The route quickly leads away from the OHV areas and starts to head uphill. Just after the two-mile mark, the course is a steady and fairly steep three-and-a-half miles. As you near the two peaks of South Saddle Mountain, you will see dirt/gravel roads that split off either side of the road, and they are each about a half mile to the two summits. The gravel is quite smooth until you get closer to the peak and down the other side, where there are some larger rocks.
To summit the east peak, cross or go around the gate on the rougher-looking road. To get to the very top, there is a short scramble up a rocky bank, though this doesn’t change the view a whole lot if you choose not to do the scramble. After summitting the east peak, you will head back to the main road, turn left (south) and start a long and welcome downhill after crossing a gate which might be closed. The views from this winding downhill continue to be a beautiful reward for all that climbing. The turnaround point for this route was picked randomly; you can choose to go longer or shorter as you wish.
The turnaround point for this route was picked randomly; you can choose to go longer or shorter as you wish.
After you turn around and start heading back up to South Saddle Mountain again, you will clearly see the peaks as you make your way back up, especially the west peak which has a tower on top. Going up to the top of the west peak is worth the extra effort, as there are more stunning panoramic views to enjoy up there. Once you turn around to head back down, you will have very little uphill left, save for a short climb around 18½ miles. You will be treated with more stunning views on this descent.
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