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Geographic region: Tualatin Hills
Municipality/town: Forest Grove
Route configuration: loops
Distance: 19.1 miles
Min/max elevation: 174’/723’
Total ascent: 1,895’
Max grade: 11.3% up/11.2% down
Surface: ~12 miles paved road, ~7 miles gravel road
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: any
Permits: none required
Traffic: light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 28 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate Kansas City, OR. At the intersection of SW Strohmayer Rd, SW Greenville Rd, and SW Kansas City Rd, head south on SW Kansas City Rd – go 0.3 mi
R on NW Clapshaw Rd – go 1.2 mi
Park on gravel off SW side of the road.
Head NE on NW Clapshaw Hill Rd toward NW Seavey Rd – go 1.2 mi
@1.2 mi: L on Kansas City Rd – go 0.3 mi
@1.5 mi: Continue straight onto NW Strohmeyer Rd – go 3.0 mi
@4.5 mi: L on NW Seavey Rd – go 1.8 mi
@6.3 mi R on NW Clapshaw Hill Rd – go 1.7 mi
@8.0 mi: R on NW Shearer Hill Rd – go 2.0 mi
@10.0 mi: R on NW Timmerman Rd – go 0.6 mi
(@10.5 mi: Cross NW Sunset Hwy 6)
@10.6 mi: L on NW Wilson School Rd – go 0.5 mi
@11.1 mi: Continue straight on NW Parson Rd – go 0.8 mi
(@11.4 mi: L to stay on NW Parson Rd)
@11.9 mi: R on NW Orchardale Rd – go 0.7 mi
@12.6 mi: Continue straight onto NW Parson Rd – go 0.3 mi
@12.9 mi: R to stay on NW Parson Rd – go 1.4 mi
(@13.4 mi: Cross NW Sunset Hwy 6)
@14.3 mi: L on NW Timmerman Rd – go 0.5 mi
@14.8 mi: R on NW Shearer Hill Rd – go 0.9 mi
@15.7 mi: L on NW Strohmeyer Rd – go 0.7 mi
@16.4 mi: R on NW Seavey Rd – go 1.0 mi
@17.4 mi: R on NW Old Clapshaw Hill Rd – go 0.8 mi
@18.2 mi: Sharp L on NW Clapshaw Hill Rd – go 0.8 mi
End @19.1 mi
Rolling through farmlands of the Tualatin Hills, this course offers a wonderful variety of agricultural views. And even though it’s sandwiched between Highway 6 and Highway 8 (and includes crossing Highway 6 twice), this is a very peaceful and bucolic route.
The route may look a little dizzying with all of the loops and turns. However, since all of the roads are so well-marked, it’s actually quite an easy course to follow. I included so many loops in order to catch all the great scenery.
None of the hills are exceedingly long, but a few get a bit steep. At the top of each crest, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the countryside. About halfway through the course, you will climb up NW Shearer Hill Road, which is on a ridge that affords views from both sides of the road. And even though this course has more pavement than gravel or dirt road, it still feels gentle and peaceful.
Geographic region: Tualatin Hills, Oregon Coast Range
Municipality/town: Banks, Buxton, Manning (unincorporated Washington County)
Route configuration: loop
Distance: 17.3 miles
Min/max elevation: 196’/1,311’
Total ascent: 1,701’
Max grade: 10.2% up/9.0% down
Surface: ~10 miles gravel road, ~4 miles paved path, ~3 miles paved road
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: any
Permits: none required
Traffic: mostly light to very light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 24 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Park at the Banks Trailhead of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail in Banks, OR.
Head northwest on Banks-Vernonia State Tr – go 3.9 mi
@3.9 mi: L on NW Pihl Rd – go 400’ and turn L on Hwy 26 and go 100’
@4.0 mi: R on NW Hayward Rd – go 4.8 mi
@8.8 mi: L on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 3.3 mi
@12.1 mi: L to stay on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 0.2 mi
@12.3 mi: slight L on NW Jack Rd – go 0.2 mi
@12.5 mi: R on NW Narup Rd – go 0.8 mi
@13.3 mi: L on NW Killin Rd (no sign posted) – go 1.4 mi
@14.7 mi: L on NW Hartwick Rd – go 1.5 mi
@16.2 mi: L on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 1.0 mi
@17.2 mi: continue straight on NW Banks Rd – go 200’
End @17.3 mi
This loop course starts at the beginning of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail and heads northwest for a very flat four miles on the paved trail. Then it detours off the trail and heads up NW Hayward Road for a fairly steady three-and-a-half-mile climb through deciduous and coniferous forest and occasional farms. Near the peak, you can take a breather by visiting with some very friendly sheep and horses.
Around the eight-mile mark, the route heads downhill for about four miles. As you wind down the hill, you will see some lovely views of hills, valleys, and crop lands. At the bottom of this large hill, around the 12-mile mark, you will head into a roughly four-mile section of rolling hills through forest, farm, and residential land before. Right before the finish, there may be some friendly goats and aloof hogs to say hello to.
Geographic region: Tualatin Hills, Oregon Coast Range
Municipality/town: Banks, Buxton, Manning (unincorporated Washington County)
Route configuration: out-and-back with a loop
Distance: 22.9 miles
Min/max elevation: 197’/1,313’
Total ascent: 2,917’
Max grade: 10.2% up/10.1% down
Surface: ~18.5 miles gravel road, ~4.5 miles paved road
Bikes allowed: yes (gravel or mountain bike recommended)
Obstacles: none
Best months: any
Permits: none required
Traffic: mostly light to very light
Feels safe to go alone (my personal comfort level): yes
Driving distance from downtown Portland: 27 miles
[Click on buttons above to get route links on Gaia GPS or Ride with GPS]
To get to the start: Locate NW Hayward Rd in Manning, OR (about 24 miles west of Portland), where it connects with Hwy 26. From Hwy 26, turn L on NW Hayward, round the corner, and park in the gravel on the side of the road. If preferred, park at the Manning Trailhead of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail on the other side of Hwy 26 and cross the highway to start the route.
Head west on NW Hayward Rd – go 4.8 mi
@4.8 mi: L on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 3.3 mi
@8.1 mi: L to stay on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 0.2 mi
@8.3 mi: slight L on NW Jack Rd – go 0.2 mi
@8.5 mi: R on NW Narup Rd – go 0.8 mi
@9.3 mi: L on NW Killin Rd (no sign posted) – go 1.4 mi
@10.7 mi: L on NW Hartwick Rd – go 1.5 mi
@12.2 mi: L on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 2.4 mi
@14.6 mi: L to stay on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 0.2 mi
@14.8 mi: R to stay on NW Cedar Canyon Rd – go 3.3 mi
@18.1 mi: R on NW Hayward Rd – go 4.8 mi
End @22.9 mi
This is the out-and-back version of route 35, with a loop added before the heading back. If the steady three-and-a-half mile climb from route 35 isn’t enough for you, then you’ll be glad to know this route adds a four-mile nearly constant uphill climb. And it’s between the 15- and 19-mile points for extra spice.
You’ll start this course on NW Hayward Road just off Highway 26, and the first big climb starts immediately. You’ll wind along a gravel road through lovely coniferous and deciduous forest and an occasional farm. Near the peak of the climb, there is a farm to the left that has several sheep and a horse that are all eager to come say hi.
After the peak, you will wind down a long and gradual downhill through more open farmlands that afford some gorgeous views of the Tualatin Hills, If you go on this route in the summer, you will pass by undulating fields of golden wheat.
The long, winding downhill ends around the eight-mile mark, where you will embark on a loop that ventures north into rolling hills through woods and farmlands with pockets of residential neighborhoods. You will loop around and pass by the lush Killin Wetlands before starting the beast of a climb back up that long hill you had descended earlier in the route. But at least you can visit the friendly sheep and horse at the top again. Then from mile 19 through the finish, you can coast down with ease.
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