Fifteen Mile Creek Trail
Location - South East of Hood River, Oregon
Length - 20 miles
Date - July, 2007
Length - 20 miles
Date - July, 2007
Fifteen Mile Creek Trail is a great ride in the hills to the east of Mt
Hood. The ride is roughly twenty miles long and is sure to wear out
all but the most fit riders. On the drive to the trailhead incredible
views of Mt Hood’s imposing east face change at each turn as you
head well above the East Fork of the Hood River and into the dry
rainshadow forests to the east of the Cascade Crest.
We parked at a trailhead that let us warm up with a few miles of
fairly gradual climbing on nice buffed singletrack that wound its way
through a dense forest to a nice meadow at a trail junction. We
were early enough in the season that this stretch of the ride was not
very dusty. A few mosquitoes were around when we started, but the
day warmed up quickly enough to send the winged pests away in no
time at all.
At the trail intersection in the meadow we turned left and headed off
on a nice and fast downhill that was gradual enough to let me go
pretty fast without worrying about my shaky breaks and even
shakier downhill skills. This first shot lasted for a little less than a
mile and ended at a road crossing after which point a short but
steep climb ended at a knoll with nice views of Mt Hood. This was
the end of the climbing for a while, as a long and sweet downhill
took off from here. The trail basically snakes down a long ridge
above Fifteen Mile Creek and varies between really fast stretches
and slightly steeper and more technical stretches that forced me to
slow down, but remained very rideable. A few road crossings break
up the descent, and the open woods allow for occasional views of
the surrounding ridges.
Hood. The ride is roughly twenty miles long and is sure to wear out
all but the most fit riders. On the drive to the trailhead incredible
views of Mt Hood’s imposing east face change at each turn as you
head well above the East Fork of the Hood River and into the dry
rainshadow forests to the east of the Cascade Crest.
We parked at a trailhead that let us warm up with a few miles of
fairly gradual climbing on nice buffed singletrack that wound its way
through a dense forest to a nice meadow at a trail junction. We
were early enough in the season that this stretch of the ride was not
very dusty. A few mosquitoes were around when we started, but the
day warmed up quickly enough to send the winged pests away in no
time at all.
At the trail intersection in the meadow we turned left and headed off
on a nice and fast downhill that was gradual enough to let me go
pretty fast without worrying about my shaky breaks and even
shakier downhill skills. This first shot lasted for a little less than a
mile and ended at a road crossing after which point a short but
steep climb ended at a knoll with nice views of Mt Hood. This was
the end of the climbing for a while, as a long and sweet downhill
took off from here. The trail basically snakes down a long ridge
above Fifteen Mile Creek and varies between really fast stretches
and slightly steeper and more technical stretches that forced me to
slow down, but remained very rideable. A few road crossings break
up the descent, and the open woods allow for occasional views of
the surrounding ridges.
The trail is very fast and fluid until the last mile or so where it drops
off the steep end of the ridge to the floor of the Fifteen Mile Creek
Valley. This part of the ride is full of soft pumice dust, loose volcanic
rock, on a pretty steep pitch that is chewed up by past riders. I was
going slow down this final section, but really proud of how well I was
managing, which encouraged me to open things up and go for
some more speed. This made the riding easier as it often does,
until I rounded a boulder and slammed my front wheel into a
tombstone shaped rock about two and a half feet tall. I did a pretty
spectacular superman over the handle bars and was lucky enough
to land my belly flip in a remarkable soft pile of sex inch deep
pumice dust. This ultra fine dust packed my mouth, nostrils, and
ears full, coated my glasses, and made me filthy, but kept breaks
and bruises from being inflicted.
After washing up in the creek at the bottom of the great downhill we
rested in the shade and prepared for the climb up and out of the
valley back to the meadow. For a few miles the ride was gentle and
steady, winding on narrow single track through dense forest along a
nice creek. Then we crossed the creek and the trail started to slab
up the side of the valley in a few long and steep switchbacks. I was
spinning my granny gear pretty steadily, but it was hot out and
eventually I reached a switchback that stopped me and forced some
hike a bike. The grade eased again and I was riding soon enough,
but now the woods were getting thinner again and the intense sun
beating down. We started to have some views and the desert plains
of central Oregon. Heat shimmered off of the brown desert and
gave them the look of a hellish oven. This would have been cool,
but the valley we were riding up and out of ended down in the
desert and it was funneling the dry oven hot air directly up towards
us and cooking us pretty badly. By the time we finished the climb I
was pretty nasty.
Luckily the final few miles back to the trucks were on super sweet
and fluid downhill that gave me chance to dry off and cool down,
even though I was eating some dust near the back of the group.
off the steep end of the ridge to the floor of the Fifteen Mile Creek
Valley. This part of the ride is full of soft pumice dust, loose volcanic
rock, on a pretty steep pitch that is chewed up by past riders. I was
going slow down this final section, but really proud of how well I was
managing, which encouraged me to open things up and go for
some more speed. This made the riding easier as it often does,
until I rounded a boulder and slammed my front wheel into a
tombstone shaped rock about two and a half feet tall. I did a pretty
spectacular superman over the handle bars and was lucky enough
to land my belly flip in a remarkable soft pile of sex inch deep
pumice dust. This ultra fine dust packed my mouth, nostrils, and
ears full, coated my glasses, and made me filthy, but kept breaks
and bruises from being inflicted.
After washing up in the creek at the bottom of the great downhill we
rested in the shade and prepared for the climb up and out of the
valley back to the meadow. For a few miles the ride was gentle and
steady, winding on narrow single track through dense forest along a
nice creek. Then we crossed the creek and the trail started to slab
up the side of the valley in a few long and steep switchbacks. I was
spinning my granny gear pretty steadily, but it was hot out and
eventually I reached a switchback that stopped me and forced some
hike a bike. The grade eased again and I was riding soon enough,
but now the woods were getting thinner again and the intense sun
beating down. We started to have some views and the desert plains
of central Oregon. Heat shimmered off of the brown desert and
gave them the look of a hellish oven. This would have been cool,
but the valley we were riding up and out of ended down in the
desert and it was funneling the dry oven hot air directly up towards
us and cooking us pretty badly. By the time we finished the climb I
was pretty nasty.
Luckily the final few miles back to the trucks were on super sweet
and fluid downhill that gave me chance to dry off and cool down,
even though I was eating some dust near the back of the group.
Mt Hood looms large above the valley of Hood River on the way to the trailhead for
Fifteen Mile Creek which runs off of a ridge across the valley from Mt Hood.
Fifteen Mile Creek which runs off of a ridge across the valley from Mt Hood.
The first few miles of trail are excellent single track that gradually climb, allowing for a
fast and fun ride back to the vehicles after a burly climb at the end of the ride.
fast and fun ride back to the vehicles after a burly climb at the end of the ride.
Mt Hood is sometimes visible on the upper sections of the loop ride.
Smooth and flowing single track was the name of the day. With only a few stretches of
technical riding, this downhill was lots of fun and really fast.
technical riding, this downhill was lots of fun and really fast.
The valley of Fifteen Mile Creek sits below this outcrop.
The group checks a map and rests in the shade at a rare flat spot on the climb up and
out of Fifteen Mile Creek.
out of Fifteen Mile Creek.
Its hard to see the filth in this picture, but I was covered in fine volcanic dust
after my crash. Luckily I was able to clean up in the creek behind me.
after my crash. Luckily I was able to clean up in the creek behind me.
Mt Hood's east face is quite impressive from the road we took to the trailhead
for Fifteen Mile Creek.
for Fifteen Mile Creek.