Sandy Ridge is located west of Mount Hood in a forest populated by Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar. Specifically designed for mountain bikers, the recently expanded Sandy Ridge Trail System offers over 15 miles of bike paths. Sandy Ridge has something for every skill level, from easy-flow runs to extremely difficult technical trails with exposure. The trails dip and weave through a classic Northwest forest, but they are anything but typical. Built with assistance from the International Mountain Biking Association, the layout and maintenance of the trails is top-notch. Highlights include Flow Motion, an intermediate flow trail with no fewer than fifteen berms, and Follow the Leader, a double black diamond segment with exposure and big grade reversals.
Start: Sandy Ridge Trailhead
Distance: 12.6-mile loop
Riding time: 1 to 3 hours
Difficulty rating: Easy to extremely difficult
Trail surface: Singletrack, dirt roads
Elevation gain: 1,900 feet
Land status: BLM land
Seasons: All
Nearest town: Sandy
Other trail users: Hikers
Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted but not recommended
Wheels: Suspension recommended
Fees and permits: None; donations appreciated
Maps: Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas: Page 36 H6
Special considerations: Stay on the trails. This trail system is located on the southern boundary of the Bull Run Watershed. Entering the watershed is punishable under federal law. The BLM has installed a donation tube at the Sandy Ridge Trailhead, with every dollar going to trail maintenance. It’s a great trail system. Please consider making a donation if you use it.
Getting there: From Portland, take US 26 East. Make a left onto East Sleepy Hollow Drive in Sandy. Take the next right onto East Barlow Trail Road and follow it across the Sandy River; keep right at the immediate intersection. Continue past the first parking area and restroom. The trailhead is signed about 0.25 mile ahead, on the left. Unpaved parking is available near the yellow gate at Homestead Road. GPS: N45° 22.836' / W122° 1.825'
The Ride
From the trailhead begin up Homestead Road, passing the easy Homestead Loop. Pass a junction with the Hide and Seek Trail and continue the steady ascent up Homestead Road. Continue past the Hide and Seek Cutoff and the outlet for Flow Motion, eventually arriving at the information board at the top of the ridge. From here it’s all downhill, and you’ve got options.
The big fun, and also the most challenging run, is down the double black diamond Follow the Leader. It starts out innocently enough, descending gently through scree fields. After crossing a creek things get real in a hurry as the bottom drops out from beneath you. Turns get tight here. The path seems intent on getting you down to the bottom, and throws in some eye-widening exposure, rock overhangs, and grade reversals for fun.
But for this ride, head down the Rock Drop, a black diamond trail with, you guessed it, a series of rock drops and rollers. Exit the Rock Drop onto Communication Breakdown. The intermediate trail meanders a bit before visiting a pair of epic viewpoints and settling into nonstop berms before spitting you out onto Quid Pro Flow. Rollable and leapable, the black diamond trail is prime for jumps. After getting your fill of air, the trail levels out and comes to a junction with Three Thirty Eight.
Things stay pretty level through this section of the Three Thirty Eight loop as you make your way to a junction with Two Turntables and a Microwave. Yet another black diamond trail, Two Turntables welcomes you with a rock drop and a handful of quick berms. The descent steepens and the path gets a little drifty before it connects with Hide and Seek. Hide and Seek begins its life at the top of the ridge as a tight, quick-moving black diamond that mellows out after the intersection with Two Turntables. What is left of Hide and Seek by the time you enter here is an easy, forested downhill to the trailhead. But that comes later.
For now, you’re only taking Hide and Seek to get back to Homestead Road and then Flow Motion. As fun as they come, the intermediate trail is a seemingly endless flow. Berms and rollers, followed by rollers and berms, get you back down to Homestead Road and the cutoff over to the bottom portion of Hide and Seek.
Miles and Directions
0.0 Start at the trailhead and head up Homestead Road.
4.0 Arrive at a ridge summit. Head down Rock Drop.
4.5 Continue onto Communication Breakdown.
6.0 Turn right onto Quid Pro Flow.
7.2 Turn right onto Three Thirty Eight.
7.7 Turn right onto Two Turntables and a Microwave.
8.9 Turn right onto Hide and Seek.
9.1 Take the Hide and Seek cutoff to Homestead Road.
9.2 Turn left onto Homestead Road.
9.9 Turn right onto Flow Motion.
10.5 Take the cutoff to Hide and Seek.
10.6 Turn left onto Hide and Seek Trail.
12.6 Arrive back at the trailhead.
Local Information
Post-pedal food and drink: Calamity Jane’s, 42015 SE US 26, Sandy