July 28, 2014
Review: Fun beginner trails that rewards every climb with a quick descent. Sad and unbelievable that Portland doesn't have more parks with trails. This is a multi use park with hikers, dogs, bird watchers and evidence of horseback riders. All I found were polite and respectful. There are gravel trails along the summit area where Mt. Hood & Mt. Saint Helens are visible on clear mornings. Several singletrack trails lead off of the Summit Trail. They are all similiar with speed control the only danger on the downhill trails. You can put multiple loops together. Each easy, quick downhill requires a 500' climb to start again at the summit. You can log 10 miles without too much retracking once you know the layout.
The main entrance is closed while a water storage reservoir is being built. I found parking off 136th Ave. and Holgate Blvd. My favorite spot was just down 136th Ave. on SE Center St. These areas are standard working class neighborhoods of the region. Not Beverly Hills, but far from a ghetto.
New trail name post (yellow painted metal) recently installed and trail map found at:
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder. Search biking trails.