These easy mountain bike "trails" are not too far of a drive from La Grande, just a few miles down a gravel road off of the Spring Creek exit on I-84. The riding offers some scenic mellow terrain with good shade in the evenly spaced ponderosa pines along the way.
The route here shows how to get down to the Grande Ronde River and then make a clockwise loop of it, coming back up a not-too-difficult climb on an ATV trail. Half of the ride is on a road that is open to motor vehicles and rutted in spots. Then it drops down a rocky ridge to the river where the rest of the ride is on narrower ATV tracks. The ATV tracks follow along a creek, which would serve as a fun descent if you want to take the loop in reverse direction or ride one of the other loops of the system out.
This Spring Creek bike loop is part of a system billed as mountain bike trails by the Forest Service. There are some bike stickers at a few intersections but the signage isn't ample enough to follow. The trails are mostly open roads and ATV trails. Expect heavy ATV use during hunting season in the fall, particularly rifle hunting.
Trail Notes
- 0.0 The trailhead parking is in an non-marked area 3.3 miles south on Forest Service Rd 21. Look for the Road 2155 sign and take a left and park in the primitive camping area. Begin riding down the gravel road to the east.
- 1.9 There is an alternate route here. Look for an ATV track on the right that heads somewhat steeply down a draw and connects with the trail coming back. This can be used to shorten the loop
- 2.9 The trail begins a rocky descent down to the river. This will be a challenge for beginners.
- 3.6 Arrive at a T intersection. Left goes to the river and right is the return route.
- 3.9 Arrive at the river.
- 4.2 Intersection with NF-2155 (on the right). Stay right and travel up the hill
- 5.5 Arrive at the trail junction where the shortcut alternate route comes down from the ridge above. Continue straight on the lower trail.
- 5.9 The ATV trails joins a road. Continue left.
- 6.5 Join the original road and turn left.
- 6.8 Arrive at parking.
