The Post Canyon Bike Trail System in Hood River is a must-visit attraction for locals and visitors alike. Whether you come for the workout, an adrenaline boost, or a fun day with the family, Post Canyon provides a wealth of non-motorized trail opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels.
Located in the Columbia River Gorge, just an hour east of Portland and 10 minutes southeast of Hood River, Post Canyon is home to some of the most thrilling and varied bike trails in the northwest. With fun names like Lollipop Lane, Middle School, Family Man and Bad Motor Scooter, these trails serve all ages and skill levels.
The Post Canyon Trail System provides an ideal mountain town experience. One can spend the afternoon shredding past big trees, around rocks, and over jumps, and then wrap up all your hard work at one of Hood River’s many breweries, restaurants or bakeries. Local bike aficionado Patty Lenz claims, “You won’t get bored here.”
The trail system wouldn’t be possible without the help of the 100+ volunteers that make up the Hood River Area Trail Stewards (HRATS), of which Lenz is the current president.
In 2011, after a major ice storm destroyed most of the trails in the Post Canyon area, local bike enthusiasts got together and decided they wanted to unite the local cycling community and area land managers around a common goal: to improve trail advocacy, maintenance and education around the bike trails in Hood River County. Thus, HRATS was born.
HRATS hosts work parties and fundraising events throughout the year to enhance and upgrade the Hood River County trails. The Post Canyon Trail System now hosts over 200,000 rides annually, and the group of volunteers finds themselves in a position of proactively improving the bike trails each year to ensure that the continued wear and tear does not leave the trails unusable.
During the summer of 2016, HRATS plans to officially open the Kleeway, the newest downhill-only, non-motorized trail. When complete, the new trail will reduce congestion on the existing trail system and serve as a connector to the Seven Streams Staging area, which is a major launch point into the Post Canyon network.
The Kleeway is named after the HRATS founding president Matt Klee, who tragically passed in a bike accident in British Columbia in 2014. Matt was not only a champion for the HRATS cause, but was also an active member of the Hood River community and was loved by all. This new trail has been well-supported by the community, honoring their love for both Matt and the sport of cycling.
Initial funding for the Kleeway was provided by the Travel Oregon Forever Fund, which invites travelers to Oregon and local tourism businesses to support sustainable tourism development throughout the state. Learn more about the Forever Fund. and how you can contribute to projects like the Kleeway.
Want to know more about the Post Canyon Trail system? Check out HRATS.org or contact one of Hood River’s many local bike shops for the most up-to-date information on trail conditions.
