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Portland, OR: Lolo Pass

Cycle through picturesque farm country and lush evergreen forests on this 90-mile behemoth from downtown Portland to the merciless Lolo Pass in the shadow of Mount Hood.


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Author: RaphaContinental
Date: 6 Apr 2009 10:40:15 AM
Activity: Bicycling
State: Oregon (OR)
Distance: 89.89 mi  (Change units)
Elevation: Total Gain: 8077 ft
Total Loss: 8106 ft
Net Change: -28 ft
Difficulty: 8 / 10
Tags: Brightwood, Oregon, Rapha Continental, Portland
Rating: Unrated   Rate it

Photos courtesy of the Rapha Continental

Don’t be fooled by the playful name: Mt. Hood National Forest’s Lolo Pass is all business. Begin your ride toward the 3,655-foot juggernaut high-point by pedaling through southeast Portland’s verdant neighborhoods, then glide through the arboreal, tunnel-like Springwater Corridor, a 15-mile paved path closed to motorized vehicles. After Springwater, shoot back briefly into suburbia before cruising on mellow country roads toward the heavily-forested Sandy River Valley.

Cross the Sandy River on a picturesque metal-framed bridge and begin the ride’s first significant climb, a gradual 7.2-mile push through a mix of thick forest and wide-open farmland. Following the ascent, blast into Little Switzerland, an idyllic valley conjuring up images of the Von Trapp family’s stomping grounds. Then push on to Barlow Trail Road and gear up for the unforgiving grind up Lolo Pass, featuring eight miles of double-digit grades and cruel false summits.

From Lolo’s apex, savor well-deserved vistas of snow-capped Mount Hood and miles of boundless wilderness before shooting down National Forest Road 18, which begins with a highly-demanding, brake-burning gravel descent. Four miles later, the road becomes paved (though not well-maintained) and swings lazily through a broad, yawning valley before suddenly delving into rubber-burning downhill screamer. Hit Lost Lake Road and continue descending gently before a final  10-mile flat stretch to Hood River.

Unless you plan on logging a 180-mile day, you'll need to arrange your own transportation from Hood River back to Portland. The drive is about one hour.

-Mapped by the Rapha Continental

TO TRAILHEAD: From I-5, take exit 300 toward Oregon City and merge onto S. Belmont Ave. Follow road for 1.7 miles. Stumptown Coffee Roasters will be on the right.

Position Format: Datum:
Tracks

Lolo Pass

Dist: 89.89 mi Points: 1412
Time: none Speed: 0.0 mph Pace: 0:00 / mi
Distance Instruction   Distance to next
0.01 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE 34th Ave Then go 0.58 mi
0.59 mi Turn Left Turn left at SE Lincoln St Then go 1.54 mi
2.13 mi Turn Left Turn left at Mt Tabor Then go 0.04 mi
2.17 mi Continue on Mt Tabor Park Then go 0.04 mi
2.22 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Lincoln St Then go 0.24 mi
2.46 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Harrison St Then go 0.26 mi
2.71 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE 72nd Ave Then go 0.25 mi
2.96 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Division St Then go 0.05 mi
3.01 mi Turn Left Turn left at SE 71st Ave Then go 0.55 mi
3.56 mi Turn Left Turn left at SE Powell Blvd/US-26 Then go 0.04 mi
3.60 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE 72nd Ave Then go 0.49 mi
4.09 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Holgate Blvd Then go 0.01 mi
4.10 mi Turn Left Turn left at SE 72nd Ave Then go 1.50 mi
5.60 mi Turn Left Turn left at SE Flavel St Then go 11.70 mi
17.29 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Stone Rd Then go 1.53 mi
18.82 mi SE Stone Rd turns left and becomes SE Short Rd Then go 0.59 mi
19.41 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Dodge Park Blvd Then go 4.48 mi
23.89 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Lusted Rd Then go 2.29 mi
26.18 mi Turn Left Turn left to stay on SE Lusted Rd Then go 2.49 mi
28.67 mi Turn Left Turn left at SE Thomas Rd Then go 0.96 mi
29.63 mi Turn Right Turn right at SE Ten Eyck Rd Then go 0.18 mi
29.82 mi Bear Left Slight left at SE Shipley Rd Then go 1.25 mi
31.07 mi Straight Continue straight onto SE Marmot Rd Then go 5.91 mi
36.98 mi Turn Left Turn left to stay on SE Marmot Rd Then go 3.71 mi
40.69 mi Turn Left Turn left at E Barlow Trail Rd Then go 1.75 mi
42.44 mi Turn Left Turn left to stay on E Barlow Trail Rd Then go 4.86 mi
47.30 mi Turn Left Turn left at E Lolo Pass Rd/NFD 18 Rd/Truman Rd Then go 2.91 mi
50.21 mi Turn Left Turn left at E Lolo Pass Rd/NFD 18 Rd Then go 9.55 mi
59.76 mi Turn Right Right on NFD 18 Then go 10.05 mi
69.81 mi Turn Right Turn right at Lost Lake Rd/National Forest Develop Rd 13 Rd/NFD 13 Rd Then go 6.13 mi
75.94 mi Turn Left Turn left to stay on Lost Lake Rd Then go 1.97 mi
77.91 mi Bear Left Slight left at Dee Hwy/Hood River Hwy Then go 6.33 mi
84.25 mi Continue on Tucker Rd Then go 3.95 mi
88.20 mi Continue on 12th St Then go 0.77 mi
88.97 mi Turn Right Turn right at May St Then go 0.10 mi
89.07 mi Turn Left Turn left at Park St Then go 0.17 mi
89.23 mi Continue on 9th St Then go 0.18 mi
89.42 mi Turn Right Turn right at Oak St/US-30

Points of Interest

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Location: 45.516452°, -122.629910°
Start by cruising from Stumptown Coffee Roasters on Belmont Steet through Portland's leafy residential neighborhoods. © Rapha Continental

Southeast Portland

Location: 45.486523°, -122.589183°
Heading south on the mostly flat 72nd Avenue, cross the busy Foster Road before making a left on Flavel Street and cutting onto the Springwater Corridor pathway. © Rapha Continental

Dodge Park Road

Location: 45.454833°, -122.269936°
Upon hitting Dodge Park Road, you'll trade in flat and gridded city streets for rolling, wandering country roads. © Rapha Continental

Sandy River Valley

Location: 45.445199°, -122.255001°
Descend into a lush green forest to cross the Sandy River and begin a gradual, 1135-foot climb over the next 7.2 miles. Just past the bridge are two easily-accessible water fountains. © Rapha Continental

Expansive Valley

Location: 45.405682°, -122.204704°
On Marmot Road, emerge from the trees into an open meadow flanked by low-lying green hills. © Rapha Continental

Downhill

Location: 45.407248°, -122.163034°
From the crest of the ride's first significant climb, dip from 1,424 feet to 900 feet over 3.6 quick miles. The descent cruises narrow rural roads through thick forests and open farmland. © Rapha Continental

Gearing up for Lolo

Location: 45.380427°, -122.077332°
Ducking back into the woods on Marmont Road, gear up for the most arduous stretch of the ride: An 18-mile climb gaining nearly 2800 feet that culminates with a seemingly endless grind up Lolo Pass. © Rapha Continental

Refuel Turnoff

Location: 45.378679°, -122.011886°
To hit the Thriftway on Mt. Hood Highway (the last stop for food and water before Lolo), hang a right on E. Brightwood Bridge Road, then a quick left on E. Brightwood Loop Road. The supermarket is on the right side of the road.

Mt. Hood National Forest Roads

Location: 45.359383°, -121.935883°
Hang a left to pick up the indomitable Lolo Pass Road and slice through the Mt. Hood National Forest. © Rapha Continental

Lolo Pass

Location: 45.395617°, -121.851382°
The last four miles of Lolo Pass, twisting in the shadow of the gargantuan Mt. Hood, ascend at an average 7.1% grade. © Rapha Continental

Conquering Lolo

Location: 45.426980°, -121.796944°
From the apex of Lolo Pass, intersected by the legendary Pacific Crest Trail, enjoy a hard-earned downhill stretch before bouncing over a few rollers on National Forest Road 18. Note: the first 4 miles of the descent are on gravel roads. © Rapha Continental

Forest Road 18 Downhill

Location: 45.437611°, -121.796022°
Leaving the rollers in your wake, fly down a roughly-paved section of the road. Sweep down wide, drawn-out turns as you careen into a broad, tree-blanketed valley. Then, delve into an adrenaline-inducing descent as the hills close in on you and the road literally jets downhill. © Rapha Continental

Coasting Toward Civilization

Location: 45.539602°, -121.725941°
Fly onto Lost Lake Road to leave the National Forest behind and coast back into civilization. © Rapha Continental

Home Stretch

Location: 45.672963°, -121.545181°
Crank up your last uphill of the day -- a minor 200-foot swing up Tucker Road -- as you churn toward Hood River (the town and body of water). End your ride at <a href="http://www.hoodriver.org/HRCCC_MemberTemplate.asp?MemberINDX=622&CategoryINDX=357" target="blank">Ground Espresso Bar</a>, situated in Hood River's oldest coffee house. © Rapha Continental



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