Portland, OR: Lolo Pass | Bicycling in Oregon

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 ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	Oregon (OR)
Distance:	89.89 mi (Change units)
Survey Elevation:	Total Gain: 8077 ft Total Loss: 8106 ft Net Change: -28 ft
Difficulty:	8 / 10
Tags:	Portland, Oregon, Rapha Continental, Brightwood
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

Distance: 89.89 mi	Points: 1412	Calories: none
Total Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

#	Distance	Instruction	Distance to next
1	0.01 mi	Turn right at SE 34th Ave	Then go 0.58 mi
2	0.59 mi	Turn left at SE Lincoln St	Then go 1.54 mi
3	2.13 mi	Turn left at Mt Tabor	Then go 0.04 mi
4	2.17 mi	Continue on Mt Tabor Park	Then go 0.04 mi
5	2.22 mi	Turn right at SE Lincoln St	Then go 0.24 mi
6	2.46 mi	Turn right at SE Harrison St	Then go 0.26 mi
7	2.71 mi	Turn right at SE 72nd Ave	Then go 0.25 mi
8	2.96 mi	Turn right at SE Division St	Then go 0.05 mi
9	3.01 mi	Turn left at SE 71st Ave	Then go 0.55 mi
10	3.56 mi	Turn left at SE Powell Blvd/US-26	Then go 0.04 mi
11	3.60 mi	Turn right at SE 72nd Ave	Then go 0.49 mi
12	4.09 mi	Turn right at SE Holgate Blvd	Then go 0.01 mi
13	4.10 mi	Turn left at SE 72nd Ave	Then go 1.50 mi
14	5.60 mi	Turn left at SE Flavel St	Then go 11.70 mi
15	17.29 mi	Turn right at SE Stone Rd	Then go 1.53 mi
16	18.82 mi	SE Stone Rd turns left and becomes SE Short Rd	Then go 0.59 mi
17	19.41 mi	Turn right at SE Dodge Park Blvd	Then go 4.48 mi
18	23.89 mi	Turn right at SE Lusted Rd	Then go 2.29 mi
19	26.18 mi	Turn left to stay on SE Lusted Rd	Then go 2.49 mi
20	28.67 mi	Turn left at SE Thomas Rd	Then go 0.96 mi
21	29.63 mi	Turn right at SE Ten Eyck Rd	Then go 0.18 mi
22	29.82 mi	Slight left at SE Shipley Rd	Then go 1.25 mi
23	31.07 mi	Continue straight onto SE Marmot Rd	Then go 5.91 mi
24	36.98 mi	Turn left to stay on SE Marmot Rd	Then go 3.71 mi
25	40.69 mi	Turn left at E Barlow Trail Rd	Then go 1.75 mi
26	42.44 mi	Turn left to stay on E Barlow Trail Rd	Then go 4.86 mi
27	47.30 mi	Turn left at E Lolo Pass Rd/NFD 18 Rd/Truman Rd	Then go 2.91 mi
28	50.21 mi	Turn left at E Lolo Pass Rd/NFD 18 Rd	Then go 9.55 mi
29	59.76 mi	Turn Right - Right on NFD 18	Then go 10.05 mi
30	69.81 mi	Turn right at Lost Lake Rd/National Forest Develop Rd 13 Rd/NFD 13 Rd	Then go 6.13 mi
31	75.94 mi	Turn left to stay on Lost Lake Rd	Then go 1.97 mi
32	77.91 mi	Slight left at Dee Hwy/Hood River Hwy	Then go 6.33 mi
33	84.25 mi	Continue on Tucker Rd	Then go 3.95 mi
34	88.20 mi	Continue on 12th St	Then go 0.77 mi
35	88.97 mi	Turn right at May St	Then go 0.10 mi
36	89.07 mi	Turn left at Park St	Then go 0.17 mi
37	89.23 mi	Continue on 9th St	Then go 0.18 mi
38	89.42 mi	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