Midweek Gorge Bicycle Ride 2024

Riding to country roads and spectacular scenery is easier than you think. The Columbia River Gorge is just a short bicycle ride away. And you can totally handle it if you are an everyday rider.

We will meet at a MAX light rail station to be determined (but it will be on the Blue Line in Gresham.) From there, we'll ride along the Historic Columbia Highway (HCRH), taking up sites and sights like Women's Forum, Crown Point, Latourell Falls, and Multnomah Falls.

The ride will be anywhere between 25 to 50 miles long, depending on which option you choose:

• R ide to Crown Point, return by bike (25 miles)
• R ide to Multnomah Falls, return by bus (20 miles)
• R ide to Multnomah Falls, rreturn by bike (40 miles)
• R ide to camp at Ainsworth State Park, return by bus (30 miles)
• R ide to camp at Ainsworth State Park, return by bike (50 miles)

This is an intermediate level riding event meaning you should be able to keep a moderate pace (not fast, not slow) and ride the distance, but by no means do you need to be a "roadie" and need lycra and clipless pedals! The HCRH has a long, steady grade up to Women's Forum, and a shorter, steeper grade from Latourell Falls to Women's Forum. No drop ride, we will have several regroups and breaks. Geared bikes recommended.

There will be a few spots to refuel, whether water or food, and we'll have an official picnic lunch stop. It's still wise to bring some snacks/food, especially if you have any dietary needs/restrictions.

More details will be emailed to registered participants.

IMPORTANT: This ride is only led one way, east to Multnomah Falls. Participants should either be comfortable riding back to town on their own (we'll give directions/maps), or take the Columbia Gorge Express bus from Multnomah Falls to Gateway Transit Center. (Tickets are $10, pre-purchase of tickets required. You will need to buy bus tickets and make reservations on your own if you want to take the bus.)

Day Ride (no camping): You will ride as far as either Crown Point or Multnomah Falls and head back, or take the bus. One way distance (approx.): Crown Point 12 miles, 900 feet of climbing. Multnomah Falls 20 miles, 1200 feet of climbing. (Round trip ride? Simply double the distances.) Please note that there is no bus service to Crown Point, so if you intend to bus back, you'll need to ride to Multnomah Falls.

Camping Ride: Want to spend the night out in the Gorge? Some of us will ride the four miles beyond Multnomah Falls to Ainsworth State Park to camp for the night. There are eight available slots for camping. You will need to provide your own camping equipment and carry it on the bike. We have a couple of sites reserved that should fit all of us. The per-person cost (including site fee, reservation fee, and firewood) will be about $15. There is no charge for the ride itself. This will be collected the day of ride. Ainsworth has bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and showers. Drinking water and firewood are available in the campground. People will head back to town on their own, or ride the four miles to Multnomah Falls to catch the bus.

PLEASE NOTE: If the eight spots for the group camp spot have been filled up, there is no wait list for that. If you still want to camp, you can camp in the hiker/biker site. Spots in hiker/biker are $8 per person, first come, first served, reservations are not allowed. There is space for five tents in the hiker/biker. Usually, the ranger/host will put cyclists in the overflow field if the hiker/biker is full, but I cannot guarantee they will, so you ride out at your own risk.

This ride is part of Pedalpalooza, Portland's annual festival of all things bike fun. Pedalpalooza has happened every June since 2004.