Forest Park Mountain Biking

Far Northwest

Firelane 15 - 1.3 miles

Heading north from Skyline, this firelane provides a quick and rather enjoyable descent to an intersection with Firelane 12. Heading south from the intersection, this is a grueling climb. Be careful about gravel, it can be slippery!

Trailhead on Skyline

View from the summit

Descent

Creek near the FL12 intersection
(except in summer)

BPA Road - 2 miles

This is a wide open fireroad. Heading north from Skyline, the first half mile is very fast! This is where the fireroad intersects with Firelane 12. It climbs a tiny bit to a summit with a view of up to five snow-capped peaks (and intersection with Firelane 13, which dead-ends). On a clear day, be sure to take in the view! I wouldn't recommend continuing on BPA (or climbing it) as it is currently heavily gravelled (and very, very steep).

South trailhead on Skyline

North trailhead on 30
Trail splits off - BPA on right (notice the thick gravel),
Newton on left

Spring blooms at the BPA/Newton trailhead

Firelane 12 - 1.5 miles

A screaming downhill through the woods (going north), or a fair-grunt uphill (going south). The top (south) is an intersection with BPA road, about 1/2 mile from Skyline. It intersects with Firelane 15 1/2 mile further down (veer right). At the north end, the trailhead is on Creston Rd (which changes to Harborton about a block later). Follow Harborton down to Hwy 30. The intersection with Newton/BPA is about 300 yards east.

Intersection with BPA

North trailhead
(Creston/Harborton Rd)

Newton Road - 2.3 miles

A quick downhill (heading north), or a very tough climb (heading south). This trail feature about a half-mile of singletrack; there are even a couple of creek crossings (when its wet), and a couple of technical spots. This is a difficult climb in any condition, but particularly tough when its wet. Its also one of the prettiest parts of the park! The south end (from Skyline) is car-accessible, and there is parking about 1/2 mile down (Newton Rd the firelane continues from the west end of the lot). The very north end is an intersection with BPA road just past the Hwy 30 trailhead (see BPA above). Quote of the Trail: "You're going to ride up that?" (an equestrian, at the bottom of Newton)

Descent from Skyline (to parking lot)

The singletrack

The creek (in spring)

Starting the climb

.1 mile later, looking down

...and you just keep climbing

Sharing the trail
The creeks dry to a mossy green in the summer