North Plains: Plateaus & Mountains
Portland, Oregon · Jan 24, 2025
A self-supported gravel loop that heads out of the small town of North Plains, west of Portland, into the foothills of the Tillamook and Coastal Range. It links farmland gravel, B-roads, and overgrown dead-ends with the climbs and zones that shaped the local gravel scene. Roughly 56 percent unpaved, this is a gateway to bigger backcountry adventures, and the numbers undersell how hard it really is.
If the gravel inside Portland's city limits impresses, the riding beyond the sprawl is another level. North Plains is the classic launch point for adventures west of the city, a small town that opens onto a network of B-roads, mixed-grade singletrack, and the kind of fun stuff that rewards anyone willing to work for it. Think of this loop as a gateway to the Tillamook and Coastal Range, a balanced day of gravel climbs, fast descents, big views, and the odd gate to hop. This route is one of Abe Alkhamees's picks from his Portland gravel guide.
The route starts from the public parking in North Plains and heads out across farmland on a mix of gravel and paved roads, pointing west toward the mountains. Once you pass the Pavement Ends sign the real escapade begins, threading tree canopies, supposed dead-ends, and a few gates. It rolls through zones that are part of local gravel lore: the NW Parson climb, the red barn on NW Hayward, and the descent toward Highway 26 and the Bocona area, names riders here have cut their teeth on for years. These are the kind of roads that recall the early days of discovering gravel, full of unforeseen obstacles and the steady pull of exploration.
Unlike the rides inside the city, this one is not well-serviced, so come fully self-supported. Carry enough water, food, and essential tools to be self-reliant, because there is nothing out there once you leave town. Wider tyres and low gearing make the climbs and rougher surfaces far more manageable, and the elevation stacks up faster than the distance lets on, so the numbers genuinely undersell how hard it rides. A longer version exists for anyone chasing bigger miles. It rides best from late spring through fall, when the surfaces dry out and the days run long, with roughly half the loop on dirt and the rest on quiet paved connectors.
One note of courtesy before you go: the loop uses public roads through areas where a few locals are not always warm to cyclists. Encounters are rare, but they are worth being mindful of, so keep things friendly and keep moving. Back in town, North Plains holds the last services of the day, a good spot to refuel once the dirt is behind you.
