Walla Walla River |
This is a mountain bike destination! An appealing characteristic of this area is the multiple trails with several entry points on highways or logging roads. Each trail exit is usually close enough to connect to another trail on your bike, usually by riding on gravel roads. There are also several campgrounds that offer the potential of multi-day riding, preferably point to point with support crews.
Mountain bikers commonly refer to these trails as simply “awesome!” The Walla Walla has developed quite a reputation in the Northwest as a spot for great mountain biking, yet many locals haven’t even experienced the trails. Don’t let these trails evade you. Any mountain biker that travels within a couple hours of Walla Walla MUST come check these out. The trails are very, very long and so addicting that you might find yourself riding into one of the most epic MTB rides of a lifetime.
The trails are characterized by smooth singletrack, perfect for climbing hard and descending fast. Motorcross riders keep the trails mostly cleared of debris. Most descents are so smooth and predictable, you’ll wonder why you aren’t going faster. At times, you're so busy enjoying the trail that you don’t realize how beautiful the views passing you by. However, some of the views are so stunning you can’t ignore. A break in the trees can reveal surreal view of the massive river canyons.
Traditionally the Walla Walla area is very hot in the summer, but these trails offer surprising relief from the heat. The main advantage is that the steep canyon sidewalls block the sun, and most of the trails are under thick forests because they follow creek and river beds.
From La Grande, these trails can be accessed Mottet Springs or Target Meadows. The most common and less physically demanding place to start riding these trails is Harris Park, outside of Milton-Freewater, Oregon but this is a long drive from La Grande. If equipped with a really sturdy 4-wheel drive vehicle and a sense of adventure, the upper end can be accessed via Tiger Canyon.
