Now regarded as one of the top shuttle runs in the Western USA!

Statistics

1 - 2

hrs

101

m

1,405

m

7

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

The shuttle run known as "Timberline to Town” is now renowned as one of the best mountain bike shuttles in the Western USA! This epic 15-mile point-to-point ride begins at 6,000 feet above sea level and drops to about 1,650—that’s a net vertical drop of over 4,300 vertical feet! And unlike some shuttle runs, you won’t have to do much climbing to access the goods.

This route only gains 330 feet of elevation, leading to a gross loss of over 4,600 feet. If you can wade through those numbers and visualize this ride accurately, you should be well and truly stoked already.

But let me fuel the stoke just a bit more.

The beginning of the route flows through purpose-built singletrack that twists its way across the flanks of the majestic Mount Hood.

Then, the trail dives "through alpine forest over volcanic pumice,” with tons of “reverse grades and tight corners, keeping speed in check as it lowers you line upon line,” [according to](https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-trails/the-hood-report-the-best-2-youll-ever-spend-timberline-to-town/) local mountain biker Chris Daniels. Lower down, the Timberline Trail joins the Crosstown Trail near Government Camp, and the pumice and dry dirt abruptly switch to darker soil in a "lush and mossy temperate rainforest,” according to Daniels.

Here, the trail is straighter, wide-open, and rockier than above.

The final section of the shuttle follows the Pioneer Bridle Trail and is filled with wide-open high-speed ripping! While you won’t realize it while you’re in the midst of railing at top speed, the Pioneer Bridle Trail was originally a “road” that “[traversed] over the southern slopes of Mt.

Hood,” according to [TravelOregon.com](https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/bicycling/timberline-to-town-trail/).

As you blast over rocks and roots on your full suspension bicycle, try to wrap your head around guiding a fully-loaded horse-drawn wagon up this trail instead—insane! Unlike most shuttle runs that require a somewhat expensive commercial shuttle, this ridiculously rad route can be accessed with a mere $2 fee on the local [Mount Hood Express shuttle bus](http://www.mthoodexpress.com/#!schedule-map/c1h6a).

Talk about convenient! Source: https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-trails/the-hood-report-the-best-2-youll-ever-spend-timberline-to-town/ https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/bicycling/timberline-to-town-trail/