• Rating: Easy
  • Activity: Bike
  • Distance: Varies by route
  • Time:

Originally an off-the-radar stunt park built by motorbike enthusiasts, Post Canyon has become a West Coast destination for free riders—the “extreme” type of cycling enthusiasts who swathe themselves in full body armor and face helmets, mount monster bikes and ride over, through and off obstacles that most sane people wouldn’t even parachute from.

ROUTE: There’s no need to be intimidated by these acts of derring-do. The canyon comprises a veritable nexus of relatively easy trails that range from gravel roads and well-maintained, smooth, swooping single tracks to easy horizontal ladders that hover but an inch off the ground—perfect for neophytes who want to brush up on their skills—and elevation gain ranges of a few hundred to thousands of feet. Tired of riding? Pick a spot among the many banked berms and cliffs and watch the show as hucksters hurl themselves from 15-foot drops. Map: Adventure Maps Hood River & South Central Washington; www.adventuremaps.net.

DIRECTIONS: Take I-84 east to Exit 62. Take the first right onto Country Club Rd. After a half-mile, turn right onto Post Canyon Rd. When the pavement ends, park roadside and head up the dirt road for approximately 1 mile until you see a trailhead on the left near a small pullout. Cross the small bridge over the stream and head uphill into the heart of Post Canyon.