Trail Descriptions
New Additions
Scoby
Advanced
Scoby is the newest purpose-built, one-way mountain bike trail and the crown jewel of the North Slope Trails system on the north side of Capitol Forest. This trail has it all. Steeps, tabletop jumps, huge berms, rocks, roots, trees. Scoby is a true DH run. Either shuttle or ride A-Line to the top of this trail.
Down and Rowdy
Advanced
Down and Rowdy (DNR) is a long, technical freeride/enduro trail and part of the new North Slope Trails system of one-way, purpose-built mountain bike trails. Narrow all the way and steep in spots, this killer trail will challenge riders of all abilities. Access via the ORV Tie climb or by climbing or shuttling A-Line.
Greatest Hits
Green Line 6 (GL6)
Intermediate/Advanced
The trail that launched a South Sound movement. Green Line 6 is a roughly 6 mile trail from Capitol Peak to the Fall Creek day use area and trailhead. The trail is multi-directional and makes for a grunt of a challenging climb. But, by far, most people do this trail downhill. The upper section is fast and steep in spots, with switchbacks and some rooty gnarl that sneaks up on you. There's also a punchy uphill spot towards the top to keep your heart rate maxed out. The clearcut sections through the top are fast and fun, with sweeping views of Rainier, the Deschutes River valley, St. Helens, and even Mt. Adams when the air is clear. The mid section is technical as hell, with a section lovingly named the "Roots of Fury." You'll see why. From there, you go through the fast and fun "Luge" section before finishing out with a quick pedal through the trees to the trailhead. A must-do trail for any CF trip. You can shuttle to the top from Fall Creek, or make GL6 the finale of a longer loop out of the Fall Creek TH via the Wedekind and Crestline trails.
Intermediate/Advanced
The Little Larch Mountain Trail was the first purpose-built MTB trail in Capitol Forest, and it is a blast. The upper section has sweeping bermed turns, jumps, a couple of massive log rides, and some tech. Most of the lines have an optional ride-around. Following a set of twin gravity drops, you pedal into a spinny, but fast, clearcut section with a few rollers for pumping and a few jumps. The final section in the trees will test your legs before a short, steep, rocky descent to the end of the trail.
Wedekind Trail
Beginner/Intermediate
Wedekind Trail is a multi-directional trail accessed from the Fall Creek TH and is one of the primary gateway trails to other parts of the Forest. From Fall Creek, Wedekind works its way up onto the flanks of Capitol Peak. It's uphill, but the grade never gets unmanageable. There are several creeks and waterfalls, deep woods, some volcano views in the clearcuts, and miles of buffed singletrack. From Fall Creek to the old Wedekind camp is around 7 miles. From there, you can just turn around and head back to Fall Creek (because what you just rode up also makes a super fun, flowy downhill), or extend for a longer ride using the Porter or Crestline trails.
Porter Trail
Beginner/Intermediate
With the Porter Trail, your journey towards Capitol Forest addiction should be near complete. Porter Trail is a long, XC romp through some of the deepest, most isolated parts of Capitol Forest. Even in the apex of the riding season and on a busy weekend, you'll likely have this whole trail to your lonesome self. Carpets of wood sorrel, beaver ponds, creeks, and mile after mile of smooth, fast singletrack await. Porter can be ridden from the base of the trail off of the B-Line road (on the northwest side of the Forest), or can be accessed close to its high point at the old Wedekind camp. From Wedekind, the trail climbs up to a smallish peak before starting what is (from the top) essentially a 12 mile downhill. Most folks bail out of Porter at the intersection of C-Line and the C-1000 road, but don't neglect the far side. Porter is fun all the way to the bottom. Of course, if you're parked at Fall Creek, it's a long way back, so be prepared for a fairly long ride if you plan on the whole thing.
Crestline
Intermediate
Most people have a love/hate relationship with Crestline: they hate that they love it so much. We won't pull our punches here, Crestline is a challenge to climb... mostly because, due to where it is in the Forest (smack dab in the middle), your legs will have worked before you start your first pedal stroke up. In the uphill direction, Crestline starts at the old Wedekind camp at the end of the Wedekind Trail. From there you climb up onto the flanks of Capitol Peak and (surprise!) onto the crest line leading to the top of the Forest. Of course, what's a grunt going up is also a blast coming down. Though not often traversed this direction, the ride from the top back down to Wedekind on Crestline is a rocky, fun downhill blast. Combine Wedekind, Crestline, and GL6 for an 18 mile loop.
Deep Cuts
Twin Peaks Trail
Advanced
Twin Peaks Trail is a mixed use (moto and MTB) trail that runs from close to the top of Capitol Peak down to the Waddell Basin West trail. Most riders take this trail after taking the Capitol Peak Trail from the very top of the Forest. Steep and technical in spots, Twin Peaks is known for its baby heads and rock gardens, but also some smooth and fast sections. While it is open to motos, use of the trail is light, even in the summer months. Twin Peaks has featured in every enduro to date in the Forest . Best season is early summer and early fall when the trail is nice and packed down, but the trail can be ridden year-round except for the few weeks a year the peak has snow.
Larch Mountain West/Upper Twin Peaks Trail
Intermediate
Larch Mountain West and Upper Twin Peaks trails combine to create a 10 mile route from Porter Camp to Capitol Peak. These are mixed use/moto trails, but the lack of any sustained quad use means these trails are singletrack all the way except for the very bottom of Larch West. As a climbing trail, it doesn't get much better. Grades are relatively low as you switchback your way up through some deep trees and along the West Fork Porter Creek valley. Going downhill is a 10-mile blast. Winter can be puddly, so the best season is early summer through mid-fall.