Sometimes, I wouldn’t begin an article about one mountain bike vacation spot by speaking a few totally different mountain bike vacation spot. However I’d be hard-pressed to not point out Ashland when discussing Southern Oregon mountain biking locations.
Nonetheless, ever since my final journey to Southern Oregon, I’ve discovered a brand new vacation spot that I’ll fortunately select over Ashland for future journeys. It’s shut, it’s a bit cheaper, has year-round using, and some centralized path methods of its personal.
I’m speaking about somewhat place known as Grants Go, Oregon.
I’m staying in Grants Go to any extent further…
Now, don’t get me mistaken, I completely love Ashland. The city is funky, there’s numerous good meals and beer, and the using is phenomenal. At any time when I get the prospect to move south (I dwell in Bend, Oregon) to trip the Ashland Watershed, I soar on it.
However, to any extent further, I’m staying in Grants Go. Let me clarify.
Grants Go is a small city in Southern Oregon, roughly 45 minutes north of Ashland on I-5. Town sits within the Rogue River Valley, with Oregon’s Cascade and Coastal mountain ranges rising to the east and west.
As you may think about, this creates wonderful alternatives for mountain biking and different out of doors recreation. And, like so many different small communities across the nation, Grants Go is tapping into the recreation/tourism vein. The city now has three stable path methods, and, as I already talked about, is lower than an hour away from the using in Ashland.
A kind of path methods is brand-new, and the explanation for my current go to to Grants Go. Greenback Mountain is roughly 1,200 acres simply northwest of downtown. The path system boasts almost 1,000 ft of steep elevation and presently has round 12 miles of purpose-built trails.
With the opening of the brand new Greenback Mountain Path System, Go to Grants Go invited my household and me to go to. They partnered with the Redwood Backyard Inn to host us, conveniently positioned within the coronary heart of downtown Grants Go, and inside pedaling distance from Greenback Mountain. This refurbished motel affords single rooms, bigger suites, and whole flats, and is mountain bike-friendly.
Other than with the ability to trip my bike to the trailhead, we have been additionally capable of stroll from the Redwood Backyard Inn to downtown’s breweries, cafes, and outlets. Town is tremendous accessible, with far much less visitors than locations like Ashland. And, if I’m not mistaken, when evaluating costs in Grants Go to instances I’ve been in Ashland, it was additionally a contact cheaper to remain, eat, drink, and be merry in Grants Go than its neighbor to the south.
And eat and drink (however largely eat) we did. Go to Grants Go was sort sufficient to set us up at some native spots like The Haul and Ma Mosa’s. Nice burgers and beer on the former, phenomenal breakfast/brunch on the latter.
So, sooner or later, Grants Go, and sure the Redwood Backyard Inn, can be my house base for Southern Oregon adventures. Doubtless, I’d get away for a day spent using and exploring Ashland, however the remainder of my time could be in Grants Go. Between the Mountain of the Rogue Path System, Cathedral Hills, and the newly opened Greenback Mountain Path System, a number of days can simply be spent on two wheels in Grants Go.
Greenback Mountain is Good and Can Solely Get Higher
The Greenback Mountain Path System stretches roughly 1,200 acres simply northwest of downtown Grants Go. At the moment, Greenback Mountain boasts 12 miles of purpose-built singletrack, together with a handful of directional, DH-only trails. Whereas your complete system is open to hikers and joggers, these descending-only trails look to be simply that—mountain bike descending solely.
Greenback Mountain had among the most original soil I’ve ridden, and it was very in contrast to the grime on the close by Mountain of the Rogue Path System. For those who’ve heard the expression “kitty litter,” you’ll know what I’m speaking about. The soil right here is basically pulverized granite that’s each unfastened and supplies an unimaginable quantity of grip. The primary few laps could be tough, however after you get the dangle of it, there’s fairly a little bit of traction within the soil.
Our weekend in Grants Go fell as fall got here to an finish and winter started to set in. This meant mild rain combined with heavy fog within the Rogue River Valley, making a spooky temper and offering wonderful path circumstances. The terrain is comparatively steep and rugged, with a great mixture of quick, flowy descents and a good quantity of chunk.
The climbing at Greenback Mountain is fairly simple. Any path you can’t climb (DH solely) is clearly marked, and all others could be ridden in both course and can (seemingly) take you to the highest. That stated, there are fairly just a few current social trails that lower throughout the mountain, and might make some junctions and areas a bit complicated. Nonetheless, I discovered that if I simply caught to what seemed to be the primary route, ten out of ten instances, I discovered my method.
From the place I began my day on the B Road Trailhead, the climb was just below 800 ft of elevation in about one and 1 / 4 miles. That is probably the most direct route, however it’s a little bit of a slog. Different climbs are extra manageable, however double the gap as they meander extra, reducing switchbacks backwards and forwards to maintain a better grade.
Whereas I explored almost the entire 12 miles presently supplied at Greenback Mountain, it was difficult to stay away from three tracks particularly. And, as you would possibly guess, they have been all of the DH-only choices of the mountain.
First was a movement path known as Down the Drain. Chopping half a mile and dropping 300 ft, the intermediate path was quick with wallride-esque berms. It has a number of pretty forgiving tabletop jumps, however the true magic was within the path doubles I started to identify and pull for. What would possibly simply appear to be two rollers could be linked collectively at greater speeds, kicking the path up from a really manageable blue to one thing a bit spicier.
Fist Filled with {Dollars} has numbers similar to Down the Drain, however at a extra superior, black diamond stage. This path dropped off the other facet of the mountain, and earned its superior ranking—greater speeds, off-camber sections, flat corners, and tough root sections. Once more, it was enjoyable to search out totally different gaps to drag for on Fist Filled with {Dollars}, together with among the necessary doubles within the path.
Nonetheless, the path I rode most and the one which was simply Greenback Mountain’s finest is somewhat double-black providing known as Debt Collector. Dropping almost 400 ft in lower than half a mile, Debt Collector is steep and unfastened, transitioning from high-speed, steep chutes to slower, technical descending, after which again once more. The path cuts by giant boulder fields, providing totally different line decisions, together with some drops and a few jumps.
Better of all, Debt Collector runs into the tip of Down the Drain, so that you get some intermediate movement after hanging on for expensive life. And, after just a few hours at Greenback Mountain, I pedaled down and met my household at Growler Guys Taphouse for pizza and a beer earlier than heading again up.
Different Grants Go Path Programs
The addition of Greenback Mountain simply establishes Grants Go as a Southern Oregon mountain bike vacation spot. You possibly can simply spend a day at Greenback Mountain, perhaps two, and at the least a day at every of the opposite path methods in Grants Go.
Cathedral Hill is on the south finish of city. Whereas it’s a bit additional out than Greenback Mountain, you may nonetheless pedal to the trailhead. This trailsystem lends itself to intermediate riders, because it has roughly half the elevation and a great mixture of greens and blues. The extra superior trails are in the midst of the path system and are usually faster descents.
Doubtless probably the most well-known path system within the space is the Mountain of the Rogue, simply outdoors Grants Go. From our room at Redwood Backyard Inn, I drove to the trailhead in lower than 10 minutes. Right here, the climbs are longer, as are the descents—round three and a half miles every.
On the Mountain of the Rogue, every thing is chunky and technical. The descending isn’t significantly steep, other than some sections of the double black path dubbed “No Joke” (applicable identify). Nonetheless, the paths are bench-cut and slim, with vital publicity in some elements. And there are fairly just a few technical maneuvers, be it over rock or roots, so line alternative and bike-handling expertise are a should.
Mainly, these are pure enduro-style trails, and they’re spectacular.
Add in a day down in Ashland, and I might simply see staying an extended weekend—perhaps even per week—in Grants Go, using the paths.
Yr-Spherical Using
Grants Go has one other attract that may pull riders like me to its trails. On the Mountain of the Rogue Path System, the best elevation is roughly 2,500 ft. At Greenback Mountain, the best level is about 1,800 ft, and Cathedral Hills is 300 ft decrease.
Resulting from its decrease elevation and site within the Rogue River Valley, Grants Go simply doesn’t get numerous snow. Generally none. In chatting with locals, they informed me that when it snows, it would stick round for a day or so. It melts, then it’s again to using.
In truth, winter may be probably the greatest instances to move to Grants Go. The paths and metropolis aren’t crowded, there’s moisture within the grime, and there aren’t triple-digit temperatures on daily basis.
Sure, I’d head there in the summertime, however don’t sleep on “low season” locations in case you’re contemplating. In Grants Go, there doesn’t appear to be an low season.
I tip my hat to the path builders for these descents, particularly Debt Collector, which was phenomenal. Merely put, Greenback Mountain is a stable path system. However that is solely the start. Town of Grants Go hopes to double the mileage at Greenback Mountain within the coming years.
Thanks once more to Go to Grants Go and the Redwood Backyard Inn for internet hosting us. I’m trying ahead to heading again!
