Knebal Springs Tr474 to Bottle Prairie Tr455
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Overall: 8
Aerobic: 5
Technical: 5
Steepness: 5
Flow: 8
Singletrack: 95%
The Mount Hood Oregon Knebal Springs Tr474 to Bottle Prairie Tr455 is a relatively short ride which pays off in a 3.5mi, 1000' corkscrewing downhill, and can be combined with the Eightmile Tr459 loop to extend the ride into a Figure-8 loop.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 9mi
Ascent
Moderate
Elevation Change
TH:3850'
Avg Ascent:1800'
Ascent Incline
7%
Duration
Avg: 2hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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Trail
Review
The trail surface gets loose and the dust gets thick in late summer, dry weather, but that would be a lousy excuse not to ride this one.
The forest service cut in a new lower section of Knebal Springs Tr474 so it's not necessary, or better, to climb FR1720 to approach Knebal Springs Tr474.
Start the ride from the Knebal Springs CG Trailhead, located at the east end of the CG.
Watch out for waterbars, treefall, horse-induced sinkholes and other downhill hazards designed to assist in your crash.
The west-end campground shortcut to FR1720 is no longer used and is abandoned.
Shortcut: An alternative to riding Knebal Springs Tr474 to the Bottle Prairie campground TH, then ascending Eightmile Tr459 (the safest option), an option is to climb part way up FR230, then bushwack downhill ~100' to the Eightmile Tr459, which connects to Bottle Prairie Tr455.
Note: The trail at the end of the gravel road can be the start of Bottle Prairie Tr455 but it is not marked or even used very much, so if you are not familiar with it, please don't try to use this route to start on Bottle Prairie Tr455.
Knebal Springs Tr474 to Bottle Prairie Tr455 can also be ridden from the Bottle Prairie CG or the Eightmile Crossing CG, shown on the Eightmile Tr459 page. Ride the Eightmile Tr459 section CW, for a great figure eight ride.
Want more? Tie these two in with the High Prairie Tr639 loop.
Note: There are bears and other large animals who may also wish to use the trail, so be sure to make some noise on the trail to help warn them you are coming.
Yodeling is optional, but disc brake squeal (or a bell) will get the job done.
Directions: NW Forest Pass required at the Knebal Springs CG Trailhead or the Bottle Prairie CG. Go on FR44 past the Surveyors Ridge TH, to the sharp FR44 righthand curve, then leave FR44 by continuing straight, onto FR17. At the sharp lefthand FR17 bend, go straight onto the gravel FR1720, which passes the Knebal Springs Tr474 TH and continues another 1.3mi to the Knebal springs CG. Park in the day use area. View Larger Map. No Map?.
CCW Loop Directions
can we go again?
- TH: Ride from the Knebal Springs CG Trailhead
View of the Knebal Springs Trailhead, nearest to the day-use parking area for several hundred feet, then go right onto the lower section of Knebal Springs Tr474, with the trail paralleling FR1720 for 2.3mi. No need to ride FR1720 and climb 1.1mi on FR1720 to the Knebal Springs Tr474 TH. - 1.3mi: Ascend Knebal Springs Tr474 if you can. Aggressive, technical riders should have no problem clearing this climb but many others are going to hike-a-bike some of this section. Cross FR121, then FR123, then go right at the FR125 T intersection and find the trail again on the uphill side of FR125.
- 2.9mi: After rejoining the trail from FR125, wind through the woods and the climbing gets much easier. Really nice hilltop meadow riding, reaching the ride summit at 3.1mi.
- 3.6mi: Descend through some tight switchback, which is just itching to toss fast riders off the trail.
- 4.1mi: Go left at FR230 and climb it to the end, then find Bottle Prairie Tr455, or continue straight down to the Bottle Prairie CG for the Eightmile Tr459 Loop.
- 4.8mi: Go left at the Bottle Prairie Tr455 fork. A little bit of moderate climbing then the 2.6mi corkscrewing downhill begins. Watch the trail carefully: treefall, sinkholes, roots, bears, cougars...
- 7.5mi: Intersection with Knebal Springs Tr474, then ascend to FR140.
- 8.1mi: Go left (west) on FR140 for 50' or so, then rejoin Knebal Springs Tr474 on the north side of the road.
- 8.6mi: Go through several steep ravines on Knebal Springs Tr474, crossing two creeks, then descend to Knebal Springs CG.
Trail Index
This Ride
Bottle Prairie Trail 455, Eightmile Creek Trail 459, Knebal Springs Trail 474
Area
Mount Hood Wilderness Hiking
Campgrounds
Bottle Prairie Campground, Eightmile Crossing Campground, Fifteenmile Campground, Knebal Springs Campground, Pebble Ford Campground, Sherwood Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
