Silver Siouxon

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Yacolt, WA, US

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Route Overview

Limberlost

Bike adventures off the beaten path.

76 mi.

9,868 ft.

An excellent and challenging 3-day bikepacking loop right out Portland's backdoor that connects a handful of southwest Washington's best MTB trails. Remote backcountry riding, expansive views of cascade volcanoes, deep old growth forests, scree fields, and rugged ridge singletrack.

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Route Details

One of the most frequent questions we hear is: "What can I bikepack on a long weekend that's close to town?"

The Silver Siouxon route is the answer to that question. You get incredible backcountry singletrack and a remoteness that seems much, much farther than an hour's drive from Portland. You'll climb (errr, push) to above 4,000', and traverse rocky ridgelines before descending through one of the most stunning old growth stands in the area.

Each day is approximately 25 miles, but don't let that fool you—the steep pitches are unforgiving. There is plenty of water along the route, and a delicious hot meal waiting in Yacolt. The trails are steep and breathtaking, but only moderately technical. It's close enough that with a couple extra days you could even pedal from your doorstep.

We rode it in October with stunning fall colors, but late spring and early summer sport an equally beautiful wildflower bloom. The variety of terrain you pass through is unique. Countless waterfalls, working timber forests, the faux-alpine terrain of Silver Star (a byproduct of the Yacolt Burn), the giant scree fields of Bluff Mountain, the imposing Cougar Rock, the verdant green tunnel of Siouxon, and a flat cruise back to the car through Chelatchie Prairie.

# Route

* @slice[DAY ONE:](d,0,36827.25) Load up on Backwoods Diner's loaded @photo[hashbrowns](3120949). You'll need the calories. Then it's a flat paved pedal, a few beautiful creeks, and a steep push up @photo[Bells Mountain](3120950) before a fun, rolling trail to @photo[Tarbell Trail](3120957) at Rock Creek Campground. Tarbell is a stiff climb for a few miles but then branching off on the Chinook Trail switchbacks you're forced to a crawl. It's soon worth it, though, as a picture perfect campsite rests on top of Silver Star with a hidden @poi[fresh water spring](4097721) nearby. 
* @slice[DAY TWO:](d,36633.83,79157.63) You'll probably wake to ambitious hikers huffing by for the summit, but you leave the throngs behind almost immediatly as you head east on @slice[Bluff Mountain trail](d,36633.83,43080.76). The exposure is gripping and the riding the most technical of the route as you traverse scree slopes with 360º views. Eventually you'll connect with a series of little-used doubletrack roads that maintain elevation linking you north to Siouxon Creek. Siouxon is another popular trail but the upper trail is rarely accessed—which you drop into wrapping the day up in a glorious descent. 
* @slice[DAY THREE:](d,79413.53,122313.9) Your final day on the trail is a mellow one. A mostly @photo[flat cruise along  Siouxon Creek](3120973) brings you to a narrow paved road descent and another few miles back to your car... and those loaded hashbrowns.

# Notes

* The route is about 45% singletrack, 30% gravel, and 25% paved. 
* Elevation tops out around 4,200' so snow can linger well into June and drop again as early as October. 
* The trail is 90% ridable and requires intermediate MTB skills. There is a good amount of @photo[exposure](3120967) and risk for a fall, so relax and don't push your limits. 
* A mountain bike with 2.25" tires or larger is recommended. 
* There are plenty of water sources, with a possible exception along the @slice[middle of Day 2](d,43485.84,76575.27) during peak summer weeks. 
* No services until mile @poi[69](5014046) are available. 
* Several bail options exist on @point[Dole Valley Rd](d,19750.03), @point[NF-42](d,58945.66), and @point[NF-54](d,68262.47).

Silver Siouxon

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