Columbia Hills State Park

Columbia Hills State Park is a beautiful new area for trails, and will eventually be a fantastic addition to riding in the Gorge. However, please read the following letter from Arthur Babitz, mayor of Hood River and hard-working CAMBA volunteer:

“With an early Spring and thin snows on the mountain, there’s been a lot of interest in riding at Columbia Hills Park this year. I have some good news and some bad news.

Bad news: The trails have not yet been approved, so we cannot ride there except when we have permission for a special event. See attached memo from Ranger Kallinen.

Good news: It looks like we’ll be riding there legally by next year, and we’ll have at least two permitted special events in the next few months so CAMBA members who want to ride there will get a chance. There will be a ride coinciding with the annual “Wagons and Wildflowers” celebration in early May, and we will plan a ride along with our Spring work party in March or April.

Some of you weren’t even born when we started working to get trails there, so let me update you on our progress. The trail system was designed by CAMBA members working with Back Country Horsemen back in 2004-2005, at the request of our friendly rangers from Washington State Parks. Trails in a Washington State Park within the National Scenic Area require an unimaginable number of approvals, but after years of effort they are basically complete. The archeologists and hydrologists and ecologists and geologists and about twenty other ‘ologists have checked out the route and made a few small changes. The packet of approvals will be placed in front of the proper state official sometime soon. There is money budgeted for trailhead improvements and signs, and with any luck we’ll be out building trails about this time next year.

The rangers at Washington State Parks have been extremely supportive of us during this process. It was their idea to build this trail system, and they have done all the heavy lifting in the permit process. It is extremely important we work with them now to get the word out that no one should be riding there except for specially permitted events. We’ve got a great relationship with these folks. Bikers leaving tracks all over the park could derail this process just before the finish line.

Thanks.”