Applegate Lake Loop
Mountain Biking Trail
Moderate
17.34 mi
1,302 ft
A beautiful cross country mountain bike ride way off the beaten path.
While most of the mountain bike trails in Oregon seem to be either straight up or straight down, circumnavigating Applegate Lake is a beautiful cross country mountain bike ride the defies the convention.
The Applegate Lake Loop mostly follows narrow, sinuous singletrack along the edge of the lake basin, with some short sections of road used to connect both ends of the loop. While there are one or two stiff climbs to be overcome, the vast majority of the trail is quite flat and mellow, providing the perfect long-distance mountain bike ride for cross country riders. Short rises and dips punctuate the mostly-flowy trail, keeping the ride engaging at all times.
Aside from a couple of rocks and roots, the singletrack is quite non-technical and easy to navigate. Cross country mountain bikers of all stripes will enjoy the flowy singletrack, and even ambitious riders on gravel bikes can negotiate this trail. Possibly the only true challenge comes from the narrow, tight trail tread. In some places, the trail snakes between tall trees and the eroded bank above the exposed lakebed. Some of these bankside sections are considerably exposed, and in places the trail tread has eroded away, requiring a reroute.
The entire ride is filled with beautiful views of the lake bed, the Applegate River, and the surrounding mountain peaks. The nearby forested ridges are seemingly endless, but off in the distance, you can glimpse taller, rocky peaks across the border in California.
If you're looking for additional mileage and climbing, consider adding on [Collings Mountain]( or the [Sinns Bar Trail]( Neither of these trails is very technical, but you'll be adding considerable elevation gain, especially with Collings Mountain.
If you've bitten off more than you can chew, on the western side of the lake you can bail off the singletrack at a few points and finish the ride on the pavement. However, do note that the stretch of trail on the eastern shore is quite committing. At points, you'll be many miles from the closest road, with your only two options being continuing forward or turning around and going back.
However you choose to tackle this loop, Applegate Lake will reward you with an incredible backcountry mountain biking experience! Written by Greg Heil
While most of the mountain bike trails in Oregon seem to be either straight up or straight down, circumnavigating Applegate Lake is a beautiful cross country mountain bike ride the defies the convention.
The Applegate Lake Loop mostly follows narrow, sinuous singletrack along the edge of the lake basin, with some short sections of road used to connect both ends of the loop. While there are one or two stiff climbs to be overcome, the vast majority of the trail is quite flat and mellow, providing the perfect long-distance mountain bike ride for cross country riders. Short rises and dips punctuate the mostly-flowy trail, keeping the ride engaging at all times.
Aside from a couple of rocks and roots, the singletrack is quite non-technical and easy to navigate. Cross country mountain bikers of all stripes will enjoy the flowy singletrack, and even ambitious riders on gravel bikes can negotiate this trail. Possibly the only true challenge comes from the narrow, tight trail tread. In some places, the trail snakes between tall trees and the eroded bank above the exposed lakebed. Some of these bankside sections are considerably exposed, and in places the trail tread has eroded away, requiring a reroute.
The entire ride is filled with beautiful views of the lake bed, the Applegate River, and the surrounding mountain peaks. The nearby forested ridges are seemingly endless, but off in the distance, you can glimpse taller, rocky peaks across the border in California.
If you're looking for additional mileage and climbing, consider adding on [Collings Mountain]( or the [Sinns Bar Trail]( Neither of these trails is very technical, but you'll be adding considerable elevation gain, especially with Collings Mountain.
If you've bitten off more than you can chew, on the western side of the lake you can bail off the singletrack at a few points and finish the ride on the pavement. However, do note that the stretch of trail on the eastern shore is quite committing. At points, you'll be many miles from the closest road, with your only two options being continuing forward or turning around and going back.
However you choose to tackle this loop, Applegate Lake will reward you with an incredible backcountry mountain biking experience! Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payette trail from French Gulch to Osprey | 3.73 mi | 121 ft | 0.0% |
| Bridge to copper climb (top) East Side | 8.47 mi | 272 ft | 0.5% |
| Bridge to Bridge | 4.17 mi | -115 ft | -0.1% |
| Payette Trail | 8.43 mi | 312 ft | 0.5% |
| THE WALL | 0.26 mi | 299 ft | 19.4% |
| Climb to Top | 0.34 mi | 240 ft | 13.3% |
| Smokes, Let's Go | 0.31 mi | 292 ft | 16.5% |
| COPPER CLIMB | 0.29 mi | 292 ft | 18.2% |
| The WALL | 0.25 mi | 266 ft | 19.8% |
| Up Wall and Gravel Road | 1.99 mi | 299 ft | 0.1% |
| The Wall, v2.0 | 0.27 mi | 289 ft | 20.2% |
| Up Wall, Down, and Around to Intersection at Bridge | 2.91 mi | 305 ft | 0.1% |
| Copper descent | 0.60 mi | -289 ft | -9.0% |
| road | 0.21 mi | 85 ft | 7.5% |
| Applegate Lake- Watkins to the Beach | 3.89 mi | -92 ft | -0.4% |
| West side to the beach | 3.46 mi | -141 ft | -0.6% |
| Copper Ramp to Beach | 3.01 mi | -121 ft | -0.0% |
| Dude wheres my car | 0.45 mi | 26 ft | 1.1% |
| Applegate Dam | 0.28 mi | -59 ft | -3.3% |
| Dam sprint to French Gultch | 1.08 mi | 72 ft | 0.6% |