Underexposed: Oakridge, OR

By White Lotus Sports on September 10, 2026 • ( 0 )

The cascade mountains are one of the defining characteristics of the Pacific Northwest, stretching for 700 miles from southern British Columbia to Northern California. The great state of Oregon is squarely in the middle of the range, and is home to the High Cascade region, with five major stratovolcanoes dominating Oregon’s skyline. From a distance, the landscape here is dramatic and rugged, but once inside of the forests, things really come to life, with radiant old growth chock full of douglas firs, western hemlocks and red alder trees, the High Cascades are a dreamscape however you look at it. One place in particular seems to stand above the rest when it comes to bikes and trails, with hundreds of miles of pristine singletrack, shuttle companies and guide services, and a massive annual celebration of all things mtb—all of which is situated deep inside the heart of the western slopes of the high cascades: Oakridge and Westfir, Oregon.

The scale of the riding throughout the region is massive. We’re talking about descents that drop riders 2000 to 3000 plus feet, often with hundreds of feet of climbing or more, over the course of several miles. Shuttling is definitely the best and most efficient way to go about this, with operations such as Trans Cascadia and Cog Wild leading the charge.

Mountain bikers get really excited about the idea of new trails, and it makes sense; new trails usually means more riding opportunities, which is always a good thing. Heck, even in Oakridge and Westfir people are getting excited about some of the new stuff that is in the works. But the trails that have been around for a long time take a lot of time and devotion, and they stand as a reminder of just how important mountains are to mountain biking. These trails are a big part of the allure of the Pacific Northwest, and continue to be a foundational part of the identity of these communities. I’m excited to see what’s next for Oakridge and Westfir, but I’m even more excited to see how much love and energy continues to be devoted to its origin story.

Underexposed is a self-shot and produced series of documentary short-films by Pivot Cycles athlete Brice Shirbach. The series is dedicated to showcasing mountain bike advocacy and stewardship while exploring trails across the globe. Join Brice as he explores the relationship between community and trails.