Trail Description:
Dan's Trail is one of many trails and fire roads within the McDonald Research Forest of Oregon State University. Dan's is about the most popular/well known trail in the forest. It is a well maintained, year round trail that takes you to the top of Dimple Hill. It has many switch-backs and a pretty consistant grade. The base of the trail is about 500' in elevation and the top of Dimple is 1,473'. The trail is broken into three sections: Upper, Middle and Lower. Upper and middle are usually in the best shape, lower is a more technical section that drops down to the end of Middle.
One popular way to ride Dan's is to enter the forest at the Oak Creek Gate and ride up the 600 gravel access road to the top of Dimple hill and then ride down Upper and Middle Dan's trail and then take a fire road back into Corvallis. But there are a wide variety of choices within the Forest which is open to the public year round. Inquire within one of the local bike shops along 2nd St. in Downtown Corvallis for more info.
How to get there:
Once in Corvallis find Harrison and drive west on it to the Oak Creek research station (about 6 miles from downtown, this will get you to the 600 road). Or go north on Highland Drive and follow the signs into Chip Ross Park. A short trail through this park gets you to the bottom of Dan's Trail.
| Posted by: Brian on 7/20/2011 |
|
 |
I love the area, Dan's trail is just one of the endless amounts of trails here though. Instead of heading east, go west and head up Mt McCulloch. It has 1500 feet elevation gain and tons of single track on the way. If your feeling ballsy hit Endo and Extendo for some fun, or if you are crazy hit the trail on road 770 just west of 771. Wouldn't do it unless you have a serious all mountain bike... Trail maps are very vague, but here is a link to it. http://www.cof.orst.edu/cf/recreation/visitor_map.php Good luck!
|
| Posted by: jason on 2/20/2009 |
|
|
My only problem with this trail is that it isn't 10 miles long. Fast as you want it to be. It gets better the better i know it!
|
| Posted by: Ian on 10/21/2004 |
|
|
dogs are legal in all of mac forest.
this trail is a wonderful ride when it is rainy and slippery elsewhere. figure about an hour up and down unless you can haul A.. uphill
|
| Posted by: Kristina on 9/6/2004 |
|
|
Does anyone know if dogs are allowed on this trail, or any other trails around the Corvallis area? Thanks!
|
| Posted by: tenmilekyle on 1/12/2003 |
|
|
Well, I have to add my two cents on this review, seeing as I rate this as one of my favorite trails (and I actually live in the Seattle area), I'm certainly mid-range to high in the weekend warrior category, and with that sort of a skill level and pumping hard in a top gear on the way down this trail becomes the fastest single track I've ridden since my days back in MN. The trail itself is like 1/4 to 1/2 inch sharp edged gravel that is amazingly rut and puddle free, table flat and so amazingly consistent that it begs for you to turn it up to 11. Some banked corners, bumps and jumps that are very intuitive and beg for big launches (at speed) and the fair to good visibility coupled with the switchback layout make it fairly easy to see bikers hikers, and yes, horses that you are bearing down on. Very, very fast---I love it. Granted, I rock a hardtail and you softies might find it boring, sure. My suggestion is to take the fire roads up to a backdoor trail (
|
| Posted by: Kiala on 9/25/2002 |
|
|
If you are a total newbie and have never been in the dirt then its great...otherwise its kinda dull. It is a fast trail so wear your brain bucket. Be sure to go with a local and check out southside slip (upper & lower)...thats good fun.
|
| 
