The Tualatin Mountain Forest, known to riders as the Rocky Point trail system, is an Oregon State University research forest. The area is approximately 3,100 acres and currently has a mixture of gravel roads and 40 miles of singletrack trails optimized for off-road cycling, but also open to walking.
Update (5/9/2025)
Exciting News About the Rocky Point Trail System
NWTA knows the Rocky Point trails are near and dear to so many members. The Rocky Point trail system, historically referred to as the Scappoose trails, was officially brought online in 2019 when NWTA signed a recreational lease with the previous landowner. Under NWTA’s stewardship, the property has become the closest major mountain bike trail system to Portland with nearly 40 miles of trails – while still very much maintaining its primary designation as a commercial forest.
After a number of years in process, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) has acquired the Rocky Point property and transferred ownership to Oregon State University (OSU), to be managed by the College of Forestry as a research and demonstration forest known as the “Tualatin Mountain Forest.”
The intent is — and always was — to include and enhance public access to the property as part of OSU’s research, education, and outreach priorities for the forest. There is no indication that recreational access, specifically mountain biking, will be removed from the property.
NWTA Leadership is in regular communication with OSU and has signed a partnership agreement for trail stewardship similar to those we hold with our other 10+ land management partners. Under the new agreement with OSU there will be no immediate changes to NWTA member access to the Tualatin Mountain Forest (“Rocky Point”).
NWTA is supportive of and excited for the potential under this new partnership. Public access is a key part of OSU’s vision for the Tualatin Mountain Forest. The College of Forestry plans to offer recreational opportunities on the forest in the future, carefully balancing these with research and demonstration activities. And importantly, OSU’s stewardship of the land as an actively managed research forest will protect this area from future development.
OSU is very conscious of the fact that maintaining access provides much-needed outdoor recreation opportunities close to Oregon’s diverse population center. NWTA has built a great relationship with the current landowner, and we welcome continuing to build a relationship in forest research, education, conservation and recreation with OSU.
Most importantly, thank you all for your continued membership, donations, volunteerism and all-around amazing support of NWTA that helps make great strides like this possible. We couldn’t have come this far in advancing the sport for all without you!
Access
Access to the property is available to NWTA members and their guests provided the following criteria are met:
- NWTA membership is current, and member is in good standing nw-trail.org/join/
- Members/visitors must adhere and agree to OSU research forest visitor policies, which can be found at https://cf.forestry.oregonstate.edu/recreation/visitor-information
- Member has signed the online release of liability waiver found at nw-trail.org/rockywaiver (use the EXACT same name and email address as you used for your NWTA membership)
Adults may sign a waiver to give access to a minor at the link listed above, but must also sign one for themselves, and the minor must be accompanied by authorized adult supervision when accessing the property.
If you are having trouble accessing the Rocky Point Trails on TrailForks, please follow THESE instructions. Go slow and read carefully, as these steps resolve 99% of all issues.
History
The trails out at Rocky Point are said to have originated as horse and moto trails. People have been riding bikes out at Rocky Point at least since the 1970s. It started on touring bikes mostly on gravel roads, but with a bit of venturing in on the singletrack. With the advent of mountain bikes in the 80s, folks started to make a more concerted effort to make the trails functional for bikes. In 2019 NWTA and previous landowner Weyerhaeuser entered into a lease agreement, which allowed NWTA to manage access through its membership. Since then the trail system has been transformed with thousands of hours of trail building and maintenance. In 2025, the land was acquired by Oregon State University to be managed as the Tualatin Mountain research forest with recreational access.
Suggested Tualatin Mountain Forest (Rocky Point trail system) Intro Ride (use Trailforks for map)
North Side Loop
- Start at the parking lot.
- Cross the road to RP United.
- Take a right onto Andyland.
- RP United out to parking lot.
Contact
Rocky Point Events
GOOD DIRT, STOP 1: Rocky Point – 5/17
May 17, 2025 RCB x NWTA: GOOD DIRT (WOMEN-LED) at Rocky Point – 5/17
May 17, 2025
