It’s a beautiful sunny day, and you’re riding a nice loop trail with splendid mountain views, meadows full of wildflowers, and no crowds. Where are you? You’re on the delightful Knebal Springs Loop Trail on the east side of Mt. Hood.
The Ride
The 9.5-mile Knebal (pronounced ka-NEE-bul) Springs Loop offers a lot of variety. It runs through sections of open, sun-dappled forest as well as stretches with forest so dense sunlight can barely penetrate.
You’ll ride through small meadows with seasonal wildflowers. And you’ll go through clear-cut areas with eye-popping views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier. It’s a delightful ride!
You can access the trail from Knebal Springs Campground, a trailhead and multi-use campground with corrals in several sites. The campground and its neighboring trails are shared with mountain bike riders, but the trails have long lines of sight so you can see the bikes coming. Plus, the elevation changes are gradual, so the cyclists don’t ride very fast.
Overnight Camping
If you want to stay overnight, Knebal Springs Campground has seven sites with fire rings and picnic tables, plus a toilet and a spring-fed water trough. Three of the sites have 4-horse corrals, though horses are permitted in all the sites. Manure should be disbursed beyond the campground boundaries.
More Information
You can learn more about the Knebal Springs Loop Trail in Riding Northwest Oregon Horse Trails, by Kim McCarrel, available at www.nwhorsetrails.com. Happy Trails!