Course
55 miles of mountain biking, seven of Oakridge’s best trails.
A note about the course: This course is very technical and challenging. In many places there is serious exposure, there are steep sections, and tight switchbacks. Due to the length and remoteness of the course many of these challenging areas may not be marked. It is up to you to be responsible for your safety and to ride this course with the knowledge that the consequences for riding off of the trail or crashing are serious. Ride within your skill set. Get off and walk where you need to.
You are riding in some remote areas, much of the course has no cell access, and evacuating an injured rider may take a while and could prove to be difficult. That said, these trails are awesome, the views are amazing, the trails are diverse, and the support is solid. I promise to do my best to make this a great day on your bike.
Eugene Cathcart ~ Director FAT 55
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Start/Finish at Greenwaters Park: 48362 Highway 58 Oakridge, Oregon 97463
2012 FAT 55 turn by turn:
FAT 55 starts in front of the amphitheater in Greenwaters Park just east of Oakridge, Oregon .
Head west across the grass in Greenwaters Park and turn north onto the Salmon Creek Trail following the east side of the creek. Pass under Hwy 58 and follow Salmon Creek Trail along the levy paralleling the creek. Pass under an old railroad bridge, and take a slight right following an old dirt road. Intersect Fish Hatchery Rd near the fish hatchery itself. Make a slight left and cross Fish Hatchery Road, to an immediate right to continue along Salmon Creek by way of the levy.
The levy soon intersects a dirt road, turn left here and continue east north east still paralleling Salmon Creek. Stay left at the Y intersection, cross a small vehicle bridge, and continue to the terminus of the road. Enter South Side Salmon Creek trail by way of a small metal footbridge. Continue under the railroad trestle and up over a very technical rocky crux. Follow Salmon Creek trail for about 4 miles.
The end of the Salmon Creek Trail turn left on Rd. 207. Descend Rd 207, cross Salmon Creek, and take an immediate right onto the North Side Salmon Creek Trail. Follow the North Side Salmon Creek Trail to its end at Salmon Creek Falls Campground. Wind through the campground and return to Salmon Creek road.
Turn right on Salmon Creek road to continue east / upstream. Take a right on Rd 2408 and cross Salmon Creek. Continue up 2408 aprox 2.2 miles to Rd 5871. This intersection is Aid Station #1. Turn right at this intersection and follow 5871 up to its highest point, where it intersects the Eugene to Crest trail.
Get pumped for some technical singletrack beginning with a steep drop in to the right (west) off of 5871 departing the aid station. Once on the trail follow it west along the ridge to the top of Heckletooth mountain at 3571′, more than 2000′ higher than the race start. Descend Heckletooth-watch out for the exposure here, and the numerous tight switchbacks- don’t be shy to hop off and walk to make it through safely.
After descending Heckletooth, turn right on the spur trail connecting to road 207, “The Wall”. Refuel here at Aid Station 2 Turn left on 207, and climb approximately 1/2 mile to the top of Aubrey Mountain. Enter Aubrey Mountain Trail via a little pullout on the left, the trail is on the right. Descend Aubrey Mountain Trail to the Eugene to Crest (ETC) trail coming in from the left.
Turn left on the ETC, and climb the singletrack back up to Rd. 207, and Aid Station 2. This time turn RIGHT on Rd 207, and descend the dirt road down to the South Side Salmon Creek trail. Ride back to Greenwaters Park following the same route used on the way out.
Greenwaters is Aid Station 3 and the approximate midpoint of the race. Park here in the morning, sign in, drop your race supplies at the aid station, and prep what you want to have handy after the race
From Greenwaters/Aid Station 3 cross the Middle Fork Willamette River on the footbridge. Stay right at the intersections in the park and ride park trails south to Rd 5852. Turn left at 5852 and continue east to Rd. 21. Turn right to climb Rd 21 to Rd 2102. Turn right again to Ascend Rd 2102 to Rd 101, Aid Station 4. Turn left at Aid 4 on Rd 101. Traverse and climb up Rd 101 to Larision Cr. Trail. (This is a long and winding road, don’t be surprised if it keeps going and going before you finally reach the trailhead!) Descend Larison Cr. Tr to Rd 21. Ride with caution on Larison Cr. Tr. There are numerous steep switchbacks about 1/2 a mile down from the top and a few spots where the tread has eroded away near the creek.
Turn left at the end of the trail onto Rd 21, north back to Rd 2102. Turn left to climb Rd 2102 again. Pass Aid Station 4 the Sunnyside Sports Station for the second time. Continue to a right turn at Larison Rock Tr. Descend Larison Rock Tr. to a right onto road 5852. After about a half mile turn left to return to Greenwaters via footpaths in park. FINISH!
