Dallas Trails

Full disclosure: this write-up should be considered preliminary, as our first visit to the Dallas Trail System and Burma Peak was anything but definitive.  In fact, disorienting may be a better word. 

The Dallas Trail System is the unofficial name for the network of trails that weaves through BLM and timber company land near Dallas, Oregon.  A map of the area is rumored to exist, however rumors of its poor quality precede it.  You won’t find many signs, and the interconnectedness of the trails can be a little confusing.  Active logging in the area also means there may be traffic on the roads, and you will almost certainly find some clearcuts that seriously tamper with a trail.

With all of this going on, it’s fair to ask why anyone would choose to ride these trails.  Do you like good flow through tight turns, great downhill sections, lap opportunities, dynamic terrain, and crazy route options?  The trails here are some of the best mountain biking in the area.  You’ll find some great singletrack that pushes through a thick understory of Douglas fir as it undulates over short climbs and rewarding descents. 

All of the trails we rode were clean and very well maintained, so long as they were in the system.  We definitely experienced the kind of clearcut event that keeps these routes fluctuating over the years, and once our wayfinding was sufficiently disrupted we opted for a rougher route back to our vehicles.  On the whole, this area is a great resource and worth exploring.  We know we will be back, and we will update this entry with additional information. 

In the meanwhile, don’t hesitate to give the area a go.  From the parking area indicated in the directions, simply head back to Rob Mill Road and ride the grueling 3.75 miles or so up to a fairly obvious trailhead on the left.  This is a good point of entry for the loops that we rode, and you will catch some great downhill before you have to head back up.