THURSTON – The system of mountain bike trails at Willamalane’s Thurston Hills Natural Area, 7575 McKenzie Highway, continues to expand, thanks to the mountain bike club, Disciples of Dirt. A new black-diamond downhill mountain biking trail opened for riding July 3. The trail is designed for advanced riders seeking a challenging experience. An additional lower portion of the trail is expected to open in summer 2027, according to officials at Willamalane.
“The system of mountain bike trails at Thurston Hills really doesn’t exist without the hard work and ongoing stewardship from the Disciples of Dirt. This partnership does a lot for the mountain biking community and allows Willamalane to stretch its resources for maximum impact,” said Jessie Larson of Willamalane.
The club and its members have been involved in trail building and maintenance at Thurston Hills since the natural area was first developed, contributing to the development of the Lower Mossy Maple, Yew Haw, and Acer Spades Trails. They build trails and provide year-round maintenance. Some members recorded nearly 100 hours in 2025.
The new trail segment was named Cedar Shark after an online vote from community members. The name is a nod to a cedar stump along the trail that resembles a shark fin. The trail also contains many “shark fin” features, which are berms that transition into jumps.
