GRASSROOTS RUN DEEP: WTF Membership Meeting and the Future of Drift Creek

November 14, 2025

Deep in the industrial complex north of Highway 26, inside a branch of the church-turned-brewery SteepleJack, a different kind of congregation gathered. Mountain bikers from across the Portland area convened for the Westside Trail Federation (WTF) Membership Meeting to review the incredible accomplishments of 2025 and outline the massive goals for 2026. This growing community is marching forward to expand the mountain biking foothold carved into the Tillamook State Forest.

The evening commenced in a fashion similar to the end of a great ride: a cheerful gathering of bikers sharing tales and laughing with fellow shredders. The shaken cans from the shuttle trucks were exchanged for freshly poured glasses, and Clif bars for restaurant-made pizzas. Though the riders would have been happy to maintain this state all evening, there was business to attend to.

WTF: 2025 Accomplishments

With the summer riding season having closed and the trail building season underway, it was time to look back at all the hard work and advancements. The WTF community, through blood, sweat, and cheers, is responsible for the development of the Drift Creek mountain bike area, located just off Highway 6 to the west.

In 2025, the Westside Trail Federation accomplished many things, including:

New Trail: Batcountry

In typical WTF fashion, a shovel-built black diamond trail running parallel to Gnarstow opened this year. Named “Batcountry,” it takes a little bit of the spice out compared to its gnarlier neighbor. I had the pleasure of riding it soon after it opened when it still needed to bed in, but reports from the woods say the loam is turning hard and the flow is picking up nicely. I can’t wait to get back on the bike this spring and shred it, although if you aren’t on the side lines for the season, the time is now to give it a go!

Picture taken by Eric Mellencamp

^^Photos by Eric Mellencamp

Commitment to Adaptive Riders

Making trails accessible to adaptive riders has become a core goal, and this isn’t just talk. Mid-September, WTF brought in consultants to help the organization understand and make necessary changes to the trails and signage. WTF is working with multiple adaptive rider consultants to make sure that everyone can have a good time on these trails.

Raven’s Return (AKA the Portland World Champs) is near and dear to my heart. This was the first time I had been able to race in the state of Oregon since the NW Cup came to Skibowl in 2019. We got to put time on the clock on my personal favorite training track, and I cannot wait to do this event again.

The Frienduro Party and Fundraiser

To call this a race would be a bit of an overstatement. It’s better labeled as a chaotic costume party with some biking involved. This was the first year that the event charged a paid entry (around $100), and the proceeds went directly into the trail organization, building up their budget for next year. (You can read more about this event in my previous article here: CHAOS, COSTUMES, AND CHUGS: MGR AT THE FEAR & LOAMING FRIENDURO 2025 – Moon Gravity Racing

Looking Ahead: WTF's 2026 Mission

For 2026, WTF has big plans, but they need our continued support. Initially, the ODF's (Oregon Department of Forestry) 2026 preliminary operations plan for mountain bike development was frustratingly vague—only ten words long and lacking any real commitment. Fortunately, the power of our community showed up during the public comment period, leading to a much stronger expansion in the finalized plan. A huge shoutout to everyone who submitted a comment and made their voices heard!

Without approval for new trails before the start of the fiscal year this upcoming summer, 2026 will initially be focused on trail modifications and cleanup. However, if all goes according to plan, there is a LOT to look forward to:

Electric Snake: The Next Big Build

Electric Snake is the next trail slated to be built in the Tillamook State Forest (if approved). This is intended to be a multi-mile, machine-built, progressive blue jump trail with black options on the side—think something along the lines of Crank it Up at Whistler Bike Park.

The organization has estimated the first half of development for this trail will cost around $85,000. This is not a small number of fun tickets to make this project happen. This style of trail is sorely missing in the region, and to pull this off would make the Drift Creek riding area the number one spot for gravity-focused mountain biking in the Portland area by a significant margin.

Tillamook State Forest MEGA Cleanup

This group isn’t just about helping out their own trails; they are expanding their scope to maintain the forest as a whole. In 2025, WTF joined multiple other trail steward organizations to help maintain the Wilson River Trail. This effort is continuing this year, as WTF will target other areas of need in the Tillamook State Forest and devote time and labor to taking care of this amazing natural landscape.

More Racing in 2026

We will have more racing! Raven’s Ridge Race will return again in June of this year. I have marked this date on my calendar, so anyone else who is wanting to fight to see who is Portland World Champ, I’ll be looking for you in the start gate. A few short weeks later, a new type of event will grace the hills of the state forest: the Drift Creek Triple Crown is scheduled for the end of June. The details have yet to be worked out, but you can expect what it sounds like: three trails, one day, shortest time wins.

Get Involved

WTF has decided to bite off a lot this year and is going to need all the help it can get. Moon Gravity Racing is excited to be a part of the upcoming work and season. You will see our logo at many build days this winter, and we will lend our hand anytime racing is involved.

If you are not one for the shovel, there is plenty you can still do:

Offer Your Skills: If you have a skill that can be used to further the cause (marketing, grant writing, photography, etc.), the WTF board would love to hear about it.
Donate: If you have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, you can donate to the organization through their website here: Support Us — Westside Trail Federation
Stay Informed: Go to the website and sign up for the Newsletter. All these avenues help expand the organization and make these plans possible.

A special thanks to the dedicated WTF Board who volunteer their time to keep this organization together: