THE FUTURE OF THE TILLAMOOK: ELECTRIC SNAKE AND THE WTF EXPANSION

March 2, 2026

On a dark February Wednesday, the longtime supporters of the Westside Trail Federation (WTF) at Cascade Bikes in Lake Oswego kept their doors open late for a Town Hall meeting.

The scene was classic community: people I usually only see with a shovel in hand or atop a bike were lured in with free cheeseburgers and beverages provided by 805 Brewing to the display racks of Cascade’s well-lit shop. Like the larger membership meeting we covered earlier in the year, the opening was familiar starting with the incredible video produced by workwear sponsor FXD to tell the story of who the WTF are. But even with a few familiar slides, it didn’t take long until the juicy news was upon us.

(Check out our previous article if you want the full history of the 2025 accomplishments.)

The Secret Sauce: ODF Approval for FY27

If you are reading this, it means the media embargo has lifted and the media push has begun. Those of you who didn’t show up to the meeting are a little late to the party (consider this your extra motivation to show up to the next one).

The WTF isn’t just building a trail network. They are building a “world-class mountain bike destination.” I’ve lived in the Portland area for the last eight years, and other than the development of the iconic Rocky Point, I haven’t seen anything on the scale of what this group is dreaming up. What they are going for is a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.

Fearless leader Ryan McLane has been at this mission since the age of 25. Heading toward the distinguished age of 46, he has accomplished so much leading this development, but what is in store for later this year and 2027 is unprecedented in the Portland Area. In two more phases of development, the WTF crew plans to expand the existing 8 miles of shuttleable trail in the Tillamook State Forest by another 16 miles—totaling 24 miles of world-class riding right on the doorstep of Portland.

Until now, progress on this project has been a slow burn. Historically, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has focused heavily on timber, with recreation often feeling like an afterthought. But there's good news: the ODF has recently pivoted, prioritizing the value of recreation, and the future for mountain bikers in our area is looking bright. While the WTF didn’t have new trail construction projects approved for the current Fiscal Year 2026 Operations Plan, WTF secured something huge: the final approval of the overall 24-mile Drift Creek Trail Network Plan (stay tuned for more news on the comprehensive plan soon). The overwhelming support during last year’s public comment period really shook the foundation of trail planning in the region. Between the "digital screams" of our community, the strengthening bridge between the WTF and the ODF, and the lovely people who work there (really, I’ve met one of them, and he was super nice)—Electric Snake is officially on track for approval in the FY27 Operations Plan! This was the secret sauce shared early at the town hall. Due to the strange way fiscal years work, this means ground can be broken as soon as July 1, 2026.

Enter: Electric Snake

The newest trail planned for the Tillamook State Forest is a blue-flow progressive jump trail dubbed Electric Snake.

This will be a machine-built masterpiece running for a length of 2.5 miles. To give you some perspective on what that length feels like, the most famous jump trail in the world, “A-Line” at Whistler, is a staggering 2 miles. For us Portland riders, we could have a lengthy world-class progressive jump trail accessible by shuttle in the very near future.

Trail	Location	Length
Mohawk	Galbraith - Bellingham, WA	0.7 Miles
Murphy’s Grade	Larch Mountain - Yacolt, WA	0.8 Miles
Johnny Royale	Sandy Ridge - Sandy, OR	1.2 Miles
Half Nelson	Squamish, BC	1.4 Miles
Crank It Up	Whistler, BC	1.78 Miles
A-Line	Whistler, BC	2.0 Miles
ELECTRIC SNAKE	Tillamook State Forest, OR	2.5+ MILES

Accompanying the descent will be a 3.5-mile climb trail running generally parallel to the Snake. This gives those with "legs of steel" (or a healthy battery) the ability to grind their way to the top for lap after lap. This is a massive addition to the PNW’s mountain bike culture.

The $85,000 Question

Dreams of this scale aren't cheap. The total project is likely going to hit the six-figure range to hire the machine workers to carve out this masterpiece. The current goal for fundraising is $85,000. After a moment to breathe from the sticker shock, and after we collect the bricks that have torn through your jeans, we need to figure out how to make this happen. If you or a wealthy corporation you love has a few thousand dollars kicking around, this would be a well-worth group of people to support.

For all my fellow racers out there, the WTF is also fundraising by bringing gravity racing back to Oregon in a big way. There are three races on the calendar this year, starting with my personal favorite: Ravens Ridge Downhill on June 6th. In my slightly biased opinion, it’s the best downhill training track in the Portland Area, and it’s getting its annual timed runs.

The WTF is also showing off their innovation by hosting the Drift Creek Triple Crown on June 28th. For those who haven't heard, this will be an enduro-style race—shuttle potentially included, though details aren't quite public yet. And of course, the costume-party-on-bikes we call the Frienduro returns this fall on October 17th. These people are doing an incredible job lifting up mountain biking culture. Support this development by coming out to see how you stack up against Portland's fastest downhillers and enduro riders.

This isn't just trail-work; it’s the continuation of a passionate group creating something that will draw in people, boost local businesses, and define Portland as a must-stop place for every mountain biker from Bellingham to San Diego.

It’s time to come together. Let's build the Snake.

DONATE TO THE ELECTRIC SNAKE PROJECT HERE

A Final Call to Action

But we can't let our voices go quiet yet. The next critical public comment period is set for 04/03/2026 to 05/18/2026. This is our chance to ensure the momentum for Electric Snake and the Tillamook expansion doesn't stall. Don't worry, we'll be sure to remind you when the time comes.

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