New Mountain Bike Trail at Willamalane’s Thurston Hills Natural Area
Springfield, Ore. –The system of mountain bike trails at Willamalane’s Thurston Hills Natural Area (7575 McKenzie Highway) is continuing to expand, thanks to the hardwork and dedication of the local mountain bike club, Disciples of Dirt. A new black-diamond (advanced) downhill mountain biking trail will be open to ride on Friday, July 3, 2026. The trail is designed for advanced riders seeking a challenging mountain bike experience. An additional lower portion of the trail is expected to open in summer 2027.
Jessie Larson, a natural resource specialist at Willamalane, said, “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.”
The club and its members have been involved in trail building and maintenance at Thurston Hills since the natural area was first developed, contributing significantly to the development of the Lower Mossy Maple, Yew Haw, and Acer Spades Trails. They don’t just build trails, but also provide year-round maintenance to prep the trails for opening each spring and keep them in great riding condition throughout the summer riding season. 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.
“The new trail features include hand-built berms, rock gardens, and a steep chute,” said Jack Hill, Disciples of Dirt member and lead trail-builder on this project. “In the middle, there is a 4-pack of machine-built tabletop jumps, while the rest of the trail maintains both a natural and more technical feel.”
Hill organized several work parties or “dig days” at Thurston Hills to help move dirt and carve out the new trail, which totaled over 500 hours. The trail is partially complete and currently connects to the lower half of the Chinquapin Chutes Trail, a double-black-diamond (expert) trail, with an additional lower section expected to open in summer 2027. Riders are encouraged to only ride trails within their skill level and to use caution when riding a trail for the first time.
Jack said, "Willamalane has been a great partner in bringing this vision to life and filling a missing piece of the Thurston Hills trail system. The combined efforts of the Disciples of Dirt and Willamalane Parks have helped us create something unique, fun, and exciting."
The new trail begins in the same area as the Chinquapin Chutes Trail, which is accessed by traveling up Mossy Maple (Lower), then up a steep gravel road connected by Yew Haw Trail or Mossy Maple (Upper) Trail. Online maps and trailhead kiosks will be updated to include the new trail once it is complete in 2027.
About Thurston Hills Natural Area
When Thurston Hills Natural Area first opened to the public in 2017, it consisted of 6 miles of trails. Today, the natural area contains over 12 miles of mixed-use trails, including five designated downhill mountain bike trails that are open for seasonal, dry-weather riding.
About Disciples of Dirt
The Disciples of Dirt is a mountain bike club and registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the stewardship of sustainable multi-use trails and to preserving and enhancing access for mountain bikers through advocacy, outreach, social events, and promoting responsible trail use. They host weekly “Taco Tuesday” rides at Thurston Hills in the summer, along with several other group rides, events, and volunteer opportunities. Learn more and get involved at disciplesofdirt.org