The Willamalane Park and Recreation District is opening a new mountain bike trail system at the Thurston Hills Natural Area this Saturday.
Over five miles of new biking trails are ready for fresh tires, and they will be the first natural-surface mountain bike trails in the Willamalane region.
Eric Adams from Willamalane says that the trails are the product of decades of planning:
“The location obviously has really great proximity to the Springfield community and Eugene as well and was recognized as having really great opportunities for recreation, and environmental education for many decades.”
The project received funding from multiple sources, including a 2012 bond measure and a $154,000 grant from the Oregon State Parks Recreational Trails Program. The Disciples of Dirt, a local mountain biking club, also donated $27,000 and spent over 1,900 hours of volunteer time constructing the system.
The new system is in addition to Thurston Hills hiking trails opened in January. The mountain bike opening will take place at 1 p.m. this Saturday.