Pacific Northwest - Mountains in Portland

I've been looking at a lot of threads about the best cycling towns and I wanted to know what kind of elevation is near Portland. I know Portland itself is roughly at sea level, but are there places I can ride to from Portland where I can get some elevation changes?

You can ride the De Ronde Van Oeste Portlandia course for a few hills. :D

A significant elevation change you can ride to? Search Larch Mtn.

Hilly routes through town? CliftonGK1 has the right idea -- the west side of town. Germantown and Skyline Roads, Council Crest Park, etc.

In Portland you can "climb" the west hills but it will take you about 15', sure you can go up and down and even find some very steep routes. Like the Ronde.
Larch is the closest to town and can take one hour or you have to go to Mt. Hood for longer climbs.
What kind of elevation change you were looking for?

I've been looking at a lot of threads about the best cycling towns and I wanted to know what kind of elevation is near Portland. I know Portland itself is roughly at sea level, but are there places I can ride to from Portland where I can get some elevation changes?

How far are you willing to ride? Others have pointed to Larch Mountain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larch_Mountain_(Multnomah_County,_Oregon)), which is about a 68 mile round trip for me. The end of Larch Mountain road is at 3800 feet. Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood is at 6000 feet, and it's 61 miles one-way.

If you want to go around in circles, the Mt. Tabor race series (http://www.mttaborseries.com/) goes 'round and 'round and up and down one of the only extinct volcanoes within U.S. city limits.

all your responses were the things I was looking for. I was specifically interested in any mountains in the area, but it seems like Larch Mtn and Mt. Hood are both pretty good choices (Mt. Hood is a little far to ride 60 miles, and then start climbing, but it sounds good).

thanks for all the input!

(Mt. Hood is a little far to ride 60 miles, and then start climbing, but it sounds good).

Timberline Lodge is the end of the road actually, after 61 miles climbing from downtown Portland. the Shining was shot there. You can start your climbing earlier in the ride if you take the light rail (MAX) out to the end of the line in Gresham, then ride out from there. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=NE+Burnside+Rd&daddr=Timberline+Lodge,+Timberline+Lodge,+OR+97028+%28Timberline+Lodge%29&hl=en&geocode=FWJQtgId_Bi0-A%3BFQuyswIdttW--CGVb9JSV3lofg&mra=ls&sll=45.501414,-122.418573&sspn=0.010979,0.027895&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11)

About 45 miles one way from there.

Timberline Lodge is the end of the road actually, after 61 miles climbing from downtown Portland. the Shining was shot there. You can start your climbing earlier in the ride if you take the light rail (MAX) out to the end of the line in Gresham, then ride out from there. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=NE+Burnside+Rd&daddr=Timberline+Lodge,+Timberline+Lodge,+OR+97028+%28Timberline+Lodge%29&hl=en&geocode=FWJQtgId_Bi0-A%3BFQuyswIdttW--CGVb9JSV3lofg&mra=ls&sll=45.501414,-122.418573&sspn=0.010979,0.027895&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11)

About 45 miles one way from there.

Exactly. Timberline Lodge is roughly 60 miles from here (near the Portland airport) or downtown Portland. Either way, you'd start off with 15 to 20 miles of 1/2 percent to 2 percent grade, then really start going uphill once you get past Sandy. That's assuming you go straight up Highway 26. There's other, parallel routes on minor roads.

I was going to say Bald Peak for a lung buster.

I live about 2 miles from Bald Peak and see many a cyclist pushing their bikes up that. Only a few miles long, but there is some serious climbing there. Want some seriously steep climbing? Go up Laurelwood Rd. There is some 12% grades going up that road.

It's a little ways out of PDX and not a very long hill, but I think every hill loving rider needs to hit up Maryhill Loops road at least once in their lifetime. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=maryhill+loops&sll=37.439974,-95.712891&sspn=50.750401,112.148438&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=45.720772,-120.802789&spn=0.011071,0.02738&z=16)

Larelwood is the steepest paved road in the state or oregon. You heard it here, so go climb it!

In Portland you can "climb" the west hills but it will take you about 15', sure you can go up and down and even find some very steep routes. Like the Ronde.
Larch is the closest to town and can take one hour or you have to go to Mt. Hood for longer climbs.
What kind of elevation change you were looking for?

Dabbo, remind me never to take a desk job like yours... It may take me 30"-45" to climb the west hills, but never 15 hours! LOL Much love

Masher you must be in very good shape to do the hills in 30 Seconds!
I don't mind my desk job, Tabor tonigth?
Ciao
Dabbo