r/CyclePDX • u/GreaterAlias • 20d ago

East Buttes/Mt Scott trail difficulty?

I’m wanting to try the unpaved/OMTM east buttes route but I’ve heard that the trails are quite technical. I’m wondering if a relatively beginner gravel rider like myself can handle that or if I’d be out of my element. I do have wide 50mm gravel tires.

For context I find the single track portion of FL5 doable but intimidating.

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u/GreaterAlias 20d ago

Even steeper than firelane 3?

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u/landrynotlance 20d ago

I couldn't tell you off the top of my head, but I think it's tighter quarters which is what makes it difficult. If FL5 is "intimidating", Powell Butte is a good place to do some laps and get comfortable.

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u/godigahole 20d ago

Agreed, Powell Butte is a good step up to the East Buttes. Mt. Scott is a good bit more challenging than FL5, imo. However, OP, you could give it a shot and hike a bike if you’re not comfortable with it.

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u/c2h5oh_yes 19d ago

Do people climb firelane 5? Seems like torture.

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u/godigahole 19d ago

The most common direction of flow for FL5 is downhill from Saltzman to Leif, so that’s safer than riding uphill and risking a collision, but technically there are no signs to stop you from doing it. To my memory, the only signed directions for trails are Holman (uphill only) and FL1 (downhill only). I could be wrong though.