Bells Mountain

Bells Mountain is a nice little Out and Back cross country ride through working forest with some decent elevation gain and a couple of miles of nice, flowy singletrack. It’s a nice way to get some serious climbing in after work. Definitely a great option for hardtails, rigids, and singlespeed enthusiasts. There’s always one last hill to climb on this trail. This trail has just enough vistas and flowy descents to keep you grinning enough to make the occasionally brutal climbs and heavy undergrowth worth the effort. It WILL put a smile on your face.

For the beginner or those in less than stellar shape, you will hike your bike when climbing from Moulton Falls trailhead. That said, it's all worth it!

How to Find It

From I-205 take the Padden Parkway exit and go east. Padden Parkway will veer to the left at a signal and become Ward Road and then become NE 182nd ave. Stay on 182nd, straight through the stop sign at 119th st and turn right on 139th st. Follow 139th all the way up the hill as it becomes Rawson Road until you reach a four way intersection way up at the top with no stop signs. Go left on the paved road (L1000). L1000 will pass Larch Corrections Center, at which point it will become unpaved. Follow that for about three miles until you see a sign (if it hasn't been shot off the sign post) directing you to Cold Creek C.G. to the left. If you hit paved road, you've gone about 1/4 mile too far. Follow that road 1/2 mile, turn right, go another 1/4 mile, and turn left to the Day Use Area. The trail starts just to the left of the Pavilion. 

Typical Conditions

This trail can get really muddy and stay that way for about 9 months of the year. The other three months of the year it’s like Little Shop of Horrors in there with the undergrowth, especially along Rock Creek and through the clearcuts. Some parts of the trail suffer from moderate moto damage. Equestrians also make use of this trail. The dirt is really nice during the summer and fall, though. The best time to ride this trail is probably fall, after some of the prehistoric ferns and other seasonal underbrush has died back but before the ground gets wet again.

Local Points of Interest

Silver Star Mountain

Tarbell Trail 

Thrillium

Advocacy & Stewardship

Evergreen Southwest

Chinook Trail Association

Turn by Turn

From the pavilion at the Cold Creek Day Use Area, follow the handicap accessible trail about ½ mile to a bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the trail for the next 2 miles as it follows Rock Creek, frequently climbing up the hill and dropping back down to the creek just to keep things interesting. At about 2 miles you’ll come to a clear cut to your left and a useless moto trail going straight. Follow the trail that goes into the clearcut and climb for about a half mile until you come to your first section of fire road. Turn right and then immediately left to get back on the trail. There should be a rock pile indicating where the trail is. It’s not far. Climb another ½ mile to the next fire road. You will see no sign of the trail continuing here. Turn right, coasting down the hill and you will see a sign for the trail continuation ⅛ mile down the road on your right. Descend another ½ mile or so to a bridge. The serious climb begins right after the bridge. Climb about 700 feet in 1 mile to a clearcut. The trail continues past here, following a set of steep switchbacks for about 2 miles down to Moulton Falls State Park, which is also another access point if you're a very strong rider. The climb back up from Moulton Falls is not for the faint of heart or buttery of legs. Most riders will probably prefer to turn around at the last clear cut and head back. If you have the strength and willpower, however, the forested slopes and sweet dirt on the way down the north side of Bells Mountain are not to be missed! Just keep in mind it turns it into a 13.7 mile OAB instead of 10 miles.