Portland’s Indoor Bike Park: the Lumberyard MTB Park

The rollable table top jumps of the Green Zone at the Lumberyard Bike Park.

The weather has been pretty lousy for mountain biking in Portland, so when my brother and his family were in town for the holidays, our obvious destination was the Lumberyard. As the only indoor bike park operating in the area, the Lumberyard is a unique asset for Oregon riders.

The bike park is divided into separate zones that are color coded to represent difficulty and skill level. While the entire bike park is for the most part rollable, riders new to riding technical lines featured in bike parks are best served starting in the Green Zone. Designed to be beginner friendly, the Green Zone features a flowing jump track and technical track that serves up fun riding experiences for riders of all ages and skill levels.

Awaiting their turn to drop into the Green Zone.

The flow track consists of small table top jumps that can be ridden with a variety of approaches. Pumping the jumps like rollers in a BMX track or pump track allows riders new to the concept of weight distribution and pressure control, and allows progression in a safe environment. If you’re looking to build jumping skills, it’s an ideal learning environment, which is readily apparent when witnessing the local crew of little shredders that frequent the after school classes riding the park.

The Green Zone also features a technical trail style track often referred to by Lumberyard staff as the “train tracks.” Ideal for practicing the principles of body position and balance as well as scanning for lines, its a good place to start before moving on to the “single track” route that winds throughout the entire park.

Izaak Van Horn leads his son Alex through the initial section of the single track loop.

The single track loop is filled with flow and technical features and riding the loop is an experience that combines a little bit of everything found in the green lines plus a learner drop section. The line was revamped earlier this summer, adding a step down and table top jump that kicks off the start of the track.

The “skinnies” zone has been revamped since it was initially built to be lower to the ground.

Taking the route less traveled on the MTB track loop.

The orange coded pump track zone is an intermediate level pump track suitable for riders looking to implement their new skills in direction and pressure control as well as scanning. The wood 180º turns feature some steep slopes that require an additional level of confidence and commitment to master, as well as a vertical corner wall ride. Multiple laps sessions will build up a sweat as well.

Riding the Orange Line, a wood pump track.

On the right side of the park lies the Blue Line, and intermediate flow line that integrates traditional skatepark style features like a spine ramp, half pipe and vert wall. While the basement zone, AKA the Bunker is a mishmash of street style obstacles with vert walls and grind boxes.

There’s also a zone outside that features larger features.

Coaching one of our favorite groms in the ideal body position required to master the manual on the wheelie machine at the Lumberyard Bike Park.

Visitors new to the bike park can take advantage of bike rentals and demos, and the park offers rentals of pads, shoes, helmets and anything you could could need. Puluhu Pizza, the integrated Pub has a full menu of food as well as beer and wine. It also has free wifi for those needing to mix a bit of work with play.