Conditions for Rooster Rock as of May 14

So, on the extremely sweltering day, i actually chose to ride my bike out to Rooster Rock, which from where I lvie is aobut 15 miles each way. No problems riding out, but after the first half of the ride back, the heat really hit me hard. I hope to be able to find rides out to the nude beaches so I dont' nearly get heat stroke riding back int eh afternoon when the heat is at its highest. If you are looking for company and/or need someone to help out with gas money, send me an email to damn_nice@q.com
The water levels at the park are pretty high. The picnic table at the trail head was completely underwater. There are no quick trails to the river proper that are not underwater.
If you hike the main trail out to near the end, you cna cut overto the river, but you can't hike through back to the dunes, as they are still under water. People tended to find flat spaces either by the trail, or after cutting over to the river, they found flat sunny sports to set up their camps. There are very few spots as of yet, so it was pretty crowded.
Over the winter several trees and bushes have fallen over the main trail, but it is not tha big of a deal unless you carry a lot in and out. I informed the rangers about it onthe way out.
I also inquired as to parking rates for this year.. It is still $5 for the day or you can buy an annual pass for $30, or a two year pass for $50. If you pay for a day pass you can use it to get $5 off an annual pass if you do so within five days. If there is nobody in the booth, you cna go to the ranger office, which is th eguilding with the flag pole outside, and buy annual or two year passes there. Annual and two year passes are good at all other Oregon State Parks where there is a fee for parking, so if you do a lot of day hikes it is more economical in the long run.

The route I took for riding my bike is the same as I did last year...
From 162nd & Glisan I head East of Glisan to 223rd.
I turn left on 223rd to Halsey.
I turn right on Halsey and at to whee the road curves south a bit and across the bridge over the Sandy River to the Old Scenic Highway, and Turn left.
I then procede to the I-84 freeway entrance near Lewis and Clark Park, and take the onramp.
I exit off the freeway at the Corbett exit and take water at the top and rest for a couple fo minutes and then head back down the on ramp back onto the freeway. This is th esafest way to hand this off ramp and o nramp.
The next exit is Rooster Rock State Park. The clothign optional area is to the far right east end) of the parkign lot. The trail tha tlead to the clothign otional are is to the left of the restrooms. There are no bike racks.
As a different starting point you may take the MAX to either Gateway or 181st and head North to Halsey and turn right (east).
If you remember, on your way oiut, stop at the ranger station and ask for
bike racks. Once they finish construction on the I-84 bridge over the
sandy river there is supposed to be a new bike path crossing, which will
make biking out there easier.
The return trip is similar, but after getting the on I-84 from Rooster Rock before th Corbett exit there is a viewpoint. It is safer to take the exit and renter the freeway at the other side. Also headign West the biek path on Glisan seems to disappear at times, so I take Halsey all the way back to 162nd.. A note of caution. Last year I came upon a storm drain grate, heading West on halsey that was not flush with the street and had a wide enough gap that my front tire dropped in and my bike flipped. I was not hurt, but I don't ride that fast either.
One nice thing, is that on I-84, there is a lot less debri8s on the shoulders than there was last year. I have puncture resistant tires and tubes on my bike, and for anyone riding out of the transit area, I'd suggest you upgrade your tires as well, so you are nto likely to end up with a flat away from resources to get back home.

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