Northwest Trail Alliance

09/03/2026

“I did it!”

That was a familiar sound at Montavilla Community Center this summer.

Across six Tadpole Learn to Ride sessions, kids ages 4–7 worked on balance, pedaling, braking, confidence, and having fun on two wheels.

By the end, five new riders were pedaling independently, four more were well on their way, and everyone left with a little more confidence and curiosity.

Sometimes progress looks like riding laps around the park.

September 3, 2026 by NW TAWhoops and yells of “I did it” regularly rang out through the trees at the Montavilla Community Center park during the six-session Tadpole Learn to Ride 2026 series! Out of the twelve kids aged 4-7 who attended at least one session, 5 kids were pedaling with confidence ...

09/02/2026

The rain is back. And you know what that means.

Dig season is getting closer.

09/02/2026

Thank you, Eric!

After two years helping grow NWTA’s youth and recreation programs, Eric Oliver is heading into his next adventure: returning to the classroom as a high school teacher.

As NWTA’s first-ever Youth and Recreation Programs Director, Eric helped create more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience mountain biking.

He expanded our afterschool programming, helped young riders learn to ride bikes for the first time, grew our Ride Leader Training program, and helped develop programming that connects time on the bike with trail stewardship and environmental education.

More than that, Eric helped build community.

We’re incredibly grateful for the energy, leadership, and care he brought to NWTA over the past two years.

Join us in thanking Eric and wishing him all the best in the classroom and whatever adventures come next.

08/31/2026

GOOD DIRT is heading back to Cascade Locks.

Join NWTA and River City Bicycles on Saturday, September 5 for the final GOOD DIRT ride of the season.

If you haven’t explored the Cascade Locks trail system yet, this is a pretty great way to do it.

Ride with people who know the trails. Meet some new riding buddies. Explore a trail system with everything from green trails to black trails, all surrounded by the Columbia River Gorge.

We’ll have three ride groups:
• Co-ed Beginner
• Co-ed Intermediate
• Women-led Intermediate

Then stick around afterward for some post-ride food and hanging out with the crew.

Saturday, September 5
9 AM–1:30 PM
Cascade Locks, Oregon

Free, but registration is required.
Grab your spot and come ride GOOD DIRT with us.

Sign up: https://bit.ly/3UJrNd1

08/28/2026

You ride trails. Why not learn what it takes to care for them?

That’s the idea behind NWTA’s Trail Sustainability Institute and Trail School.

Trail School gives our members and volunteers the knowledge and hands-on skills to become better trail stewards.

You’ll learn about trail anatomy. Proper drainage. Tool use. Corridor clearing. Bench work. Safety. Invasive species. And, perhaps most importantly, you’ll begin to understand WHY trails are built and maintained the way they are.

Learn more: https://nw-trail.org/volunteer/learn/

08/28/2026

That corner you love railing. The drainage that keeps the trail rideable. The brush that isn’t slapping you in the face. The tread that somehow survives another season.

Behind a lot of it are volunteers.
Like you.

That’s what volunteer-powered trails look like.

And across the trails NWTA helps steward, volunteers are an essential part of keeping them running.

08/26/2026

There’s something special about working side by side in the dirt.

You show up to help build a trail. You leave knowing a few more people. Maybe you learned something new. Maybe you found someone to ride with. Maybe you simply feel a little more connected to the place where you ride.

That’s one of the things we love about trail stewardship.

Heck yeah, we’re shaping dirt, but we’re also creating places, relationships, and a community.

Who have you met working side-by-side out on the trail?

08/25/2026

Where’s the best place in Portland to work on your mountain bike skills?

08/20/2026

Happening tonight at evo.

RSVP: https://freehubpresentsportland2026.splashthat.com

08/19/2026

New and renewing members contributed nearly $27,000 for trails during our May/June membership incentive, and 169 new members joined!

PROPAIN Bicycles North America supported this amazing effort with a Tyee Trail bike for one lucky new or renewing member. We were excited to announce Duyen as our winner, and last week she picked up her bike! CONGRATULATIONS, Duyen!

NWTA stewards nearly 350 miles of trails with 12 different land management partners. We coordinated 19,959 hours of volunteer time in 2025, and over 100 kids spent time putting tires on dirt in our after-school programs ... many for the first time ever.

If you're not a member, join now. Every dollar makes a difference to make this work possible.