Hey gang, was wondering if anybody had a good secret spot out in the Gorge?  We are looking to trial run the new lift & built in's this weekend before the big journey so want to stay close enough to home but feel far enough away at the same time! 

Our only criterium is no city light haze!  Anywhere within an hour or two from hood river would be ideal. 

Thanks in advance!

 Try the surveryor's ridge area south of Hood river. I was up there the last few weekends and it's a great fairly short but very scenic trail. You can start at the Oak ridge trailhead just south of the Ranger district office (about 10-15 mi. South of Hood River). You go up the ridge on a typical loose steep powerlines trail. Take a left at the top (head North) and continue on up the ridge. Spectacular views with some nice twisty forest driving. There is some overgrown scratchy brush towards the North end of the trail. After a while the trail turns into a dirtbike area, so you have to go back the way you came or exit east to FR 17 (Pine mont Drive). A great easy-access moderate trail. If you're into Mountain biking, the southern direction from the powerlines is one of the best-known trails around for good reason.