Lower Dan's Trail
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
No photos yet
Add the first1.3 km0.8 mi
Distance
70 m230 ft
Elevation gain
25m
Est. time
Route
Route type
- Dogs allowed
- Bikes allowed
What to expect on this trail
- Gravel
- Moderate climbs
- Hiking
- Running
How these were worked out
- Gravelrecorded
- OpenStreetMap records the surface of this trail as "gravel". Source: OpenStreetMap, high confidence.
- Moderate climbsestimated
- Nine tenths of this trail is at or below a 12.5% grade, which is steady work rather than scrambling. Source: DEM terrain profile, low confidence.
Biking is not listed. That means no explicit permission is recorded, which is not the same as a prohibition — see the bike section below.
Fern's Friendly Walk A gentle wander — great for kids, dogs, and wildflower stops.
About this trail
Lower Dan's Trail is a 1.3 km trail in Oregon. Route imported from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); community descriptions, photos, and condition reports welcome.
Play the route
Fly the trail end to end, with the climb as it comes.
Conditions
Loading forecast…
Elevation profile
Terrain sampled every 35 m from public elevation data.
- Descent
- 11 m
- High point
- 214 m
- 90th percentile grade
- 12.5%
Bike access & suitability
Legal permission and physical difficulty are evaluated separately.
Legal access
allowed
OSU College of Forestry classes this as a hiking, biking and horse trail in the Research Forests visitor guide.
Estimated MTB suitability
Moderate
73% confidence - score 44/100
- - Terrain: 12.5% 90th-percentile grade and 53 m climbing per km.
- - Surface: gravel.
- - Mapped MTB technical scale: 1.
Source: Land-manager evidence - OSU College of Forestry — Oregon State University Research Forests - checked Sep 6, 2026 - rules v2
View access evidencePosted signs and current land-manager closures always override OpenTrail.
Report incorrect bike access
Connecting trails
Trails whose path meets this one — plan a longer route or a loop.
- Chip Ross Park Walking Path5.3 km · 3.3 mi · Chip Ross ParkModerate · Ace
- Dan's Trail4.7 km · 2.9 mi · McDonald Research ForestModerate · Ace
- Main Chip Ross Loop2.4 km · 1.5 mi · Chip Ross ParkModerate · Ace
- Chip Ross Trail2.4 km · 1.5 mi · Chip Ross ParkEasy · Fern
- Main Chip Ross Loop0.8 km · 0.5 mi · Chip Ross ParkModerate · Ace
- Middle Dan's Trail0.8 km · 0.5 mi · McDonald Research ForestEasy · Fern
Trails nearby
Other routes within about 15 km.
- 200 m away
Humpty Bumpty / Bandit
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
721 m · 10m · ↑ 19 m
- 200 m away
Lower Horse Trail
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
1.39 km · 30m · ↑ 122 m
- 650 m away
Upper Dan's Trail
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
2.52 km · 35m · ↑ 0 m
- 750 m away
Timberhill Natural Area Walking Path
Moderate · AceTimberhill Natural Area, Oregon
4.73 km · 1h 30m · ↑ 274 m
- 750 m away
Mud Freeway
Easy · FernOregon
580 m · 10m · ↑ 29 m
- 800 m away
Upper Horse Trail
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
1.56 km · 30m · ↑ 107 m
- 850 m away
Zigzag
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
547 m · 20m · ↑ 123 m
- 1.0 km away
29th to Chip Ross
Easy · FernTimberhill Natural Area, Oregon
547 m · 5m · ↑ 0 m
- 1.4 km away
Beautiful Trail / Hydra
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
1.40 km · 25m · ↑ 64 m
- 1.4 km away
Beautiful Trail
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
1.31 km · 25m · ↑ 58 m
- 1.5 km away
High Horse
Easy · FernMcDonald Research Forest, Oregon
1.36 km · 25m · ↑ 66 m
- 1.6 km away
Creekside Loop
Easy · FernOregon
993 m · 15m · ↑ 19 m
Photos
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Frequently asked
How long is Lower Dan's Trail?
Lower Dan's Trail is 1.3 km (0.8 miles) as a route. Allow roughly 25m at a steady walking pace, not counting stops.
How hard is Lower Dan's Trail?
OpenTrail rates it easy. It climbs about 70 m overall, and its steepest sustained stretches run around 13%.
Where is Lower Dan's Trail?
Lower Dan's Trail is in McDonald Research Forest, Oregon. The map on this page shows the full route, where it starts, and any mapped parking nearby.
Is there parking at Lower Dan's Trail?
No parking area is mapped within 1.5 km of this route in OpenStreetMap. That is not the same as there being none — check local access rules before you go.
Are dogs allowed on Lower Dan's Trail?
Yes — Lower Dan's Trail is mapped as dog friendly. Posted signs and seasonal restrictions always take precedence.
Can you bike Lower Dan's Trail?
Bicycles are permitted, according to OSU College of Forestry — Oregon State University Research Forests. Legal access and how rideable the surface actually is are tracked separately on this page.