Gunpowder Ridge
- 0.8 mi
- round trip
- 422 ft
- climb
- Singletrack
- surface
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Gunpowder Ridge is a short, moderate mountain biking route in Hells Gate State Park in Washington, managed by State Park and Recreation. The ride is an out-and-back of about 1.7 miles, with a total elevation gain of 422 feet. The high point is 966 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.74 miles, with a 10% grade. The route starts near 962 feet and reaches 966 feet before turning back. The climb is short enough to fit into a longer day on the park's network of trails, and the trail is close to several other mountain biking routes. Dogs are allowed. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lewiston, Idaho, show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 79°F, while July and August average about 90°F. Old Billy and Griffin's Cutoff both sit about 0.1 mile away, and Sundown Cutoff is about 0.2 mile off. The Hells Gate climbing area is about 0.9 mile away.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit Gunpowder Ridge
Best months: March–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
42° / 30°
11 wet
Feb
47° / 32°
10 wet
Mar
55° / 36°
12 wet
Apr
62° / 41°
11 wet
May
72° / 48°
11 wet
Jun
79° / 54°
8 wet
Jul
91° / 61°
5 wet
Aug
90° / 60°
3 wet
Sep
79° / 52°
5 wet
Oct
63° / 42°
8 wet
Nov
49° / 34°
11 wet
Dec
41° / 29°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lewiston Nez Perce Co Ap, ID, 2.2 mi away at 1,436 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more rides worth the drive
RIDE
Old Billy
Next door
0.61-mile easy out-and-back trail in Washington with 13 ft of elevation gain.
RIDE
Endurance
Next door
1.03-mile moderate singletrack out-and-back in Washington with 255 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Devil's Slide
~2 min drive
0.61-mile out-and-back singletrack in Washington's state park system, 645 ft gain, rated black diamond / difficult
RIDE
Griffin's Cutoff
Next door
0.30-mile out-and-back singletrack in Washington with 7 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
The Rollers
Next door
0.82-mile singletrack out-and-back in Washington with 411 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Kip's Cutoff
~2 min drive
Hard singletrack trail in Washington, 0.18 miles with 178 ft elevation gain.
RIDE
Sundown Cutoff
Next door
0.18-mile easy singletrack out-and-back in Washington state park.
RIDE
Laurel Vista
~1 min drive
0.59-mile out-and-back singletrack with 229 ft gain in Washington
RIDE
Bypass
~2 min drive
0.12-mile out-and-back singletrack in Washington rated difficult / black diamond.
RIDE
Endurence Cutoff
Next door
0.14-mile easy singletrack in Washington state park with 10 ft gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors