Scott - Seattle, WA

To whom it may concern,

I travel with my family and friends 6-8 trips a year to the ODNRA’s for our vacations. This is how we relax and spend time together when we get away from work. We don’t come down to watch others ride or gather to race our egos but rather to escape from our daily lives into an area that provides a wide range of riding opportunities for all ages.

The trails at the Oregon dunes are what attracted us to the area in 1981. We rarely ride the open areas because we prefer the private experiences and scenery that the wooded areas provide. Since we are all seasoned riders, we have taught our younger riders how to ride safely and respect the un-affected areas. We’ve always discouraged any new trail making but still prefer to ride the many routes throughout the trees, bushes and grassy areas. A trail provides a better riding experience than the same old open dune ride because of the winding routes around the vegetation and the variety of challenging hills as well.

The ODNRA stands apart from other destinations like Moses Lake, WA, St Anthony’s, ID and Glamis, CA because of it’s diverse, wide-spread topography and the forest-like experiences provided within.

Our riding areas have been reduced significantly over the years and we are challenged to avoid the heavily used areas to find safer riding for our families. Closing areas, especially the forested or grassy areas will only limit our options for safe areas. I hope our future generations can enjoy the same experience that we have today in the ODNRA and that the local economy can continue to benefit from our vacation dollars as well.

Save our trails and ride safely!

Scott Bates in Seattle, WA