Dollar Mountain

# Dollar Mountain Trails Reach One-Year Milestone as Grants Pass Prepares November Celebration

City of Grants Pass

Grants Pass will celebrate the first year of the Dollar Mountain trail system on November 8, bringing hikers and mountain bikers back to a recreation project built through a $700,000 investment in new trails and improvements to existing routes.
The Sunday gathering is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dollar Mountain Trailhead, 235 Hieglen Loop. Residents are invited to bring hiking boots or bicycles for an anniversary event that will recognize the community trails and offer a look at plans for the property’s future.
The celebration follows a construction effort that began in September 2024, when the city started developing new hiking and mountain biking routes across Dollar Mountain. Work included trails designed for shared use, bicycle-only routes and changes to steep portions of the existing Summit Trail.
A $350,000 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department grant, financed through Oregon Lottery proceeds, helped launch construction. Grants Pass matched that amount with another $350,000, providing the funding for a project intended to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.
The trail network was designed to accommodate different activities and directions of travel. Plans outlined by the Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association included approximately 6.5 miles of shared hiking and biking trails and five miles of bicycle-only trails, along with reroutes of steep sections of the Summit Trail.
The city’s construction solicitation called for approximately 11.7 miles of new trails and reroutes. That work encompassed two-way routes for hikers and mountain bikers, as well as bicycle trails designed specifically for climbing or descending. The combination gave the project a broader scope than simply adding mileage to an existing hiking path.
For people using the mountain, those designations determine which routes are appropriate for their activity. Shared trails accommodate travel on foot and by bicycle, while designated bicycle routes serve riders moving through terrain developed for a particular direction of travel. Visitors should follow posted signs when selecting a route through the system.
The November anniversary will also provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the next stage of Dollar Mountain’s development. The city plans to include a look ahead during the gathering, though details of additional projects, funding or construction dates have not been specified.
The event invitation extends to both established trail users and residents making their first visit. Activities will be centered at the trailhead, allowing attendees to stop by during the four-hour celebration and bring the equipment they use to explore the mountain.
Dollar Mountain’s first anniversary comes after the project moved from planning and grant funding into construction and public use. The November gathering returns that work to a community setting, with residents invited to visit the trails that state and city dollars helped develop.
The celebration is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 235 Hieglen Loop in Grants Pass. The city is encouraging attendees to arrive with hiking boots or a bicycle as Dollar Mountain begins its second year