Mountain Biking Trails around The Eagle Crest Resort
and Redmond Oregon
Deschutes River Mountain Bike Trail
Directions and Description:
This is a highly rated 10.5 mile single track. From
Bend drive 7.5 miles west on Cascade Lakes Hwy 46 to
FS Road 41. Turn left and follow signs to Lava Island
Falls. To access the south end of the trail, drive US
97 approx 15 miles south of Bend to near Sun River Resort.
Turn into Lava Lands Visitor Center on the west side
to hwy. Pass the visitor center parking lots and continue
west about 2 miles to picnic area at Benham Falls. Cross
wood bridge to west side of river and follow road/single
track closest to the river.
Trail Description:
Rolling single track with short sections of dirt or
gravel roads. Mostly firm surface with some rocky sections.
Spectacular views of river and mountains. Hikers and
recreational cyclists may be encountered particularly
near Benham Falls. Relatively flat trail. Can be ridden
in either direction (see directions above for accessing
either end of the trail).
Lava Lake Mountain Bike Trail
Directions and Description:
Drive 25 miles west of Bend on Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes
Hwy) to Sparks Lake. Turn left toward Sparks Lake and
follow the road to your left 0.1 mile to the Sparks
Lake Trail trailhead on your left and park here.
Trail Description:
This is a challenging 23.5 mile round trip ride for
a beginner. This trail has 10 miles of single track
and returns 13.5 miles along the road and runs from
4760 feet to 5500 feet elevation. The scenery is beautiful
as the trail winds its way through forests of lodgepole
pine. The described route returns along the highway
but you can return the way you came if you choose.
Route Guide:
0.0 Sparks Lake Trail trailhead. Start out on the Sparks
Lake trail.
2.0 Go Straight at junction with Metolius-Windigo Horse
Trail.
2.2 Side trail on right to shore of Sparks Lake.
4.9 Junction with Quinn Creek trail. Bear left to continue
the route.
10.0 At the south end of Lava Lake, near the boat ramp,
you can either retrace your route back or follow the
highway back to Sparks Lake by riding out the Lava Lake
resort access road to Hwy 46, turn left and ride 12.5
miles back to the Sparks Lake trailhead.
23.5 Back at Sparks Lake Trail Trailhead.
Newberry Caldera Mountain Bike Trail
Directions and Description:
One of the largest shield volcanoes in North America,
Newberry Crater is all that remains of a mountain that
once towered above the central Oregon plateau. The 21
mile long rim of this crater varies in height but Paulina
Peak is clearly the high point at nearly 8,000 feet.
This peak offers views of all the Cascade mountains
from Adams to Shasta and of the Oregon desert to the
Southeast. To get there, drive south on Highway 97 about
22 miles and turn east on Country Road 21 at the signs
for the Newberry Crater National Monument. There is
a $10 monumnent fee to enter the National Monument.
Trail Description:
This is a 23 mile circle around the rim of an ancient
blownout volcano with views of 2 lakes that fill the
caldera. Though this ride starts and stops at the same
place, it's at least 75% uphill. It starts with the
3 mile climb up the dirt road that leads to the summit
of Paulina Peak. This is an unrelenting haul and the
sun will bear down on you even in mild temps. The easy
to miss trail is about a mile from the summit. Take
the detour up and enjoy the 8000 ft., 5-state, Mt. Shasta
to Mt Adams view. The trail is an afternoon of ups and
downs that intensify. Finally, the last 4 miles you
begin to drop off the rim, gradually for a mile and
then fast and furious for the rest-the kind where your
hands ache from braking at the end. These last miles
are not the type of trail that would be built with present
day trail design methods.
Swampy Lakes Mountain Bike Trail
Directions and Description:
This is a great 4 mile easy single track mountain bike
trail. There are few obstacles a beginner cannot at
least attempt and is short enough that even if you are
not in the best of shape, you can complete the trip.
To get there, Take Highway 46 (Cascade Lakes Highway)
15 miles west of bend past the Inn of the Seventh Mountain.
Park at the Swampy Lakes Sno-Park parking on your right.
The route begins at the north end of the parking lot,
across from the restrooms.
Trail Description:
Follow the single track that leaves the Sno-Park and
take the first trail that leads to your right At the
road turn left onto FS 222 and fide the 0.75 mile until
the road ends. Pass through the gate to pick up the
single track for a fairly level fide up to the Swampy
Lakes Cutoff. When you reach the Loop Cutoff junction,
turn left and fide 0.3 miles to the Swampy Lakes Trail.
Turn left here and follow the wide single track back
to the Sno-Park. A right turn, at the junction, will
lead you toward the Swampy Lakes meadow, the South Fork
trail and also Swampy Shelter. Note: For the least technically
challenging ride, go straight at the first junction
and ride on the Swampy Lakes Trail to the lake and return
the way you came.
Island Lava Falls Mountain Bike Trail
Directions and Description:
Drive 7.5 miles west of Bend on Hwy 46 until you reach
FS road 41. Turn left onto FS road 41 and follow the
signs to Lava Island Falls. Fade right staying on FS
road 4120 and park in the Lava Island Falls parking
lot and begin the route.
Trail Description:
This dirt double and single track 6 mile route follows
the mountain bike route along the Deschutes River between
Lava Island Falls and Dillon Falls and is at about 4000
feet elevation. The route follows closed and abandoned
roads and sections of the Deschutes River Trail. Posts
branded with a bicycle symbol mark some of the route.
Map boards at the major trailheads show the route. There
is a Vehical pass fee at this site: Permit - $5.00 Day
Pass or $30.00 Annual Pass or other valid Recreation
Passes.
Route Guide:
0.0 Lava Island Falls Parking Lot. Pass through the
closed gate near the entrance to the parking lot and
follow this closed road upstream.
1.0 Turn left onto a single track just before you reach
a gate and a crossroad.
1.1 Cross the road at Big Eddy Rapids parking lot and
follow this abandoned road turned single track.
1.9 Skirt the edge of the Aspen day use parking lot
cross a road and rejoin FS road 4120 at a third gate.
2.9 At a fourth gate turn left toward Dillon Falls on
FS road 200.
3.0 At the end of the Dillon Falls parking lot follow
the Deschutes River trail down stream.
3.3 Turn left onto FS road 4120 and retrace your route
back to the trailhead.
6.0 Back at Lava Island Falls Parking Lot.
For more information on Redmond Area Mountain Bike
Trails you can contact the Deschutes National Forest.
Deschutes National Forest Address:
1645 Hwy. 20 E
Bend, OR 97701
Deschutes National Forest Phone:
(541) 383-5300
Deschutes National Forest Email:
bjensen01@fs.fed.us
Deschutes National Forest Website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/
This is mountain bike country and there are many other
trails throughout the high desert. If you
know of other trails just contact
us with them and we will put them here for other
guests to enjoy! |
