Sparks Lake/Lava Lakes Route 4 . . . A challenge with payback -- beautiful scenery: lodgepole pine and lava formations.

Charlton Lake Loop Route 18.1 . . . A very difficult trail that connects with other routes

Edison/Lava Route 31 . . . Hard route with lots of thrills

Twin Lakes/Wickiup Route 47.1 . . . Gentle, but long ride

Round Mountain/Lookout Mountain Route 47.2 . . . Feather in your cap sort of ride: two peaks in a day

The Rides

Length: 23.5 miles

Difficulty: More Difficult

Trailhead elevation: 5,500 ft.

Low elevation: 4,760 ft.

High elevation: 5,500 ft.

Recommended season: Summer/Early Fall

Surface: Pavement and Dirt (10.0 miles single track, 13.5 miles pavement)

Trailhead: 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 trailhead on your left and park here.

Begin by riding west on FS 4290 for two miles to FS 962, on you left. Follow FS 962 for 1.5 miles to FS 200. Turn right and stay on FS 200 to where the road makes a sharp turn to the right. A single track takes off to your left through the trees for a short 0.5 mile ride to Johnny Lake. Continue on FS 200 and ride out to FS 4290. Turn left and ride about 1 mile to the Round Meadow trail, on your left. Logging and thinning in here make this trailhead difficult to find. Ride south on a good single track through the forest, bearing right at the junction of the Twins trail. Continue on past Gerdine Butte and onto the most difficult part of the ride, a series of technical climbs and descents to Charlton Lake. Follow around Charlton Lake to your left, and out to FS 4290. Turn right onto FS 4290 and ride 0.25 mile and turn left onto the Lemish Lake Trail. Ride 2.0 miles and turn right at the junction of the Clover Meadow Trail. Follow this trail for 2.5 miles and turn right at this junction to return to FS 4290. Turn left and take FS 4290 back to the trailhead.

Length: 22 miles

Difficulty: Most Difficult

Trailhead elevation: 4,500 ft.

Low elevation: 4,500 ft.

High elevation: 5,900 ft.

Recommended season: Late Spring/Summer/Early Fall

Surface: All dirt (10.5 miles double track, 11.5 miles single track)

Trailhead: Drive 16 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97 and take the Fall River/Hwy 42 exit. Head 23 miles west on Hwy 42 to the junction with Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy) and head straight onto FS 4290. Drive 100 yards to the junction with FS 4291. Park here and begin the loop.

Begin at the south end of the Sno-Park and follow the LB. Tie nordic Ski trail to the Lightbulb loop nordic trail. Follow the nordic ski traiis for 1.75 ml., passing through rolling lava fields and Ponderosa Pines. Pass Edison Shelter and finally join the main part of the Edison-Lava Lake trail by fuming right 0.25 mile beyond the shelter. The trail begins a long steady climb up past Sheridan Mountain (to your south) and the equally long, steady drop down to the Lava Lakes. At Lava Lakes take a break at the small resort and either head back to the Sno-Park along the same trail or turn right and take Hwy 46 back to the Sunriver turnoff where a right turn will lead you back to your car. It's a 26 mile journey from Lava Lake to your car via this route.

Length: 20 miles

Difficulty: Most Difficult

Trailhead elevation: 4,760 ft.

Low elevation: 4,760 ft.

High elevation: 6,000 ft.

Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Early Fall

Surface: All dirt (20 miles single track)

Trailhead: Drive 18 miles west of Bend on Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy) and turn left at the Sunriver turnoff. Drive 6 miles to Edison Sno-Park and park in the Sno-Park.

Turn left onto FS 4260 and ride about 0.1 mile to the trailhead at FS 052. Turn left onto FS 052, around a gate and up to North Twin Lake. Turn right and ride beside the lake, pass through a gate at a fork in the road. At the south shore of the lake turn right, following the hiking trail. Bear left at the next fork, which becomes FS 110. Turn right onto FS 100 and ride to FS 210 (unmarked). Cut across on FS 210 out to FS 4262 where you will turn right and head then left onto FS 4260. Ride along Wickiup Reservoir approximately 7 miles. Turn right onto Hwy 44 and ride %10 miles around the reservoir, past the base of Davis Mt. and out to Hwy 46. Turn right onto Hwy 46 and follow this for 2 miles. Turn right onto FS 4280 and then immediately right onto FS 700 and follow this for 3 miles. Turn right onto FS 4280 which leads you back to Hwy 42. Turn right onto Hwy 42 and ride the 3 miles back to the Twin Lakes Resort turn and the trailhead.

Length: 30 miles

Difficulty: More difficult

Trailhead elevation: 4,340 ft.

Low elevation: 4,340 ft.

High elevation: 4,340 ft.

Recommended season: Early Spring/Summer/Late Fall

Surface: Pavement and Dirt (5.0 miles pavement, 25.0 miles dirt road)

Trailhead: Drive 16 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97 and take the Fall River/Hwy 42 exit. Head 19 miles west on Hwy 42 to the Twin i ekes turnoff, which is FS 4260. Turn left into the North Twin i ekes Campground to park.

Round Mountain/Lookout Mountain Route 47.2
A good same-day challenge of two mountain peaks. For the more motivated rider.

Head out of the Campground and turn left onto FS 4270, then make a right onto the gated road FS 255. Follow FS 255 till it goes through another gate and joins FS 250. Bear right onto FS 250 and follow this double track till it joins the red cinder road FS 200. Bear left onto FS 200 and continue on to the junction with FS 4253. At this junction head straight onto FS 4256 and make the arduous 2.5 mile climb up to the top of Round mountain. The views from the top of Round mountain at the fire lookout are exceptional. To continue, return the way you came on FS 4256. At the bottom turn left and follow FS 4253 the short distance out to FS 4250 and turn right. After a short distance you will turn left onto FS 300 and then right onto FS 500. Ride up FS 500 for approximately 2.5 miles till you reach FS 4245 where you will make a left. Ride for about 0.5 mile up FS 4245 to the junction of FS 700. Here you can choose to continue up FS 4245 and make the optional 2.5 mile climb to the top of Lookout Mountain or continue along FS 700. Continue heading straight along FS 700 as it becomes FS 950 and then FS 960. Finally you will come to FS 600 where you will turn left and follow this down for 2.0 miles to FS 4250. Make a right onto FS 4250 and ride down to FS 4270 and turn left. Follow FS 4270 the 1.5 miles back to the trailhead.

Length: 23 miles

Difficulty: More Difficult

Trailhead elevation: 4,400 ft.

Low elevation: 4,400 ft.

High elevation: 6,223 ft.

Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Fall

Surface: Dirt and Pavement (21.5 miles double track, 1.5 miles pavement)

Trailhead: Drive 16 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97 and take the Fall River/Hwy 42 exit. Head 20 miles west on Hwy 42 to the Crane Prairie Campground turnoff and make a right turn onto FS 4270. Drive 4.5 miles down FS 4270 to the Crane Prairie Campground/Resort and park in the day use area.

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