Deschutes National Forest

Lemish Lake Loop Route 19.2 . . . Beautiful ride through lodgepole and then hemlock forests
Phil's Trail Loop Route 24.5 . . . Somewhat challenging ride up a canyon
420 Loop Route 24.6 . . . Easy ride through forest and wildflowers
Crane Prairie Loop Route 47.3 . . . Easy ride to watch the osprey.
Ketchketch Butte/Brown's Mountain Route 47.4 . . . Two mountain tops
Cultus Lake Loop Route 47.5 . . . Popular route, good for beginners
Rockless Ridge Ride Route 52.3 . . . Follows a race route
Tangent/QS 1041 Route 52.5 . . . Easy route with wunderbar views
Inn Loop Route 52.6 . . . Moderately easy route through lodgepole pine country

Lemish Lake Loop Route 19.2
This is a beautiful ride through lodgepole and then hemlock forests. You will need to have some route finding ability on this ride.

Ride on FS 4630 toward Little Cultus Lake. The road turns into FS 600 after a mile. At Little Cultus Lake turn right and head through the campground on FS 4636 and ride about 1.5 miles to the Lemish Lake Trail on your left. A good single track takes you the short distance to Lemish Lake, where you bear left, and then continue past the lake and up into the forest. The trail becomes indistinct in two meadows shortly after beginning the climb but soon it returns to its well defined way through the trees. Rising and falling all the way to the junction with the Clover Meadows Trail. Turn left to Clover Meadows and ride this excellent single track that has several long downhill sections and get to a cutover area. The trail becomes indistinct in places through the replanted cleatcut so pay attention to where you are going. At the next junction turn left and continue on this trail till you get back to Lemish lake. Turn right onto FS 4636 and ride back to the trailhead the way you came in.

Length: 14 miles
Difficulty: More Difficult
Trailhead elevation: 4,550 ft.
Low elevation: 4,550 ft.
High elevation: 5,600 ft.
Recommended season: Late Spring/Summer/Fall
Surface: All dirt (6.0 miles double track, 8.0 miles single track)

Trailhead: Drive 14 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97 and take the Sunriver/Hwy 40 turnoff. Continue 22 miles west on Hwy 20 to the junction of Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy). Turn left onto Hwy 46 and drive for a mile to the turnoff for the Cultus Lake resort (FS 4635). Drive for a mile on FS 4635 and turn left onto FS 4630 and begin the ride from here, or drive on into Little Cultus Lake and begin the ride from there.

Phil's Trail Loop Route 24.5
A lot of the roads are unmarked so watch for the Bike Route signposts.

Head west on the Brooks-Scanlon road and turn left on an abandoned road 0.25 mile from the trailhead. Follow this road 0.25 to the junction of another road and bear left Continue winding along this road till you come to a cinder pit and turn right onto FS 020. Bear left at the first fork and ride to the junction with a cinder road. Turn right onto this road (FS 030) and continue along this road to a pumice pit. Watch for the road to continue to the left of the pumice pit. 0.5 mile past the pumice pit you will come to the junction of another road where you will head straight. This road will turn into a trail and climb up through a canyon. At the top you will cross FS 4610. Bear left at the first fork in the trail and continue along this trail for approximately 2.5 miles. Finally, leave the trail and take a right down the 3rd road and follow this for a short distance and take a right onto FS 360, which will bring you to FS 900. Bear right and follow FS 900 till it meets FS 4610, head left and follow this for 0.25 mile to a road on the right just before you get to Skyliner's road. Follow this road, as it enters the Big Burn, head left at the first fork. Skirt the forest's edge and take the first left through the bum onto an old abandoned road. Remain on this road by bearing to the left at the next four junctions to arrive back at the Brooks-Scanlon Road where you will turn right to get back to the trailhead.

Length: 10.5 miles
Difficulty: More Difficult
Trailhead elevation: 4,200 ft.
Low elevation: 4,100 ft.
High elevation: 4,400 ft.
Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Surface: All dirt (6.5 miles double track, 4.0 miles single track)

Trailhead: Drive or ride, west of Bend about 2.5 miles on Skyliner's Road until you reach a paved road on your left. Go 0.5 mile on this road to the old Brooks-Scanlon Logging Road (FS 4606) and park at this junction near the gate and begin the loop.

420 Loop Route 24.6
A nice ride on forest roads through pines, snowbrush and wildflowers.

Follow FS 4610 and turn right onto FS 900. Continue down FS 900 until you reach FS 300. Turn right onto FS 300 and after 50 feet, turn left onto FS 310. Stay on FS 310 for 1.75 miles, riding over a short section of closed road, and then turn left onto FS 420 and climb the double track to its end-where there is a great overlook view of the high desert and of the forest through which you have been riding. return via FS 420 and turn left back onto FS 310. Ride 0.5 mile to FS 4615, where you turn left and begin the moderate 2 mile descent. Turn left onto a closed road (FS 745) and bear right at a fork in the road to continue on FS 745. Make a right onto FS 700 and after 0.3 mile turn left onto FS 290. Descend through a wide open forest of lodgepole pine on a very nice double track. At FS 350 turn right and ride to FS 4610, where a left turn leads back to the trailhead.

Length: 12 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead elevation: 4,200 ft.
Low elevation: 4,200 ft.
High elevation: 5,000 ft.
Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Surface: All dirt (12.0 miles double track)

Trailhead: Drive or ride west of Bend on Skyliner's Road about 4.5 miles until you reach FS 4610, on your left. Park here and begin the loop.

Crane Prairie Loop Route 47.3
The views across Crane Prairie Reservoir are great and the osprey are exciting to watch. This is a fairly flat ride but not an easy ride. A rough tread makes it tough going for the beginner but not so tough that you shouldn't at least give it a try.

From the parking area follow the road as it winds through Ponderosa Pines and lava formations, and then turn right onto FS 800. Ride to FS 180, crossing over and onto FS 182 and around the gate. Stay on FS 182, then turn left onto FS 200 and follow this down to the shore of Crane Prairie and around another gate. Take a left onto FS 400, around a gate and a short ride to FS 440. Turn left onto FS 440 and follow as it meanders along the reservoir among interesting rock formations and Ponderosa Pines. After riding around another gate, FS 440 will come to the end at paved road FS 4270. Turn right onto FS 4270 and ride 4 miles back to Hwy 42. Turn right onto highway 42 for a short ride back to the trailhead.

Length: 16 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead elevation: 4,300 ft.
Low elevation: 4,300 ft.
High elevation: 4,550 ft.
Recommended season: Early Spring/Summer/Late Fall
Surface: Pavement and Dirt (4.0 miles pavement, 12.0 miles double track)

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 and make a left onto an unmarked road just prior to a bridge over the Deschutes River and the Browns Mt. turnoff. Park in a small parking area just off the highway.

Ketchketch Butte/Brown's Mountain Route 47.4
These two small mountains are close enough to make a nice pair of same day climbs. The old growth Ponderosa Pine on Brown's Mountain is impressive.

Ride north on FS 4291 as it rises easily up and around the side of Ketchketch Butte. This road does not reach the actual summit but the views are nice and the way is lined with large Ponderosa Pines. The road logos back down to FS 4290. Make a left turn and continue down FS 4290 out to Hwy 46. Cross Hwy 46 and fide onto Hwy 42 riding a short distance to FS 4286. Turn left onto FS 4286 and ride to FS 400 and make a left to ride around Brown's Mountain. When you reach FS 4286 make a left and ride out to FS 4285 where you make a left to ride around the north base of Brown's mountain. Continue on FS 4285 for 4.0 miles until you reach unmarked road FS 700 and make a left. Continue on this till you return to FS 4286. Turn right and head back out to Hwy 42 where you turn right to get back to the trailhead.

Length: 18.5 miles
Difficulty: More Difficult
Trailhead elevation: 4,500 ft.
Low elevation: 4,500 ft.
High elevation: 5,100 ft.
Recommended season: Early Spring/Summer/Late Fall
Surface: Pavement and Dirt (18.5 miles dirt road)

Trailhead: Drive 16 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97 and take the Fail River/Hwy 42 exit. Head 23 miles west on Hwy 42 to the junction with Hwy 46 (Cascade lakes Hwy) and the junction of FS 4290. Head 100 yards down FS 4290 to the junction of FS 4291 and park here.

Cultus Lake Loop Route 47.5
This is a well traveled route, so go slow and watch out for hikers and horses. This is a very nice ride for the beginner who is anxious to actually get out in the "mountains" without encountering some of the more difficult "things." For those who wish for a longer and more strenuous ride there is the option to ride to the top of Cultus Mountain.

More about the Cultus Lake Route
Map of Cultus Lake Area

Ride back out FS 4635 and turn right onto FS 4630 toward Little Cultus Lake. Turn right onto FS 640 at Little Cultus Lake. Continue for 0.25 mile to the Deer Lake Trail's trailhead, on the left. Here at this junction, you can choose between continuing the route along the Deer Lake Trail to the Cultus Lake Trail or the option of riding along FS 640 to FS 644 and make the 3 mile, 2,000 foot climb to the top of Cultus mountain. (then continue along FS 640 to the turn to Deer Lake) At West Cultus Lake Campground, you will ride onto the Cultus Lake Trail. Stay on this single track around Cultus Lake, bear left just before the Big Cultus Lake Campground and come out at the Winopee Lakes trailhead. Take a right down the dirt road to get to the trailhead.

Length: 12 miles
Difficulty: Easy to More Difficult
Trailhead elevation: 4,700 ft.
Low elevation: 4,700 ft.
High elevation: 5,000 ft.
Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Fall
Surface: Pavement and Dirt (1.0 mile pavement, 5.5 miles double track, 5.5 miles single track)

Trailhead: Drive 14 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97 and take the Sunriver/Hwy 40 turnoff. Continue 22 miles west on Hwy 40 to the junction of Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy). Turn left onto Hwy 46 and drive a mile to the turnoff for Cultus Lake Resort (FS 4635). Drive down FS 4635 and park at the Cultus Lake day use picnic area

Rockless Ridge Ride Route 52.3
This route follows the Rockless Ridge race route.

Follow Skyliner's road up toward Tumalo Falls as it curves to the right, turns to gravel and crosses a bridge. Turn left just past the bridge onto the gravel road FS 4603. Stay on this road for 2.25 miles, riding through the area burned in the 1979 Bridge Creek fire. When you reach Tumalo Falls the road will cross a bridge and the South Fork Trail will be off to your left. Take a left onto the South Fork Trail and follow it past the South Fork shelter and along the creek to the junction of Swampy Lakes Trail. Take a left onto the Swampy lakes trail and begin the climb up the switchbacks to Swampy Lakes. Continue past Swampy Lakes toward Swampy Lakes Sno-Park. Just before the Sno-park take the cutoff trail that joins the road and follow FS 080 to FS 4615. Follow FS 4615 for approximately 4 miles and take a left onto FS 310 . Follow FS 310 for 2 miles, passing over a short section of closed road, till you meet (unmarked) FS 400 on the left. Follow FS 400 for another 2 miles till you reach Skyliner's road. Return to the trailhead by turning left onto Skyliners road.

Length: 18 miles
Difficulty: More Difficult
Trailhead elevation: 4,800 ft.
Low elevation: 4,750 ft.
High elevation: 6,000 ft.
Recommended season: Late Spring/Summer/Early Fall
Surface: Pavement and Dirt (1.0 mile pavement, 12.5 miles double track, 4.5 miles single track)

Trailhead: Drive or ride 9 miles west of Bend on the Skyliner's road to the Skyliner's Sno-play parking lot on your left and park here.

Tangent/QS 1041 Route 52.5
This route goes through rolling terrain that provides diverse scenery and good views from the quarry site.

Continue on FS 4615 for about 4.5 miles, as it winds around, up and down through the lodgepole pine and snowbrush. When you reach the junction of FS 250 (on your left) and FS 300 (straight ahead), take FS 300 and make the short, rocky climb to Quarry Site 1041. A short scramble to the top of the hill will give you excellent overlook views of Pine Mountain, Newberry Crater, Lava Butte and Broken Top. Return on FS 300 and turn left onto FS 4615. Descend on FS 4615 about 2.5 miles to the third FS 800 turnoff. Turn right here and begin riding south on a nice double track through the forest. Turn left onto FS 400, come to FS 4612 (unmarked) and head to the right. Turn left onto FS 090 and ride for 0.5 mile to FS 060 and turn left, climbing back up to the junction with FS 4615. Turn left onto FS 4615 and ride the mile or so back to the trailhead.

Length: 11 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead elevation: 5,400 ft.
Low elevation: 4,800 ft.
High elevation: 5,600 ft.
Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Fall
Surface: All dirt (11 miles double track)

Trailhead: Drive 14 miles west of Bend on Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy) to Virginia Meissner Sno-Park. Park in the Sno-Park and head north on FS 4615 to begin the route.

Inn Loop Route 52.6
A moderately easy ride through some nice stands of lodgepole pine.

Ride on FS 41 until you reach FS 4110 on your right. Turn onto FS 4110 and stay on this for 3 miles as you rise easily through the lodgepole pine forest. Turn right onto FS 4130 and stay on this road until you reach FS 4613. Turn right at FS 4613 for a very short ride to Hwy 46. Turn right onto Hwy 46 and descend on the paved surface for about 0.5 mile. Turn left onto FS 4612 and immediately bear right at the fork onto FS 200. After a short climb FS 200 turns right and descends for 2.0 miles through a beautiful, open forest of lodgepole pine. Along this descent, be alert for the sharp left turn where FS 246 and FS 200 meet. The sharp left turn will keep you on FS 200 which is where you want to be. Turn right onto FS 4615 and ride until you reach FS 4610. Turn right onto FS 4610 and follow this to Hwy 46. Turn right and ascend up Hwy 46 for 0.3 mile and take a left onto FS 910. Ride FS 910 down past the gate and up to the quarry. From here you can ride around the side of the quarry for a close-up view of the lava flow from Lava Butte. There are two ways to descend from the quarry: a steep section just north of the quarry or a less intimidating road on around the north side of the quarry. Either way you choose will keep you on FS 910 which will lead to FS 41. A left turn on FS 41 and a 0.5-mile ride return you to the trailhead.

Length: 13 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead elevation: 4,000 ft.
Low elevation: 4,000 ft.
High elevation: 4,700 ft.
Recommended season: Spring/Summer/Fall
Surface: Pavement and Dirt (0.5 mile pavement, 12.5 miles double track)

Trailhead:
Drive or ride 7 miles west of Bend on Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy) until you reach FS 41, which is the first road on your left after passing the Inn of the 7th Mountain. Park in the small parking area at the junction of FS 41 and Hwy 46.