McKenzie River Trail (MRT) is a very popular riding destination for locals and visitors alike. It is listed in the top 10 of many national mountain bike magazines and is easily one of Oregon's most scenic yet challenging trails.
The ride starts on a lava flow high up in the Cascade Mountains and follows the river 26 miles downstream. You will ride through massive old growth trees and lava fields, past waterfalls, hot springs and the famous Tamolich Blue Pool. The beauty in this area is unparalleled.
The trailhead of the McKenzie River Trail is a 1.5-hour drive NW from Bend, with the end of the trail an additional 30 minutes away. There are creative ways to ride the McKenzie River Trail with one car, but the best way to truly enjoy this epic ride is to take the Cog Wild shuttle. The experienced driver will discuss the trail highlights and share details to ensure riders don’t get lost. If skill level is of concern, Cog Wild offers different access points along the trail that you might not find on your own.
While the bottom section of the trail is not as technical as the top, many advanced riders overestimate their abilities in the beginning and burn out before the finish. We recommend expecting 5 hours to ride the entire trail.
Details
The shuttle is available any day throughout the biking season. Advanced booking helps get your date posted on the right and get more people to fill the van which keeps the price down per rider - see cost info below.
The McKenzie River Trail Shuttle is a full day affair – we leave Bend at 8am and arrive back in town close to 5pm. On the way to the trailhead the shuttle also stops at Sisters Bakery, so save room for amazing baked goods!There will be a cooler in the van for chilled drinks after the ride and we recommend bringing food for the drive home as well.
The trail is cross-country and you only loose 1500 ft. of elevation on the entire trail. There are very few climbing sections, but be prepared to ride through some sections of lava rock, singletrack with exposure as well as flowy beautiful singletrack. Some riders do wear elbow and knee protection for the top section of the trail.
For the shuttle, we recommend bringing a patch kit, extra tubes, food for the trail and a first aid kit. We also recommend cash for the Sisters Bakery and food and beverages for after the ride. Change of clothes are a good idea as well.
Cost
Minimum shuttle price is $240 per van. If there are 5 or less riders, the $240 is split between the riders. Once there are 6 or more riders, the cost is $40 per person.
Cog will do everything they can to help get enough riders to drop the price to $40. Please call us with the date you would like to start a reservation if the date is not listed on the right side of this page. We spread the word through emails, Twitter, Facebook and our website and 90% of the time are successful in getting enough people to make the shuttle affordable per person.
If no others join the shuttle and the original party does not want to pay the minimum price, there is no cancellation fee. Calling sooner than later does help make your shuttle date happen!
