Archives : 2011
April 21st, 2011
 With the rains at the end of this past week and sprinkles over the weekend, nearly all of the local mountain bike trail networks are in prime shape for spring riding. Adding to the great (read: just tacky enough) trail conditions is the fact that wildflowers are beginning to appear along some routes.
So without further ado, here’s a handy guide to decent spring riding, and in some cases, updates on possible changes to certain trail systems.
Maston Allotment
The Maston has been riding firm and fast and much later into the spring because of so much rider traffic over the past two years. Note that some of that firm trail will go away in the future as it’s being replaced by a new alignment. Given the Maston’s sandy soils, some time will pass before we have a decent tread again in that section.
In question are the trails at the southeastern end of the system. They pass through a wildlife habitat area the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wants skirted. In the future, if you ride counterclockwise from the proposed new trailhead (a quarter mile east of the current one), you’ll follow the old canal all the way to the Deschutes River canyon rim before turning north and linking into the existing trail.
Meanwhile, note that a short easy get-around trail has been created for those who don’t want to ride or walk the steep rocky hill on the northwest part of the outer loop trail. The get-around breaks to the left as you approach the top of the hill and is marked by a small cairn.
Also, there have been unconfirmed reports of recent ATV damage to some of the trails.
Horse Ridge
Just like the Maston, the tread at Horse Ridge has gotten much firmer over the past two years because of so much rider use. Most of the muddy sections on Phil’s East and other trails higher on the ridge are gone.
The River Trail
Even though it’s not yet the tourist season, don’t ride the River Trail (Meadow Camp to Big Eddy to Dillon Falls, etc.) on weekend days. The trail is packed with runners, hikers and stroller pushers all of whom are taking advantage of the trail before the real hordes descend in June.
There are several short muddy sections along the trail at Big Eddy, Aspen Camp and going up the long hill from the river to the Dillon Falls parking area.
Peterson Ridge
For consistent year-round riding, Peterson Ridge has become the go-to spot for many riders. Currently, the trails are in excellent shape with small patches of muddy terrain that are easily passed through.
Horse Butte
Here’s another trail to ride in the spring before it gets heavy equestrian use come summer. While most people ride the trail clockwise, try riding it counterclockwise to better enjoy the series of swooping s-curves in the downhill section on the north end of the loop.
To do the trail counterclockwise, park at the traditional parking spot off Horse Butte road and ride south up the road about a quarter mile where the loop trail heads off to the left.
Note: Avoid Horse Butte when it’s at all breezy as winds howl across most of the area, which was denuded of pine tree protection by the Skeleton wildfire several years ago.
Gray Butte
Now is definitely the time to ride Gray Butte. The snow is gone and with it Gray Butte’s famously oh-so-sticky mud.
Note that there’s been quite a bit of equestrian traffic at Gray Butte this winter and most of the trails are heavy with horseshoe imprints. This means bumpy going if you’re on a more traditional hard-tail bike.
Phil’s Trailhead
Judging from this past weekend and the crowds at the Phil’s parking lot, there’s a lot of pent-up demand for close-to-town riding. The soggy trails of a few weeks ago are now firm. If, however, you run into long muddy sections, please walk around them or turn back. Give the trails time to dry out and remain rut-free.
Note that change is coming to the Phil’s Trailhead in the form of a paved parking lot with room for 90 cars and two overnight RV spots plus improved toilet facilities.
Mrazek
The Mrazek trail rides nicely for about three-plus miles before mud and snow become a problem and riders should turn back.
Shevlin Park and Environs
A week ago, any loop you made above or in the park had some muddy sections. Most are dry now and those in search of a good hour-long ride will find it here except on weekends when hiker, walker and runner traffic is heavy.
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March 28th, 2011
Wow, Visit Bend, Bend’s local tourism board that is wonderful to work with and loves bikes just awarded us a great award. We wanted to share the press release and also say thank you to everyone in Bend! With Bend being full of amazing people and things to do, it makes it very easy to want to bring people here to share the amazing place we live in.
Read on…
Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours Wins “2010 Excellence in Tourism Award” from Visit Bend
(Bend, OR,) March 25, 2011 – Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours was recently presented with the 2010 Excellence in Tourism Award from Visit Bend. When presented with the award, Cog Wild owner Melanie Fisher said: “We love Bend, which makes it easy to promote. We create opportunities for our guests to feel that love and enjoy not only their bike tour but their entire Bend vacation”, says Fisher.
Cog Wild is the only locally owned mountain bike tour company in Central Oregon, offering one-day tours and bike vacations for individuals and groups. The company also provides the guests with accommodations and referrals to events, restaurants, breweries and other recreation opportunities besides biking. Many guests end up extending their vacation when they learn about Bend’s culture and other fun activities in which to participate.
The feedback from tour guests shows they also reflect Cog Wild’s love of Bend. One guest wrote: “We could not imagine the ‘Bend experience’ without Cog Wild. We don’t have to plan. All we have to do is ride. That’s why we come, season after season. We can ride the bikes of our choice – the latest and greatest – on the best trails found anywhere. Plus the folks at Cog Wild are great to deal with, accommodating and fun.” (deleted tour years, as “season to season” implies as much and is more reader-friendly)
Cog Wild’s multi-day hotel tours include local food and libations from Deschutes Brewery, Bend Brewing Company, Jackson’s Corner, Nancy P’s bakery, and highlights the best of the downtown nightlife for guests. In addition, clients stay in local hotels and use all the bike shops for rentals and repairs while in town, reinforcing the strong “Make Local Habit” values of the community
“We’re excited and humbled to be recognized with this award,” said Fisher. “We understand that the allure of mountain biking in Bend is about more than world class trails; it’s about the community of Bend and everything it has to offer. We live in an amazing place and enjoying sharing it with our guests from around the world. We want to thank Visit Bend for this honor, and everyone who makes Bend awesome!”
February 14th, 2011
 These ruts will still be there in summer. Every year in Central Oregon the weather turns warm enough to ride long before some of our singletrack trails have recovered from their wintertime hibernation. Unseasonably warm temperatures this year have made early-season mountain biking in Central Oregon especially attractive — if you know where to go.
Problem is, some eager mountain bikers are hitting trails that have not yet dried out from winter’s snow and rain. And riding on muddy trails — particularly those in the Phil’s Trail area west of Bend — causes lasting damage that then requires an army of volunteers to repair.
Woody Starr, president of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance, says that riding on muddy trails results in widening the singletrack. Mountain bikers who ride around mud puddles ultimately widen the trail, while those who ride through mud sections cause deep ruts that can firm up later and make for unpleasant riding for future users.
“It’s a little frustrating from the perspective of volunteer resources,” says Starr. “We’re trying to be wise with how our trails are maintained.”
Starr goes on to say that if volunteer time is used for repairing ruts and areas of the singletrack that have been widened, fewer volunteers will be available for trail maintenance and trail building.
“We have plenty of other stuff to do,” he says.
Currently in some areas in the Phil’s Trail network, the once narrow singletrack has been widened to 10 feet on sections of the trail up to 30 feet long, notes Starr.
“The more people who go around, the wider the mud puddle gets,” Starr explains.
Fortunately for local mountain bikers, abundant winter riding options exist in Central Oregon. Mountain bike areas such as Horse Ridge east of Bend, Smith Rock near Terrebonne, Maston near Redmond and Peterson Ridge near Sisters all tend to dry out earlier in the season than trails in the Phil’s area. These trails are all recommended winter and springtime riding in Central Oregon.
“If you only have an hour and you must go on singletrack out on Phil’s, go right through the mud,” Starr says in a lesser-of-two-evils tone. “Don’t go around and widen the trail.
“There are plenty of dirt roads out there,” he continues. “It’s not the same as singletrack, but you’re on your mountain bike. Singletrack is a privilege. Treat it like one.”
— Heather Clark
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