You don’t have to shuttle to mountain bike, but a shuttle sure makes it more fun!
Wanoga Hot Laps
Ride as many laps as you want on Funner, Tiddlywinks and Tylers with Wanoga Hot Laps. A van will run continuously from Green Gate Trailhead to Wanoga Sno Park from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Walk ups are welcomed as space permits. Hot Laps are on the shuttle schedule for (most) Saturdays.
Sunriver MTB shuttle
Ride single track mountain bike trails from Wanoga Sno Park back to your vacation rental in Sunriver. The shuttle departs from Village Bike & Ski at 10:30 AM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Labor Day. Please book in advance, empty shuttles are removed from the calendar 18 hours prior to scheduled departure.
Summer Shuttle Sale
To appreciate all of our returning clients, the regular Bend Mountain Bike Shuttle will be discounted to $10 per seat from Juneteenth to Labor Day (online booking fees not included).
Oakridge glows in the spring time. The new plant growth is a vibrant green, which is intoxicating to ride through. With the historically low snow year, all the trails are already open and riding well. Our full shuttle schedule begins this weekend.
Many of you ride Oakridge as a day trip. This year, consider camping or staying in a vacation rental a night or two to ride a more days and connect to place. Here are some ways to extend a trip this spring:
Oakridge Trails Alliance hosts trail work parties every other Saturday and as an incentive to help OTA, we will comp all Saturday trail workers a free Sunday shuttle.
Oakridge First Friday Art Walk is a thing! Come over on Friday for a late afternoon Dead Mountain shuttle, check out the Art Walk and stay to ride on Saturday. On May 1, 2026, the Art Walk coincides with the 73rd Annual Tree Planting Festival, which has a slew of family friendly community events — see more below.
If you’re still in town on Sunday afternoon visit the Westfir Oakridge Community Farmers Market. Buy produce and baked goods, hear live music and experience a different side of this sweet place.
Continue reading to learn more about our new demo fleet, a Community Ride during the upcoming Tree Planting Festival and a call for food trucks at our Uptown Oakridge location.
Cog Wild now has mountain bike rentals in Oakridge! Choose from Santa Cruz alloy Vala E-MTB, carbon Bullit E-MTB, or carbon full suspensions. Rent a bike to jump on the shuttles or ride all day from our location in Uptown Oakridge.
By the way, the reason that E-bikes are allowed on so many trails near Oakridge is because they are also open to motorcycles. Please expect motos on all e-bike legal trails like Alpine, Dead Mountain and Lawler. As with all trail users, please be polite and kind to moto riders on the trail.
In it’s 73rd year, the Oakridge-Westfir Tree Planting Festival is an inclusive and family-friendly event.
Cog Wild and Oakridge Trails Alliance are hosting the community bike ride on May 1. Come ride with us then stay for the tree themed First Friday Art Walk. The festival continues with free events ranging from a quilt show to live music to yoga class all anchored with a parade on Saturday morning. Oakridge Trails Alliance will host a trail work party after the parade.
Cog Wild is looking for established food trucks to serve food to hungry mountain bikers at our location in Uptown Oakridge. Rent can be daily, weekly or monthly. Scan the QR code above for a visual of the space in action. Please share this with interested parties or find out more by emailing info@cogwild.com or call 541-385-7002.
Cog Wild and Oakridge Trails Alliance invite you tojoin us for a family-friendly guided ride to explore 5 miles of trails, double track roads and city streets as part of the Tree Planting Festival!
Riders need a bike that is trail capable and in safe working order. Meet at Cog Wild Bicycle Tours 48333 E First Street.
Friday, May 1
Arrive at 3 PM for a bike check and orientation
Riders depart at 3:30, returning to Cog Wild around 5 PM.
Wow, what a season! This was the first year since 2019 that we haven’t had to deal with a global pandemic or major disruption due to wildfire and subsequent smoke. Business “as usual” for a mountain bike guide and outfitter can be really fun!
To thank our amazing staff for a great season, we did celebratory staff rides out on Scotty and Cougar Creek Trails in the Ochoco National Forest, rode a big loop near Smith Rock State Park and partied with the staff at the Commons Cafe. We’re so grateful for our many super committed, long time staff who make the magic happen. Additionally, this year’s crop of new staff were the most qualified and motivated that we’ve seen in years. They came in with Wilderness First Aid/ First Responder and mountain bike coaching certifications!
We’re here because of you. Thank you for riding with us this year! We have such a good time visiting with you all and showing you our amazing trails.
Join us for some end of season fun: This Saturday 11/8, we’ll host a trail work party on Alpine. No experience required; we’ll do some brushing and drainage work. Transportation, tools, PPE, snacks and beverages will be provided. Meet at Cog Wild in Uptown Oakridge at 9 AM. RSVP to info@cogwild.com
Highlights from the 2025 Mountain Bike Season
Bend
Cog Wild’s client meeting spot is now at the front of the LOGE Bend property where we have a better presence and get more ride up traffic.
The bike skills area is back! Lev and Bill used a machine to build jumps, berms and a progressive drops. Lev then fine tuned the features by hand. It’s been fun to see the neighborhood kids hitting the features.
Deschutes Brewery has been a sponsor of Cog Wild for the past 15 years, providing beverages for our apres scene. At long last we we brought back the in town shuttle pick up, which meets at Deschutes Brewery’s Admin Building in the heart of Bend.
Cascadia Junior Cycling
Before our spring and fall after school sessions we did two free meet and greet rides with the families so the parents could understand what we do and to give the riders a soft welcome. It’s been awesome to get to know the families along with the riders.
We celebrated the end of the season with an all CJC Enduro closer on the new trails out of Wanoga.
The staff at the Middle Fork Ranger District did a number of things to make it easier to operate. First, they extended the season and provided better guidance on which trails are appropriate to use (or not) during wet weather. Second, by approving a more generous definition of a user day, we were able to offer discounted shuttle packages, which got people on multiple shuttles on the same day. Finally, before getting furloughed this fall they made sure that our permits were set for next year.
There’s an exciting sense of shared responsibility for increasing tourism to Oakridge. Jude Anderson from Rain Catalyst and Jamie Danek, the former owner of Humm Kombucha, have brought the recreation businesses together to advocate for ourselves to our elected officials and to work together to increase tourism to Oakridge. The City of Oakridge even funded a tourism promoter.
With the onset of cold wet weather in the Cascades, our main season has come to a close.
Winter Rides in Bend and Oakridge
Guided mountain bike, gravel and fat bike rides will continue through the winter as conditions allow.
Nordic Shuttles in Bend:
From December – April we run shuttles for our friends at Three Sisters Nordic Traverse. Stay tuned for our launch of a weekend, round trip shuttle for nordic skiers from Bend to Meissner Nordic…
The Oakridge Trails Alliance has been awarded a Travel Oregon Grant to enhance and expand the trail system east of Oakridge. The focus is to create a connected trails network that serves diverse users and promotes the recreation economy.
Whether you live in Oakridge or you are part of the extended riding community who connects with Oakridge, your feedback is crucial to help design a trail network that meets the community’s needs, improves accessibility, and integrates forest and community trails.
Two ways to give input on the Eastern Oakridge Trails Project
1. Community Planning Event 8/8/25 from noon to 4:30 PM at the Middle Fork Ranger District
Oakridge Trails Alliance is hosting a community event to kick off this process. Come learn more, share your thoughts, and help shape a trail network that reflects our shared values. The more folks engage with this process, the better OTA can design a trail system that works for everyone. 📍 Friday August 8th – Community Planning Event @ The Middle Fork Ranger District RSVP by hitting the button below or scan the QR code on the flyer!
It’s a beautiful summer in Oakridge, Oregon! Come get in on the fun! Explore mountain bike trails, river fun and local culture in Oakridge.
We’re excited to welcome two complimentary businesses to our home base in Uptown Oakridge. Holt Adventures rents river tubes, paddle boards and rafts and the Herbin’ Crust Alley makes wood fired pizza 5 days a week. It’s a sweet little scene, come check it out and find yourself doing something besides mountain biking.
Read on for info about visiting Oakridge to ride bikes and inspiration for more outdoor and cultural events in the area.
Every day we talk to people about how to navigate the mountain bike scene in Oakridge. The video above, by OSU Cascades Social Media Intern, Keeler Frangooles, gives an overview of what’s its like to spend a day riding in Oakridge.
Cog Wild’s shuttle schedule is built for riders to link up multiple trails each day. With the discounted combos, riders can ride many different trails on different days.
Eastside Blue Combo: For riders who don’t want to be scared, ride both Dead Mountain and Aubrey from Cog Wild’s Home Base.
The Classic: Ride the two most popular trails in the area: Alpine in the morning followed by Dead Mountain in the afternoon.
Hardesty & Lawler Double: Head west to the Hardesty Portal to ride Hardesty and Lawler Trails back to back.
Eastside Black Combo: For advanced riders who are comfortable with fear consider our most challenging combo that accesses Heckletooth, Dead Mountain and Larison.
If you are coming to town with a large group of riders, consider hiring a van to transport your crew to the trails you want to ride on your own time frame.
Add a guide to get your crew on trails that aren’t on the regular schedule: Eula, Sawtooth, Middle Fork down from Timpanogas Lake, Moon Point, Goodman and many more.
A person can only do so much mountain biking! Linger longer to get to know the place even better. Here’s a few ideas on what to do in the region:
River Play
Multiple tributaries flow into the Middle Fork of the Willamette near town. Find a swimming hole off the Aufderhiede Road west of Alpine Trail. Join a Friday Float at 4PM with Holt Adventures. Take a paddle board to Hills Creek or Lookout Reservoirs.
Have you seen Salt Creek Falls? It’s worth a stop, along with many other hiking trails into the Diamond Peak or Waldo Lake Wilderness areas.
Oakridge has culture too
Catch live music at the Three Legged Crane Pub, browse the shops on First Friday Art Walks, enjoy fresh produce and baked goods at the Community Farmers Market on Sundays or go back in time with a visit to the Willamette Fish Hatchery. Stumble into The Corner Bar late night and you just might be surprised to find a live DJ dance party.
Plan a trip
Get inspired at Travel Lane County’s Oakridge Page (linked below). Cog Wild’s Oakridge Homepage below has all kinds of information on where to stay, including Cog’s no frills vacation rental, and what to do in the region.
A question that our office frequently hears from visiting riders is, “Where can I camp?”
Travelers are strongly encouraged to camp in an official campground or a Sno Park (parking lots that access winter recreation). Check out our Bend and Oakridge home pages for links to a variety of camping and lodging options.
What about dispersed camping?
Due to increased fire danger and issues with trash, there has been a concerted effort to discourage non recreational camping around Bend and Oakridge. Many dispersed sites have been decommissioned and blocked with large boulders. Near Bend, many of the forest roads close to town are gated and locked, the open roads are farther from town.
If dispersed camping is your scene, please consider these tips:
Select a camp site in an area designated for overnight use, this does not include trailheads or sites adjacent to a trail. Day users have priority in these spots and overnight camping limits another person’s ability to access the forest.
Practice Leave No Trace principals: Camp on durable surfaces, pack out all your trash and manage human waste by digging a latrine or using a portable toilet in your rig.
The trails and roads are emerging as the snow melts and we’re excited to be on our bikes! Mountain biking in Central Oregon during the spring means going north or east to dry trails. These areas are in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and get way less precipitation than the trails west of Bend. The trail systems listed below ride best now while the sandy soil holds moisture and packs to a firm riding surface. In the summer these areas bake in the high desert sun and the trails get blown out.
Try Horse Ridge for solid climbs, tech descents and big views of the Cascades. There are multiple ways to pedal up to the top. The easiest and most social is to climb Old Highway 20 or climb single track via Parkway or Giddyup. From the top of the Ridge, choose from a number of fast downhills.
Farther afield, the trails out of Smith Rock State Park and Madras East Hills are worth a day trip.
Smith Rock
To ride Smith Rock, park at the Skull Hollow Trailhead and skip the busy main entrance to the park. Try riding around Gray Butte or doing the whole Cole Loop. Please yield to horses on these trails.
Madras East Hills
The Madras East Hills Trails are a fun way to get some warm weather riding even when temperatures around Bend feel wintery. The Hills are on the western edge of the Blue Mountains and the higher clay content makes for a really nice trail surface. These trails are the skeleton for the Bone Crusher XC race in mid April.
Downhill:
Downhillers can find good dh mountain biking at Cline Butte during the winter or early spring. This is an earn your turns situation, ride or push to the top and take your pick of rocky dh lines. There’s also XC options at Cascade View and Maston Trailheads.
Gravel:
The gravel roads near Bend are melting out, there’s plenty of miles to link up a ride from town. Check out Dirty Freehub for ride recommendations.
Guided Rides:
While you can do these rides on your own, Cog Wild can outfit you and take you for a gravel tour or a guided mountain bike ride to these fun outlying trails through the spring before our classic Bend trails open around mid May.
Trails to avoid:
Please resist the urge to ride west of Bend for another month. The trails out of Phil’s Trailhead and Cog Wild’s Bend location are still muddy and have spots of snow or standing water.
By: Kirin Stryker, Cog Wild Owner & Operator on March 5, 2025
Every year we tend to get extended high pressure systems mid winter. When this happens we shift from powder skiing to mountain biking, fat biking and catching up on office work. This post has information about low & local rides in Oakridge and fat biking on the groomed trails at Wanoga Sno-Park west of Bend. Read on for a few of our favorite winter mountain bike rides.
Low & local winter mountain bike rides in Oakridge
The snow line on the west side of the Cascades is currently around 4000”, which means the low elevation trails are snow free and riding well. While Cog Wild doesn’t operate in the winter due to limitations with our USFS permit, we encourage you to come ride for a day or two.
Self shuttle if you want, but riding loops or out and back on the close to town trails is a great way to build base miles and maximize time on trail.
If you chose to ride in the winter, please be cautious. There is debris on the trail and occasionally new downed trees. The days are still short and it’s cold in the shady forests, so choose a shorter route (or bring a light) and pack a warm layer. Here’s a few of our go-to winter mountain bike rides out of Oakridge.
Alpine Winter Loop
The Alpine Winter Loop is a gem of a ride. Park at the Covered Bridge in Westfir, ride east through the neighborhood and along the north shore of the Willamette River to Forest Road 5828 and ride it up to the second trail crossing. From here ride out on Alpine Trail as far as you can go then turn around and ride the trail back to where you began.
Larison Rock Loop
Larison Rock gets a bum rap in the summer for being too short of a trail for a shuttle; we think its best ridden as a loop from town. Start at Greenwaters Park, cross the river and work your way east on La Duke Road to Hills Creek Reservoir Road (Forest Rd. 21), then take Forest Rd. 2102 to the top trailhead and take Larison Rock Trail back to Greenwaters Park.
Middle Fork of the Willamette Trail
If you don’t mind driving a bit, consider riding out and back on the Middle Fork of the Willamette Trail south of Oakridge. Park at Sand Prairie Campground to access the trail, ride as far as you want up trail and turn around when you hit snow or have had enough.
Winter fat bike rides near Bend
The high pressure systems create great fat bike riding conditions. Central Oregon Trails Alliance grooms fat bike trails at Wanoga Sno-Park west of Bend. There are two loops that are just for fat bikes plus miles of snow mobile roads that are in perfect shape right now. Bring your own bikes or join us for a guided ride.
Cog Wild’s fat bike tours run daily and include a bike rental and transportation from our location at LOGE to and from the Wanoga. We can accommodate up to 6 riders per day.
Posted on January 22, 2025 by Kirin Stryker, Co-owner of Cog Wild Bicycle Tours
This holiday season we’re participating in Small Business Saturday, a promotion that encourages people to support small business and shop local when buying gifts for their loved ones.
Read on for gift ideas ranging from Cog Wild merchandise to gift cards for experiences, discounted shuttle passes and 2023 demo bike sales. All these gifts are available online, via in person sales during office hours (T, W, Th from 10 AM to 3 PM) or by appointment.
Cog Wild Merchandise
Who wouldn’t be stoked to receive new bike socks, a baseball cap with a cute little sasquatch, a bandana or a Cog Wild logo’d water bottle? Merchandise is available via Cog Wild’s online store or in person at our Bend location. All orders received before December 20 can be shipped at an additional cost.
The sasquatch and the graphics on the bandana are by Sweet Pea Cole, a local artist. Her work can be found at The Workhouse Bend , a fun place to shop local.
Holiday pricing for 2025 mountain bike shuttle passes
Give the gift that keeps on giving: a season’s worth of shuttles for gravity assisted mountain biking. Renew or purchase a 2025 season pass now through December 31 for the best price of the year. Current pass holders, please email the office to confirm a renewal for 2025 so you can keep last year’s booking code.
Need a new(ish) bike? We’re selling our remaining full suspension demo fleet bikes including some Santa Cruz Hightowers, Tallboys and 5010s.
Happy Holidays from Cog Wild
Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts or treating yourself, remember that every purchase at a small business, like Cog Wild, makes a difference to maintaining the character and vibrancy of the places we live and love to visit.
We’re grateful to each and every one of you for riding with us during the 2024 season. Have a joyful holiday season full of outdoor adventure.
