Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic bikeway

From the foothills of the Cascades to the heart of the high desert, you’ll experience the wide range of Central Oregon landscapes around every bend on the 37-mile Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway.

The officially designated scenic bikeway was established to showcase that scenery—and delivers big views no matter which direction you ride.

Starting in Sisters? You’ll enjoy the community’s Old West-inspired architecture, a bevy of locally minded restaurants and food carts, art galleries, and chic lodgings. Heading east, you’ll travel backcountry roads through wide-open farmland, cross the Deschutes River in a rocky canyon, pedal past pine forests and lazy waterways, and savor impressive views of the Cascade Range.

The ride ends at Smith Rock State Park, where the Crooked River winds through rock formations that seem to rise straight up from the riverbanks. Reward yourself with a break while admiring climbers ascending the park’s sheer rock faces.

Either way, you’ll find a park at each end of the ride—with restrooms and drinking water available in late spring, summer, and early fall. The distance and elevation gain make the bikeway suited to experienced riders, but novices will find plenty to love on shorter stretches throughout the route. Consider a spring or autumn outing for cooler weather. And if you’d doing a one-way ride, keep in mind that the eastward journey from Sisters offers more downhill.