Whatever your preferred cycling experience, you’ll find it around Central Oregon.
Getting up early on Saturday morning to ride the backroads of Bend, with massive Cascade peak views over your shoulder? Relaxing with a leisurely ride through Sunriver with the family? Shredding your favorite mountain bike trails in a towering forest one day—and the heart of the high desert the next?
You can do it all in Central Oregon, a world-class cycling destination that’s home to myriad road rides for cyclists of all skill and fitness levels, more than 300 miles of mountain bike trails, and a close-knit community of bike shops.
With so much to see and experience, it’s no wonder biking is one of the top things to do in Central Oregon. So here’s your guide to the mountain bike trails and bike paths throughout Central Oregon.
Top Mountain Bike Trails in Bend
There’s a juxtaposition about Bend that makes it such a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all types. You’ll enjoy all the amenities of a good-sized city—farm-to-table fare at local restaurants, outstanding craft breweries, a wide range of lodgings, and so forth—but you’re also just minutes away from some of the region’s best outdoor destinations.
Case in point? Phil’s Trail Complex, the most famous mountain bike destination in Central Oregon, is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Bend. The expansive trail network hosts dozens of miles of trails, from fast, flowing loops to more technical challenges (including rock gardens, gaps, and berms) for advanced riders. Check out Bend Trails before loading up your bike for recommendations on which trails to shred—along with user-submitted reports on how trails have been riding lately.
If you’re looking for a different type of terrain, head to the Horse Ridge Recreation Area—just about 20-30 minutes east of Bend. Splayed throughout the Central Oregon high desert, the Horse Ridge area is best in winter and spring (when mountain bike trails at higher elevations are buried under snow or mud). Roughly 30 miles of trails crisscross a sagebrush steppe covered in juniper trees, with flowing trails and rocky climbs throughout.
Want to explore backcountry rides elsewhere around the region? Check out our page on mountain biking in Central Oregon for ideas, inspiration, and tips for getting started.
The Best Bike Paths in Bend
Part of what makes Bend such an outdoorsy destination is the city’s love affair with all things cycling: Raised bike paths line some roads, multi-purpose paths connect some of Bend’s biggest landmarks, and it feels at times like there’s a bike shop on every corner. So if you’re looking to hop in the saddle, here are some of the best bike paths around Bend.
Dedicated cyclists can start with the Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway—one of five officially designated routes around Central Oregon, each noted for abundant scenery. The 36-mile loop leaves from Drake Park near downtown Bend before heading north through forests of ponderosa pine, verdant farmland, sagebrush-covered desert terrain, and the city of Tumalo before returning to Bend. The road biking path, named for the pair of Deschutes River crossings along the way, also offers wide-open views of nearby Cascade peaks.
Looking for a ride the whole family will love? Enjoy a 5.5-mile, mostly flat loop that never strays far from the Deschutes River; the Old Mill District and Downtown Bend loop (a favorite of Hutch’s Bicycles, a local bike shop) starts on Bend’s westside before crossing the Deschutes River and heading south along its eastern banks—where it passes through the trendy Old Mill District and Farewell Bend Park. As it returns north, the route heads through Drake Park and into downtown Bend. If you’re looking for an easy introduction to many of Bend’s best sites, this is an ideal ride.
Looking for someone to lead the way on our beautiful bike paths—whether in Bend or elsewhere around the region? Get the skinny on bike tours in Central Oregon.
Sunriver Biking Trails
Part of what makes Bend such an outdoorsy destination is the city’s love affair with all things cycling: Raised bike paths line some roads, multi-purpose paths connect some of Bend’s biggest landmarks, and it feels at times like there’s a bike shop on every corner. So if you’re looking to hop in the saddle, here are some of the best bike paths around Bend.
Dedicated cyclists can start with the Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway—one of five officially designated routes around Central Oregon, each noted for abundant scenery. The 36-mile loop leaves from Drake Park near downtown Bend before heading north through forests of ponderosa pine, verdant farmland, sagebrush-covered desert terrain, and the city of Tumalo before returning to Bend. The road biking path, named for the pair of Deschutes River crossings along the way, also offers wide-open views of nearby Cascade peaks.
Looking for a ride the whole family will love? Enjoy a 5.5-mile, mostly flat loop that never strays far from the Deschutes River; the Old Mill District and Downtown Bend loop (a favorite of Hutch’s Bicycles, a local bike shop) starts on Bend’s westside before crossing the Deschutes River and heading south along its eastern banks—where it passes through the trendy Old Mill District and Farewell Bend Park. As it returns north, the route heads through Drake Park and into downtown Bend. If you’re looking for an easy introduction to many of Bend’s best sites, this is an ideal ride.
Looking for someone to lead the way on our beautiful bike paths—whether in Bend or elsewhere around the region? Get the skinny on bike tours in Central Oregon.
Local Bike Rentals and Shops
With such a thriving cycling scene, it’s only natural that numerous bike shops dot the Central Oregon landscape—offering everything from tune-ups to racks and rental bikes. Here’s a glimpse of some of those shops, along with details on what they offer and how they can make your next ride an unforgettable adventure.
Hutch’s Bicycles: Since 1980, Hutch’s Bicycles has been a Central Oregon mainstay—noted for one of the largest rental fleets in the region, helpful employees who are happy to pass along recommendations, and a suite of services. The regional chain hosts three outposts in Bend, as well as one in Redmond, making it a convenient stop for cyclists all over the area.
Let it Ride Bend Electric Bikes – Tours & Rentals: E-bikes have become increasingly popular in recent years, and visitors can take one for a spin with Let it Ride Bend. The local outfitter offers a variety of e-bike rentals (including cruisers and tandem bikes for rides around town), as well as tours that cover the history of Bend, breweries around town, and more.
Pine Mountain Sports: For all your mountain bike needs in Bend, make a beeline for Pine Mountain Sports. The local institution offers rentals from the industry’s biggest brands, summertime group rides, and a variety of services (including bike washes and tune-ups) to keep your ride running like new.
Blazin Saddles: Sisters is an epicenter of cycling at the foot of the Cascade Range—from the McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway, which heads into the heart of the mountains, to the Peterson Ridge Trails system just five minutes south of downtown. It’s a good thing, then, that the family-owned-and-operated Blazin Saddles can help cyclists in the heart of town. The shop offers mountain bike rentals, can perform a pre-ride safety check, and is a good source for recommendations on the many rides around Sisters.
If you’re curious to learn more and want to get started on the hundreds of miles of trails around the region, check out our page on biking in Central Oregon.