Bend has long been synonymous with excellent mountain biking thanks to a vast network of trails that stretches from Sunriver to Sisters—more than 600 miles worth of options, in fact—but nearly all of that singletrack is geared toward cross-country riding. 

Now, thanks to the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), more downhill-specific trails are coming, this time to Wanoga—a sno-park, trailhead, and mountain biking hub off the Cascade Lakes Highway. They’re the first of their kind for Bend. The coolest part? They were all made possible thanks to tax dollars generated exclusively by Bend’s tourism economy. So strap on your helmet, drop your seat, and hang on tight. Here’s what to know about downhill mountain biking in Bend.  

Trails built by local pros

Wanoga Sno-Park sits about 14 miles west of town and serves as a jumping off point for some of Bend’s most popular singletrack with trails such as Tiddlywinks, Funner, Tyler’s Traverse, and Storm King, all of which are accessible from there. You’ll also find a skills park and a new system of downhill trails. 

The master plan at Wanoga calls for five new trails on the 5,700-foot butte south of the parking lot, close to but separate from the sledding hill that’s popular in winter. These are all proper downhill trails with intermediate to advanced ratings. To build them, COTA hired Sensus R.A.D. Trails, a trail-building outfit founded by Redbull Rampage winner and professional freeride mountain biker Cam Zink. Sensus R.A.D. will also be working with local professional freeride mountain bikers such as Carson Storch, Cam McCaul, and Dusty Wygle to help build the trails.

For the downhill tracks, two advanced (black) trails drop about 300 vertical feet over a half a mile from the top of the butte. One is flowier with jumps. The other is more technical. Alex Brieger, a program director with COTA, said you might find things like fallen trees to create drops and obstacles. The area doesn’t have much rock. 

A third, intermediate (blue) downhill track takes advantage of an old dirt road that climbs roughly halfway up the butte, descends for about a quarter of a mile, and features tabletop jumps and optional gaps to keep you on your toes. You can also go around those until you’re ready to fly. Another intermediate (blue) trail drops a few hundred feet off the top of the butte and ties into Upper Tiddlywinks, adding a quick descent option at the beginning. 

The final, fifth trail is a climbing-only route that snakes its way up the butte’s western side. COTA aims to complete all the trails by the end of the year. Once finished, it will create the first downhill-specific advanced trails that riders can lap. 

More trails for gravity riding

Gravity riding has been growing elsewhere, too, particularly at Horse Ridge and Cline Butte. While it may be a grind to make it to the top of some of these trails, the descents are phenomenal and well worth the effort. Both destinations offer an entirely different experience from Bend’s cross-country trails. 

Horse Ridge

About 20 miles east of Bend, Horse Ridge is one of the more distant systems but a great outing. Locals primarily ride Horse Ridge in the wetter winter months, when the rocky, technical riding provides a welcome change from flowier summer trails.

To keep the climbing at Horse Ridge manageable, the trails are a bit longer with switchbacks winding up the butte for about 1,000 vertical feet over 4 miles. When descending, riders lose that elevation in roughly 2 miles. Popular trails like Sand Canyon and Escape From Moscow are rocky, fast, and loose. 

Cline Butte

Some of the most advanced downhill riding happens at Cline Butte, about 15 miles north of Bend. The terrain here is very technical with rocky, steep descents and loose corners. You’ll drop more than 700 vertical feet in less than a mile. 

Three downhill-specific trails get solid black and double-black ratings. You’ll also find three intermediate descents but expect high speeds and technical rock features. First-time visitors to Cline should start with these and work their way up to the black descents. Take it easy and walk the sections you’re not comfortable with.

Jump Trails

Bend has a few other options. Westside trails such as Royal Flush and Lone Wolf have ways to get your wheels off the ground. Royal Flush is an intermediate jump trail, descending a mile and dropping over 250 feet of elevation. The jumps are tabletops and are rollable, allowing newer riders to progress their jumping ability.

Lone Wolf steps things up a bit. Dropping nearly 500 feet in 1.5 miles, Lone Wolf incorporates a mandatory drop and much larger gap jumps. While the gap jumps do have ride-around arounds, this trail isn’t for the faint of heart.

Mt. Bachelor

We can’t talk about downhill trails without mentioning Mt. Bachelor’s expansive lift-assisted network that offers everything from beginner to expert options. All in all, you’ll find 31 miles of trails here over a mixed variety of terrain, from flowy jump trails to technical, rocky descents. Popular, must-ride trails like Lava Flow descend nearly 1,300 vertical feet over about four miles and provide some of the best views of the Cascades. This blue flow trail is a great starting point for first-time riders at Bachelor, helping to gain a feel for the more advanced riding at the bike park. 

When you’re ready to step things up, Redline is a common go-to. This black-rated jump trail features large tabletops and drops that attract professional mountain bikers. At the bottom you can do it all over again and catch your breath on a 9-minute chairlift ride back to the top. 

None of this would be possible without the behind-the-scenes magic of trail crews and volunteers. Meet the people who keep Bend’s singletrack ride-ready.