Travis Reill is a mountain bike journalist born and raised in Bend, Oregon, with a love of the Pacific Northwest. His writing blends industry expertise with the local culture of Central Oregon and beyond.

Keep rolling through the chill

When the snow flies in Bend, it’s tempting to think Central Oregon mountain bikers are finished for the winter, waiting for the spring thaw. After all, the town is known for its winter sports. Many picture Bend as a classic ski destination, especially with Mt. Bachelor so close, conjuring images of a landscape constantly covered in snow.

However, that isn’t always the case with Bend. 

The higher elevations west of town typically see snow from late fall through spring. This includes hundreds of miles of singletrack that stretch from town to Sunriver along the foothills and forests of the Central Cascades. Unfortunately, nearly all of these trails are snowed in for the winter season. This time of year, the only mountain biking on the west side is on limited groomed fat biking trails. 

Fortunately, Bend offers excellent winter mountain biking trails to the north and east, attracting riders when snow buries the west-side trails. And despite some of these trails touching nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, they are far enough away from the mountains to remain snow-free for most of the year. These are not the groomed fat biking trails you might expect in winter, and they’re not the flowy, west-side singletrack you’ll find in the summer.

Instead, Bend’s east-side trails are different and absolutely worth a winter ride. With many zones consisting of fast and loose singletrack, the east-side trails incorporate much more rocky tech and steeper descents than west-side trails. While Bend’s west-side summer trails descend 400 feet in two miles, its east-side winter trails drop over 1,000 feet in two miles!

They also have much dryer and sandier soil, making them loose and dusty in the summer. However, with cooler temperatures and increased moisture during winter, trail conditions east of town often provide some of the best mountain biking in the region.

But make sure you are prepared. Winter mountain biking is a cold affair, so it is important to have the proper winter biking gear. Winter riding gloves, warm socks, riding pants, and multiple layers on top are key, as you may want to remove a top layer for the climb and put it back on while descending. Also, be sure to stay away from cotton, as it will absorb sweat and make you cold. Instead, use materials that wick moisture away from your body, such as wool or polyester blends.

So grab your cold-weather riding gear and experience Bend’s winter mountain biking trails.

Where to ride in winter

Cline Butte Recreation Area

Cline Butte, roughly ten miles north of Bend, rises nearly 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. However, its history has been somewhat rocky, with recreation access almost lost just a few years ago. Thanks to the recent work and proposals from Central Oregon’s trail advocacy group, Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), future trail access has been secured.

Recent work in the area not only secured Cline’s future but also established the Cline Butte Recreation Area. This area consists of three separate trail systems: Maston, Cascade View, and Cline Butte. These trail systems are easy go-tos for winter riding in Central Oregon and offer a clear path to progression.

Maston

With miles and miles of fast pedal flow, Maston is the perfect trail system for riders of all ability levels. Whether you are just getting into the sport, looking for a place to ride with kids, or just want an easier pedal, Maston has miles of multidirectional green (beginner) trails at your disposal. Trails can be linked to create larger loops or ridden as out and backs. The climbs and descents are mellow, the largest of which is 200-some feet over a handful of miles.

Rockbar Trail is a must-ride! This optional offshoot off the Headgate Trail is Maston’s only blue (intermediate) trail and provides an excellent opportunity to practice riding rockier terrain. The trail also offers spectacular views of the Deschutes River 100 feet below.

Cascade View

As one of the newer trailheads in Central Oregon, Cascade View offers a step up from the beginner-level cross-country trails at Maston. While the first loop is still beginner-friendly, four other loops — three of which are connected — offer a more intermediate riding experience.

Expect more technical climbs and descents, tighter switchbacks, smaller rock rolls, and roughly 100 feet more elevation than Maston. Despite the increased difficulty, Cascade View is manageable and offers a great middle ground between Maston and Cline.

Cline Butte

Towering above the high desert landscape, Cline Butte offers chunky, technical, and fast descending during Bend’s winters. Three major descents — DH1, DH2, and DH3 — come off the top and easily earn their advanced and expert trail ratings. Along with loose corners and unforgiving rock, mountain bikers can expect to encounter drops and jumps. 

Newer trail construction at Cline recently added two blue trails: The Goat and Chainbreak. These intermediate trails dial back the fear factor while maintaining Cline’s descending-focused characteristics. 

The descents at Cline are short and sweet, with the longest at less than three-quarters of a mile. But they are fast, dropping nearly 700 vertical feet in those short distances. Cline isn’t for the faint of heart.

Horse Ridge

Less than 20 miles east of town is Bend’s other winter trail system, Horse Ridge. Horse Ridge is perfect for fast, longer descents over challenging, rocky terrain. Where Cline might give you half a mile of descending, Horse Ridge provides two miles. Of course, to come down, you must first go up.

COTA has proposed a trail expansion at Horse Ridge that would significantly increase the number of trails there. And what it has now isn’t too shabby. Descents like Escape from Moscow and Sand Canyon are favorites. Both require riders to skip through and over rocks, carefully choosing lines at the beginning before opening into fast, thundery descents near the bottom. 

Horse Ridge epitomizes trail builders’ efforts to keep singletrack rugged, raw, and untamed. Thank you, trail builders, and we hope for more in the future!

When to ride

Bend is fortunate to have weather that nearly supports year-round mountain biking. However, “nearly” is the key term in that phrase.

We do get snow, and with enough accumulation, riding is typically a no-go. There is a greater chance of damaging the trails, but riding in several inches of snow is generally too difficult and fairly dangerous.

Be mindful of your potential impact when winter biking. The most significant impact of Bend’s weather is the freeze-thaw cycle our trails experience. When there is snowfall, our trails enter a cycle where they slowly melt during the day but refreeze at night. Riding during this cycle—especially when trails are muddy—can leave deep ruts that freeze overnight, creating rough trails that can lead to permanent damage. The good news? Waiting just a few extra days allows trails to dry and restabilize. If you must ride, aim for early mornings when the ground is still frozen to minimize your impact.

And, of course, pack out what you pack in from snack wrappers, used hand warmers, or other trash. Take care of the trails; they will take care of you year-round. See you out there!