Where to ride in Bend during trail closures
*Updated January 25, 2021.
During forest restoration activity, portions of the Phil’s Trail network may be temporarily closed for your safety, but there are still plenty of other trail options for running or riding! You need only look a little further to the areas east, north, and north-west of Bend.
Here is a general list of places to ride during the West Bend trail closure:
- Early Season (Now-May 15th) : East of Bend, Horse Butte, Horse Ridge, Cline Buttes area (Maston, Juniper, Tumalo Canals – Between Tumalo and Eagle Crest), Peterson Ridge (Sisters), Radlands (Redmond), Lower 66 (Prineville) and Grey Butte/Skull Hollow (Smith Rock)
- Mid-Season (May 15-August 15): Wanoga area trails, Swampy area trails, Skyliner area trails, Mt Bachelor Bike Park, Mrazek Trail through Tumalo Falls and/or Shevlin Park, Newberry Crater and Swamp Wells Trails (late June opening) and Ochocos area trails (late June opening)
- Late Season (August 15-snow season) All trails listed in Mid-Season plus: Flagline to Swampy area and the High Lakes area.
Questions?
For directions, maps or more detailed information on where to ride during the Phil’s Trail area closure, you can contact the Bend Fort-Rock Ranger District (541-383- 4000), Central Oregon Trail Alliance, Bend Trails, local guide services like Cog Wild, or local bike shops.
What will it look like in a few months to a year?
- In the next 6-9 months visitors will see effects of tree felling and removal. There will be slash piles, orange painted trees, and damaged trails, all of which will be addressed. Visitors will also see a forest with better views and longer sight distances.
- In the long term, visitors can expect to see a more open forest, with bigger trees. More importantly, we all will experience a more resilient forest that offers a lower risk of stand replacing fire.
Years of planning have gone into the decision to help make part of the forest adjacent to Bend safer from catastrophic wildfire. Together with the Deschutes National Forest, we are working to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires, keeping our communities safer, the forest healthier, and wildlife happier.
