4 Boys
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
You’ll be switching surfaces almost as fast as you switch gears: ranging from paved road, to gravel road, to doubletrack, to singletrack, to paved bike path.
Route: Loop | 36 mi
Gain: 2,100 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 25% single track, 45% paved path & road
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Big Red
5 Star Route
La Pine, Oregon
This ride is easy like Sunday morning. But it’s well worth the drive to La Pine for the river views … and the visit to Big Red (the oldest and largest Ponderosa tree in Oregon).
Route: Loop | 17 mi
Gain: 500 ft
Surface: ~ 70% gravel road / singletrack, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40mm
eBike Friendly: Yes
Big, Big Red
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A longer version of Big Red that is easily accessible from Bend. We really like this route before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. During the summer, it has a “pinball wizard” feeling as you navigate through Sunriver during the height of tourist season.
Route: Loop | 48 mi
Gain: 1,500 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 25%single track, 15% bike path, 25% paved road
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: No
Billy’s Playground
5 Star Route
Sisters, Oregon
Mixture of ponderosa forest, views of the Cascade Mountains, views of Lake Billy Chinook, mountains, and an old cemetery that is fun to blast through.
Route: Loop | 67 mi
Gain: 3,800 ft
Surface: 50% paved, 50% gravel / dirt roads
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Black Butte Loop
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A loop around Black Butte with a mix of groovy drop-bar single track, undulating double-track, and big views of the Cascade Mountains.
Route: Lollipop | 33 mi
Gain: 1,700 ft
Surface: 35% gravel road, 60% single-track, 5% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Coffee Run!
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A simple out-and-back route that is a great cold weather ride. Not much climbing, but a lot of spinning to keep you warm. Big views of the Cascade Mountains, some interesting and infamous history, and a stop at a coffee house in Sisters?
Route: Out & Back | 31 mi
Gain: 1,200 ft
Surface: ~ 65% gravel, 15% single-track, 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Cowboy Preacher
5 Star Route
Sisters, Oregon
A circumnavigation of Whychus Canyon including a stop at historic Camp Polk and a classic wilderness crossing of Whychus Creek. Hope you don’t mind wet feet …
Route: Loop | 38 mi
Gain: 2,100 ft
Surface: 40% gravel, 60% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Devil’s Dilemma
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A mixed route that circumnavigates Mt Bachelor. There are 14 miles of rugged and demanding riding in high alpine "gobsmacking" views and a creek crossing or two. A must do for the adventurer!
Route: Loop | 76 mi
Gain: 6,100 ft
Surface: ~ 70% unpaved , 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Discovery
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
Some of the sweetest gravel bike single track in the entire Central Oregon area. It is fast, flowy, and fun.... rippin' through the trees, dropbar corners, and elves! Yes, elves!!
Route: Loop | 20 mi
Gain: 1,000 ft
Surface: 20% gravel, 65% single-track, 15% paved path
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm tires or larger
eBike Friendly: No
Dropbar
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A ride that strings together some of the best drop-bar-gravel-riding mountain bike trails in the area. The Mrazek section is a “frickin” fabulous flowy downhill. This route is not subject to extreme moon dust like some of other mountain bike trails in the dead of summer.
Route: Loop | 28 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 40% gravel, 40% single track, 5% bike path, 5% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Fifty 50
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A route that is close in to central Bend, short in distance, and has a good variety of terrain to work on technical skills. This is a go-to route when time is limited, or the weather is colder, and you're looking for something a bit "flatter" where you can keep moving and warm.
Route: Loop | 21 mi
Gain: 1,200 ft
Surface: ~ 65% gravel, 10% single track, 15% bike path, 10% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
GravelCracker (The Classic)
5 Star Route
Sisters, Oregon
Explore one of the most diverse and scenic areas to ride in Central Oregon. Nothing too extreme. This ride is a true favorite!
Route: Loop | 45 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 40% unpaved, 40% single-track, 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm
eBike Friendly: No
GravelCracker (The Overlander)
5 Star Route
Sisters, Oregon
The ‘big brother” to the GravelCracker. Includes a traverse along the southeast shoulder of Mt. Jefferson through the 2003 B&B Complex burn area and a trip up to Round Lake (super scenic, but rough!).
Route: Loop | 77 mi
Gain: 4,800 ft
Surface: 50% gravel/dirt rd, 20% single-track, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
H2O
Development Route
Bend, Oregon
A quick and relatively easy training ride just west of Bend with a cool little bit of single-track that is rarely ridden. We use this route on days when we are looking for something close to home and just want to relax. There are one, maybe two, popper hills…but nothing more.
Route: Loop | 20 mi
Gain: 1,300 ft
Surface: ~ 70% gravel, 5% single track, 5% bike path, 20% paved road
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40 - 45 mm
eBike Friendly: No
Horn of the Metolius
5 Star Route
~ Sisters, Oregon
Explores the “Horn” of the Metolius river — the area defined by a sweeping 25 mile bend in the river — an area designated as “Wild and Scenic.” It’s a hard rugged ride with river hugging views.
Route: Loop | 53 mi
Gain: 4,500 ft
Surface: ~ 80% gravel, 10% single track, 10% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Extremely Remote
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
In Plain View
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
One of our “go to” fall and spring rides. It has no overheating big climbs and no chilly big descents, and packs in some fantastic views!
Route: Loop | 23 mi
Gain: 830 ft
Surface: 90% unpaved 10% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Into the Horn
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
Hear the Call of the Wild whispering your name? This route defines adventure; loads of wildlife, bold views and primitive forest roads.
Route: Loop | 43 mi
Gain: 3,500 ft
Surface: 50% primitive Forest Service roads, 50% hard packed gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Metolius Preserve
5 Star Route
~ Sisters, Oregon
Explore the quiet and beautiful Metolius Preserve with larch, fir, and pine trees. The colors in the fall are out of this world!
Route: Tootsie Roll | 14 mi
Gain: 800 ft
Surface: 50% gravel / double track, 50% single track
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Metolius Preserve + Bonus Lakes
5 Star Route
~ Sisters, Oregon
This is a really, really great route! The only reason it is not a 5 Star route is that it uses elements of three other 5 Star routes: the Metolius Preserve, Sherman’s March, and GravelCracker 85. We like this route in the fall (Octoberish) when the Larch trees are golden yellow. The route is not too demanding, but there is a significant amount of easy mountain bike single track
Route: Tootsie Roll | 28 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 75 % gravel, 25% single-track
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: No
Metolius Weekender
Bikepacking Route
Sisters, Oregon
A weekend bikepacking adventure around the Metolius River in Central Oregon. Spectacular views, secluded dispersed camping, and a spirit for exploration.
Duration: 2.5 Days
Route: Loop | 105 mi
Gain: 7,100 ft
Surface: 95% gravel, singletrack, hiking trail, and paved roads in and out of Sisters.
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Oktoberfest
Development Route
Bend, Oregon
Meander through the logging roads out to Tumalo Falls and back. Our favorite way to see the fall colors.
Route: Loop | 29 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 80% gravel / dirt roads, 10% single-track, 10% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45mm +
eBike Friendly: No
Paul’s Route
Development Route
Bend, Oregon
This route that takes in east and west Bend, includes some fun to ride elements rarely ridden, and has a long single track section along the Deschutes River that is absolutely gorgeous!
Route: Loop | 44 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: ~ 50% gravel, 30% single track, 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Sherman’s Waltz
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
Gravel Girl’s favorite ride with a fun visit to Camp Sherman, the fish hatchery, Round Lake, and a ride along the ridge line road that showcases the whole Sisters mountain range.
Route: Loop | 45 mi
Gain: 3,300 ft
Surface: 55% gravel, 10% single track, 35% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Rural
Tire Suggestion: 40mm
eBike Friendly: No
The Bishop
5 Star Route
~ Bend, Oregon
Get ready for a big ride with a bit of everything: gravel roads, forest service dirt roads, dropbar single-track, and some pavement.
Route: Loop | 100 mi
Gain: 7,000 ft
Surface: ~ 65% gravel , 20% single-track, 15% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm
eBike Friendly: No
