Alpaca

5 Star Route / Bend, Oregon / Published: Oct 2018 / Updated: Mar 2025 / Directions

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Leading out! / March 2025

Maston single-track.

The no-traffic gravel road after leaving Maston.

The gravel before Tetherow Crossing.

The oldest standing home in Deschutes County.

The Deschutes River (Wild and Scenic Designation).

The BLM sector, ~ mile 17.

The 504 road, miles 17 to 19.

Lower Bridge road.

Old Mining water tower.

Alpaca Ranch

The Alpacas

Buckhorn road climb, ~ mile 25.

Great views of the Cascade mountains.

The start of Barr road, red cinder, mile 28.

The "pump & chunk" section of Barr, about 4 miles in length.

At the Gerking intersection, back on "Cadillac" gravel.

Rolling in easy...

A last bit of dirt road.

Route:

Loop | 36 mi

Gain:

1,400 ft

Surface:

60% gravel, 5% single track, 35% pavement

Technical Difficulty:

Demanding

Max Gradient:

+8% / -5%

Sustained Gradient:

5% over 1 mile

Climb Ratio:

0.4

Effort:

2 (out of 5)

Navigation:

Attention Required

Locale:

Urban Backcountry

Tire Suggestion:

50 mm+

Options:

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Alpacas are a smaller version of a llama, with fire-resistant, hypoallergenic, water-resistant, silky fur. They spit when threatened; they orgle (a humming sound) when curious. They do not shit where they eat but rather in group piles. And they were domesticated by the Incas more than 6,000 years ago.

And in this ride, you are going to see plenty of them! (Central Oregon is in the thick of things when it comes to the alpaca population in the United States!)

But if seeing alpacas isn’t a good enough reason to get on a bike, how about sweeping views of Mt Bachelor, the Three Sisters, and Mt Jefferson? Or 2 crossings of the scenic Deschutes River? Or a whole lot of gravel roads slicing through farms and BLM land?

But, before you hit the download key on the GPS, let us warn you: this ride contains four miles of “chunk and pump” which will leave some of you crying like a toddler who had their candy ripped off by an older brother.

This route is great for cold weather riding because it shouldn’t hold too much snow (it’s low and sunny). This is not the ride to pick when moon dust season is here. (Ah, that could be summer, maybe sooner.)

Map

Brown = gravel / dirt road

Blue = single track

Red = paved road

Purple = paved bike path

GPX Download Version 5.0

Ride Details

When We Like to Ride This

Late-fall to mid-spring. This route is really best on a warm winter day (50 degrees plus) with the sun out and bright. The “pump and chunk” section can be moon dust hell in the summertime. The route needs moisture in the ground, thus it is rideable in the fall after several freeze-thaw cycles.

Terrain & Riding

This route is classic Central Oregon High Desert riding. Sweeping Cascade views, farms, ranches and juniper trees everywhere. It’s the perfect blend of urban backcountry riding (if there is such a thing).

The ride has a little bit of everything:

Some easy (mostly) mountain bike singletrack in the Maston area. There are a few short rocky sections (20–30 yards) that some may prefer to walk.
Some smooth pavement sections have a road-bike feel but also come with a bit of traffic, so we recommend riding single file with a red blinky light.
Stretches of true gravel road.
As well as two rugged, unimproved BLM road sections where picking the right line is key. Riders with solid technical skills will find the entire route rideable.

What makes this ride truly special? The stunning Cascade mountain views—especially when snow-capped—and some of the largest, most impressive old-growth junipers in Central Oregon. Twisted, gnarled, and full of character.

The Start

Lat / Long: 44.211362, -121.302686

Maston Trailhead Parking area. Pit Toilets.

Food & Water

None.

Notes & Options

Route Notes

In March 2025 we made a significant update to this ride guide. (1) The ride now starts at the Maston Trailhead. (2) The route has been updated to avoid any private property conflicts.
We recommend 50 mm or wider tires, as they provide better stability on the singletrack in Maston and the “pump and chunk” terrain along Barr Road. Riders with strong technical skills and the power to navigate sandy sections on Barr Road can manage with 45 mm tires, but wider is preferred.

This ride to take a little longer than you expect due to the single-track and the “pump and chunk” section.
Recommend a red blinky light as the route has several sections with moderate vehicle traffic.

Comments

Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!

Videos

The Ride! Alpaca V4

A quick 2-minute video of what to expect on your ride! This ride video is slightly different than the Version 5 route. But it is very indicative of what to expect.

Podcasts

Oldest Structure in Deschutes County and Homesteading

We’re going to learn about the oldest existing structure in Deschutes County and how homesteading impacts us today. Joining us once again is Kelly Cannon Miller, the Executive Director of the Deschutes Historical Museum and Vanessa Ivey the Manager of the Deschutes Historical Museum. [...]

Controversial Juniper Trees

The juniper tree is an iconic tree across Central and Eastern Oregon and yet, in some places they are being removed. Find out the real scoop about this unique tree from Gena Goodman-Campbell who is the Stewardship Director at ONDA (Oregon Natural Desert Association) where she works to engage [...]

Keep it Local! Learn More

Tumalo Food Court and Coffee Shop

If you pass through Tumalo on your way to/from this ride, be sure to stop in Tumalo. Two suggestions: (1) on the way out, stop at Tumalo Coffeehouse, or (2) on the way back, stop at The Bite Tumalo, an outside food court.

But … most importantly, “Spend Where You Ride”. It is super-important to support local establishments like these.

Ridden and Reviewed by:

KevinE / Team Dirty Freehub

He should have “Never Stop Exploring” tattooed on his chest! He loves adventures on bikes and is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.

LindaE (aka Gravel Girl) / Team Dirty Freehub

She loves a good day of gravel, like most people like a good book. She’s always amused by the outdoors and the wild adventures. Gravel Girl is a Co-Founder of Dirty Freehub.