PLACES
Outdoor opportunities
Spokesman file photo
Above, Steelhead Falls, located on the Deschutes River at Crooked River Ranch.
C
entral Oregon is known for its wide array of
world-class recreational possibilities, such as
climbing the crags of Smith Rock, biking its scenic
byways. hiking trails, golfing or fishing. Located in the
middle of the fun is Redmond, your hub for all that
Central Oregon has to offer.
Depending on the season, recreation enthusiasts have
easy access to road and mountain biking, hiking, camping,
climbing, horseback riding and just about any snow
sport you can think of. With so many possibilities there is
something for the adventurer in everyone.
Within the last decade, state scenic bikeway designations
and nonprofits such as the Central Oregon Trail Alliance
have turned Central Oregon into a premier biking
destination.
Biking the road
The Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway is a 37-mile, moderate
loop, officially beginning and ending in Bend’s Drake Park.
The loop wanders throughout Bend, Tumalo and Redmond
and affords its users panoramic views of the Cascade
Mountains.
The Sisters to Smith Rock Scenic Bikeway is 37 miles one
way, a moderate ride beginning in downtown Sisters and
ending at Smith Rock State Park in Terrebonne. For those
seeking more miles, simply turn around and head back to
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Sisters for a completely different set of views as you switch
your direction from east to west.
The McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway is a challenging 36-
mile ride out of Sisters on state Highway 242 that heads
west over McKenzie Pass and showcases the contrasting
forests of both sides of the Cascade Mountains. If you’re
here at the right time in late spring, you can ride the route
after it is plowed and before cars are allowed on the road.
For more information on these and many other rides
based in and around Redmond, visit www.rideoregonride.
com.
Biking the trail
Central Oregon trails provide breathtaking fun for riders
of all ages and abilities. From in-town, paved trails to loops
deep in the forest, Redmond has easy access to your off-
road two-wheeled fun.
The Dry Canyon Trail is Redmond’s easy, four-mile,
paved path lined with juniper groves and picturesque
rock cliffs. Beginning on the southern end at SW Quartz
Avenue, the trail also has a dirt path which parallels the
paved one.
The 4,100-acre Maston Area is located just south of Eagle
Crest on the Cline Butte Highway. Its 20 miles of mountain
bike trails are open in the winter and early spring, while
closed in the summer to protect the nesting grounds of