THE BULLETIN • FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 B9
Columbia Park access closure
As of July 22, Deschutes River access is closed due to safety concerns and to prevent further erosion to the river
bank. The access point will be closed until further notice. For more information visit bendparksandrec.org
72%
Central
Oregon
reservoir
levels
Madras
25%
83%
Haystack
Sisters
86%
Prineville Ochoco
Redmond
Bend
60%
Jeremy Dickman/For The Bulletin
Bulletin Outdoors Writer Mark Morical rides his mountain bike at Peterson Ridge on Sunday.
Biking
Continued from B1
While the trails at Peterson
Ridge are somewhat similar
to trails west of Bend — both
have gradually sloped single-
track cutting through a pon-
derosa pine forest — what sets
Peterson Ridge apart are nu-
merous Cascade peak views
and a litany of loop options in
a relatively small area.
More than 15 loop options
are possible, varying in dis-
tance from 1.4 miles to 20.8
miles. This makes the area
welcoming to a variety of skill
levels, from beginners looking
for a quick, easy ride, to more
advanced riders seeking to
push themselves.
Spring and fall are the
best times of year to ride at
Peterson Ridge, as some of
the trails become quite dusty
in the summertime, much
like the Phil’s Trail network
west of Bend.
On Sunday, after riding for
several miles, we arrived at
an overlook where we could
take in the dramatic views of
Middle Sister and North Sis-
ter. A scramble up some rocks
provided a view of the vast
forest of ponderosa pines and
glimpses of other peaks such
as Black Butte, Black Crater,
Three Fingered Jack and
Mount Washington.
We continued climbing
along the edge of the ridge
until we arrived at yet an-
other viewpoint junction, this
one called Peak View. From
there, at the far south end of
the ridge, we could see Mount
Jefferson as well as other
peaks. We had climbed nearly
1,000 feet in about 8 miles
and were ready for some
downhill.
We turned onto the Top
Rung connector trail to link
up to the PRT Middle and
48%
Sunriver
Crane Prairie
Peterson Ridge trails
Prineville
Directions: From Bend, take U.S. Highway 20 to Sisters. Turn left on
Elm Street. The trailhead is about a half-mile south off Elm Street, on
the left.
Length: Loop options of 2 to 20 miles.
Elevation gain: Up to 1,000 feet.
Trail features: Nearly 30 miles of singletrack. East side offers unique
trail with banked corners and small technical areas. West side is a bit
more technical, with commanding views of Middle Sister and North
Sister along the ridge.
Season: Spring through fall.
PRT East trails, then began
descending through open
sagebrush country and back
into the ponderosa pine for-
est.
The east trail features a sec-
tion of banked corners and
up-and-down dips through
an old canal, a fun stretch that
showcases the ingenuity of the
volunteers who built the trail.
After that section the trail
steepened, and we picked up
lots of speed as we headed
back toward the trailhead.
We negotiated a few technical
rock sections, but for the most
part the trail was smooth sin-
gletrack back into Sisters.
We only encountered a few
other mountain bikers and
some hikers on the 16.5-mile
ride, as Peterson Ridge is of-
ten less crowded than trails
closer to Bend.
While the Bend area has
more miles of singletrack, Sis-
ters offers an escape from the
crowds and a dynamic trail
system designed will all ages
and skill levels of mountain
bikers in mind.
27%
Wickiup
La Pine
Crescent
Crescent Lake
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
Clarinda Simpson/The Bulletin
Reporter: 541-383-0318,
mmorical@bendbulletin.com
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