Central Oregon: Bend : Mountain Biking : MBPost

A Mountain Biking Mecca and America's Top MTBing Town

Some of the fun on Old Dirty Pirate, part of the C.O.D. Trail.

The town of Bend, Oregon, is the hub of an area known as an outdoor activities paradise. With world class fly fishing, skiing, white water rafting and kayaking, hiking and camping, mountaineering, rock climbing, as well as hundreds of miles of off road biking trails, some just outside your door and all within an hour's drive, both locals and guests alike simply find this Central Oregon spot irresistible and unparalleled.

Riding the Descutes River Trail.

The sparse pines and manzanita along Phils.

With somewhere around 300 days of sunshine per year, this high desert region is one of the finest mountain biking destinations in the West. Many of the trails are bike user built and maintained and provide an often, "just right" combination impressive flow and technical rocky stretches. Keep your eyes peeled and you may discover some crazy man-made features and stunts scattered about. Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) in cooperation with the USFS and other user groups keep the surfaces and features in top condition as well as advocate for trail use and development.

Drake Park in town along the Deschutes.

The town of Bend, a place that emerged from and was supported for much of its history by timber and agriculture, has transitioned nicely into a vacation destination. One can enjoy world renowned golf resorts, top shelf cuisine, shopping, micro-brews and pubs that provide a tasty post-ride rest stop, and great local music talent.

Old town Bend.

If locales such as Moab, Crested Butte, Whistler, Tahoe, or Sedona are on your riding bucket list, you should scratch in Central Oregon with a stay in or around Bend. You won't be disappointed.

All roads lead to Bend

It's not called Central Oregon for nothing. Pretty much in the middle of it all, Bend is 2-3 hours from the metropolitan areas of Portland, Salem and Eugene in the Willamette Valley. It is accessible from the more remote and rural portions of the state via mostly 2-lane highways, some of which take you through other great biking and outdoors locations.

From Portland, it's a three hour drive along the 26 to 97 route. From Salem, head east through the Cascades on 22, connect up with 20 and drop into Bend from the north on 97. From Eugene, head east on the 126/242/20/97 combination. From the north in the Gorge, head south from the Dalles on 197/97 or from Biggs down 97 straight into Bend. From the east, 218, 26 and 20 will get you to your destination.

Lodging and camping opportunites

Everything from very remote and primitive camp spots up to 4+ star resort locations are available in and around Bend. Some locations are an easy bike to one or more of the terrific trail systems. Tumalo State Park offers reasonable amenities. Various vacation and golf resorts offer more pampering and activities.