Since 1992, Central Oregon Trail Alliance has focused on the development, protection and enhancement of the Central Oregon mountain biking experience. There are currently six COTA chapters, who collectively maintain more than 600 miles of singletrack trails. Whether you are new to mountain biking or an experienced mountain biker, COTA is a reliable resource to learn about mountain biking trails in Central Oregon. COTA provides a wide range of volunteer opportunities to build and maintain mountain bike trails. The Meetup app is the best way to sign up for trail work parties. The South Deschutes County chapter of COTA was founded in 2019 and brings together mountain bike enthusiasts from Sunriver, La Pine and the Three Rivers South communities. Known as SoDeCo., volunteers recently constructed 10 miles of new trails, accessible from Sunriver over Cardinal Landing Bridge and from Forest Road #41. This network of six trails offers a wide variety of riding experiences, from easy familyfriendly pathways, to fast flow trails, to advanced technical trails. Riders can also connect to the Wanoga and Cascade Lakes Welcome Station trail networks. In addition, the project involved restoring and preserving nearby elk habitat. There are three bike shops in Sunriver to assist mountain bikers with gear as well as where to explore. Easy trails: Swan Song, Black Rock, La Pine State Park, Catch and Release, Ticket to Ride, Kent’s, Ben’s, or Maston. What trail should every mountain biker try at least once? Every rider will give a different answer, given the miles of mountain bike trails. Phil’s Trails network is classic Central Oregon singletrack and a must-do destination for mountain bikers traveling through the area. The Deschutes River Trail is popular, beautiful, and can be accessed from the Sunriver bike paths. Within the Sunriver trails, try Royal Flush for a flowy ride with big jumps. Trails to explore in the: Summer: Sunriver Trails, Dinah-Moe Humm and Tyler’s Traverse, North Fork and Mrazek, Swampy Lakes, Peterson Ridge, Paulina Rim Trail, Mt. Bachelor Fall: All the summer trails plus Flagline and Met-Win. Winter: Wanoga Fat Bike Trails and Maston Spring: Horse Butte, Horse Ridge, Maston Recommended mountain biking resources: • Central Oregon Trail Alliance at www.cotamtb.com • Bendtrails.org for trail ratings, maps and current conditions • Trailforks is a good website to see the local developed trails • Mt. Bachelor Bike Park is a lift-served, mountain bike park with downhill trails for all ability levels — from novice riders to expert dirt jumpers. Photo courtesy of Mt. Bachelor Mountain Biking Trails for Every Skill Level 2024-25 | SUNRIVER MAGAZINE 42
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