Twin Bridges Loop
The Twin Bridges Loop is part of the Three Sisters Scenic Bikeway.
Distance: 36.29 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 1,073 vertical feet
Starting and ending at Drake Park in the heart of downtown Bend, the Twin Bridges Loop is one of the most popular and scenic road cycling routes in Central Oregon. The Twin Bridges Loop covers 36 miles of rolling terrain and offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped Cascade mountains, rolling forests, and inspiring high desert terrain.
Download Route MapMcKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway
The official route begins at the Village Green Park in the center of Sisters. The vast majority of the route is on Oregon Route 242 (selected to be on the U.S. Register of Historic Places, March 2011).
Assuming you start in Sisters, you’ll have 8 miles of warmup as you head west past hay meadows and into the forest – a gently rising, mostly straight road. Then you’ll take a 90-degree turn at McGregor’s Curve, and the climb is on. The main ascent is 5 miles, and you’ll want to settle into a pedaling rhythm as you take deep, pine-scented breaths.
The road follows an 1860s wagon route, emerging from the forest at Windy Point, where you’ll get a great view of Mt. Washington and your first look at the vast, 2,000-year-old lava flow. Stop to process it all – and then keep going, because it gets better. The ascent gentles from here, and after a few more miles you’ll find yourself riding serpentine between lava-rock walls just before you reach the summit.
Download Route MapSisters to Smith Rock
Sisters to Smith Rock is an out-and-back road bike ride and is part of the Three Sisters Scenic Bikeway. Roll by pastures of grazing alpacas silhouetted against the snow-covered Cascade Mountains on your way to Smith Rock State Park, famous for its multi-colored rock formations. The elevation gain or loss is about the same from either direction. The route starts in downtown Sisters and passes through Terrebonne.
Distance: 36.69 miles (one way)
Elevation Gain: 597 vertical feet
Starting in the “Old West” town of Sisters, Oregon and ending at Smith Rock State Park outside the small town of Terrebonne, this route takes riders past a variety of historical sites, shows the gentle curves of the Deschutes River and frames spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains, ending with the dramatic walls of Smith Rock State Park.
Download Route MapBend to Sunriver – Cascade Lakes Highway
Distance: 35.5 miles (one way)
Elevation Gain: 2,689 vertical feet
If you’re in Bend and want to take a beautiful road bike ride and explore Sunriver, this route is your chance to be efficient with your recreation. You’ll climb the popular Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway toward Mt. Bachelor through the Deschutes National Forest. From there you’ll roll through more Ponderosa pine forest, cross the river, and reach Sunriver at mile 35.5 where you can enjoy fantastic restaurants, shopping, or even surf a standing wave!
Download Route MapBachelor Party
Distance: 44.8 miles (round trip)
Elevation Gain: 3,474 vertical feet
The Bachelor Party Out & Back is the classic road bike ride from Bend to Mt. Bachelor and back. While not for the faint of heart, this 44.8 mile out & back route along Century Drive is one the most popular and scenic road cycling routes in Central Oregon. The route starts and finishes in Drake Park in downtown Bend, and begins the 22 mile gradual ascent to Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort shortly after crossing the city limits. The climb from Bend to Mt.Bachelor winds through the Deschutes National Forest along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway offering breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains and surrounding Buttes. The entire route was repaved in the summer of 2012 with velvety smooth asphalt and wide bike lanes. Take a rest after the 22 mile climb at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort parking lot, and prepare for the exhilarating descent back to Bend.
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