Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Riding Loops

I have received several questions about riding loops out of Sunriver and I will post some of mine here.  Please respond with other loops.

Blackrock Loop (approx. 1:15 hrs):  A short, flatish 12 mile loop.  Cross the train tracks behind Owners' Storage as shown on the map.  A trail will lead to 700 and then 4001 which will take you to Lava Lands parking lot.  Access Blackrock from west side of parking lot (well marked).  Ride Blackrock to the end and take Benham Falls trail back to Sunriver.  (Note: for those who want a little extra, incorporate the the 1 mile road to the top of Lava Butte and enjoy the great views) 

Larsen to Storm King to DRT (approx. 2 hrs): My favorite two hour ride from Sunriver.  A 22 mile route with an 800 ft climb in the first seven miles followed by fifteen miles of moderate downhill (bottom of t-winks and storm king) and a beautiful, flatish finishing stretch (DRT).  Start at Cardinal bridge and then up 280 to 4130.  Access Larsen off of 4130 as indicated on map and take it to tiddlywinks then to Storm King.  From Storm King take the road to Aspen then ride back to Sunriver on the Deschutes River Trail.  Here is the garmin tape: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106212386
   
Around Kiwa Butte (approx. 3 hrs):  a 27 mile route with a 1500 ft climb on fire roads for the first ten miles followed by seventeen miles of downhill (t-winks) and flatish single track (storm king + DRT).  Start at Cardinal bridge up 280 to 4130 to 4133.  4133 intersects Kiwa Butte Trail (well marked) on the western side of Kiwa Butte.  Take Kiwa Butte to Tiddlywinks and then to Storm King.  From Storm King take the road to Aspen then ride back to Sunriver on the Deschutes River Trail.  Here is the garmin tape:   http://connect.garmin.com/activity/105474166


You can ride this loop to Funner which is slightly longer (30 miles total) by following t'winks to the Wanoga trailhead and then catching Funner.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/360474440.


If you have all day (approx. 4 hrs): A forty mile loop with 3000 ft. of cumulative elevation gain, great views, and a fun, technically challenging downhill on Funner.  Start at Cardinal Bridge and then up 280 to 4140 to 4180 to 4188 and arrive at Edison Snopark.  From Edison take Dinah Moe Humm trail (trail head well marked) and eventually intersect Tiddlywinks on the north side of Kiwa Butte at which point go left toward Wanoga Snopark.  From Wanoga take Funner to Storm King and then return to Sunriver on the Deschutes River Trail.  Here is the garmin tape: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/110865659     

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

First version map

Click for map --> https://www.dropbox.com/s/7mcz4j80hu20avz/sunriver_mtnbk_trails.pdf?dl=0

I have been mountain biking out of the north end of Sunriver for years.  Originally, I would travel with little or no instruction and would frequently become lost and spend hours finding my way.  Speaking with other riders, it was clear I was not the only one having trouble.  I soon discovered GPS and found a variety of maps from the Forest Service and other sources.  However, the signage on the roads and trails is horribly incomplete and most of the maps are inaccurate or out of date.  I have added pages of hand written notes to these maps over time and decided recently that I should put all of my map fragments, notes, and GPS findings into a single map.

Other than the well-maintained Deschutes River Trail (DRT) and Blackrock Trail, the trails in this area are a series of loosely interconnected marked and unmarked routes, fire roads, bridges, and cutovers.  With the exception of those two trails, the route markers are generally poorly maintained, although they improve the closer you ride toward Bend in the north.

This is my first version of the map and I invite comments from other riders in order to improve it.  I have superimposed the roads and trails over a topographic map which I obtained online.  This will give the rider a sense for the elevations they can expect.



I hope this effort will provide confidence to riders to explore the area further, more thoroughly enjoy their rides, and ultimately lay down new and better marked mountain bike-specific trails in the area.

Cheers and happy riding!

Click for map --> https://www.dropbox.com/s/7mcz4j80hu20avz/sunriver_mtnbk_trails.pdf?dl=0