This is a great hill if you are looking to travel up in elevation fro Phill's Trailhead. This is an…read moreuphill only trail, which is nice on those climbs when you are exhausted. You still may find a Jogger or two, but won't need to stop for downhill traffic much. The other reason I love this trail for uphill climbs is the steady elevation gain. Many of the other trials in the Phill's trail complex have a pretty inconsistent elevation gain and loss which is so frustrating. You make all of this progress pedaling uphill, then travel back down to find that you need to make up all that uphill again. There is much less of this with Ben's. This trail will link you over to the forest service road that takes you over buy the Whoops trail, Kent's trail or Phil's trail. So you will have plenty of options at the top depending on the mood you are in. If you have the energy, intermediate skills and a sense of adventure, try taking the Lower Whoops.. its epic! Here are a few links with information on this trail. Central Oregon Trail Alliance http://cotamtb.com/trails/ Moutain Bike Project https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/287080

This is hands down my favorite mountain bike trail in Bend. This is a downhill only trail that is…read morelocated beyond the Phils trail complex further up Skyliner road. You can reach it by taking trails up from Phil's trailhead, but it's quite an uphill climb. The skill level for the Whoops trail is intermediate to advanced. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner unless you want to fall off your bike. This trail has a ton of jumps and tables. I rarely hit the jumps myself, but you can just ride over them and still have a blast. Many of these tables and jumps have some baking turns right after them, so be on your A game when riding over them. This trail is higher elevation than the other trails so it takes a bit longer to thaw out. Since it is one of the most popular trails it is typically one of the first to get rutted out. There are a few drops a rock to run over on the trail, so be aware of that as well. One of my favorite features of this trail is the options that you have when riding it. What is great is that you can park at the bottom and ride up the forest road up to it if you are short on time. If it takes you longer than you guessed you can leave, or if you have time you can go again. This make is perfect for local who want to get in an evening ride after work. Many of the other trials are much longer, making it difficult to get a ride in if you work late, but the whoops is fun and quick. If you have all day, I like to park at Phil's Trailhead, ride up Bens, to the top of Whoops, and down whoops and down Phill's canyon trail. This is one fo the best Mt bike trail combos in town! Here are a few useful links Central Oregon Trail Alliance http://cotamtb.com/trails/ Mountain Bike Project https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/287383

This is a great alternative to Phil's Trailhead for mountain biking. This trailhead is located…read morewhere the Wanoga Snowpark is in the winter time. It is right off of the Cascade Lakes Highway halfway in between Bend and Mount Bachelor. There are several trails that start from this point and if you wanted to you could even ride down into Phil's Trailhead while only crossing one paved road to get there. The main trails from this trailhead are Tiddlywinks and Funner. These trails are a lot of fun, but more suited for intermediate riders. So if you're new to the sport, be cautious with these trails. The best way to bike from here is to shuttle, either with a friend or any of the shuttle companies in town. Since the trailhead is much higher in elevation than town, many people just ride back into Bend from here. The other thing I love about the trails from this trailhead is the conifers you find here. There is a good mix of Fir and Ponderosa trees that make the sights lush and green. If Phil's is busy and you want to mix it up, consider the trail from the Wanoga Trailhead. You won't regret it!

The name says it all, this trail is fun! Maybe even a little too fun. I myself tend to lean to the…read morecautious side when it comes to drops and jumps. If that sounds like you, you may want to take it easy on this trial. Luckily, nearly every gnarly section of this trial has a wimp out option. I take this option every chance I get. If you see a fork in the trail, that's your cue that a jump or drop off is on its way. Among the jumps and dropoffs, there are also some plank features that you can take if you are feeling skillful. This trail is an option to ride from the Wanoga Trailhead. It parallels the cascade lakes highway, which is great if you get injured. This trail is best to be shuttled as it has a pretty substantial elevation gain. Much like Tiddlywinks, it can take a while for the snow to clear before this trail is rideable. It may also be quick to get too sandy to ride. So avoid heading out here when it's too early or late in the season. If you are new to mountain biking it would be wise to avoid this trail or ride down the side of the highway if you're with friends. If you are skilled and looking for adventure, then you may love this trial. Here is a link to the rules and etiquette of this area https://bendtrails.org/ Here is a link to a good map and elevation for this trail. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/21540/funner-tiddlywinks Here is a link to the land management agency for this area. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3794824.pdf

This review is for "Phil's Trail" and not "Phil's Trailhead". This trail is beautiful, which for me…read moremakes it dangerous. So be careful. One of the reasons it's dangerous is that it's a fast straight trail with very beautiful sights. One minute you are clipping along, then you see a canyon, rock formation, or a cave and by the time you look back you are flying off the trail. So the first time you take this trail be sure to slow it down a bit. The trail starts at off of road 300 and ends at Phils Trailhead. Be warned that the first part of the trail is two ways and when it branches off from Kents trail turns to a downhill only trail. This is a recent change and I gotta say I love it! The start is pretty simple and level in elevation and nothing to be too impressed with. Then you hit the intersection where it meets Kents trail and things start to pick up. As you drop into what's called "Phil's Canyon" things get real fast, real quick. I have unintentionally caught some serious air here due to the bright sun and dark shadows blocking my vision. There are a few jumps and a small number of rocky sections but expect them to catch you off guard. Once you intersect with a jeep road, the trail slows down and you are wondering how you are still in one piece(if you actually are). This trial is best when shuttled from road 300 or riding uphill on Bens trail. As this trail is not very high in elevation it is a great one to ride early in the season. If you are new to biking, be ready to pull over for faster riders and take your time. Here is a link to some trail etiquette information about our area. https://bendtrails.org/ Here is a link to a good map and elevation information on this trail. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/26847/phils Here is a link to the land management agency that manages this area. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3794824.pdf

We tried to go to the lava lands visitor center hike and the gate was closed on July 10, 2025. So…read morewe made our way down to a separate path which had a parking lot that lead us along the river. The trail was wider than a car and could easily fit 3 people walking and a biker with ample space. We did 1 mile from the parking lot and back, not completing the 1.9 miles from the point of the sign we found to the north edge of the sunriver. We got to a point where it looked like you could drive up to the water fall. We went early in the morning 630 and so glad we had mosquito repellant because they literally were flying around us as we walked the whole way. I would definitely recommend putting on some as soon as you get out of the car.

This paved bike path starts at the Lava Lands Visitor Center. It is about 5.5 miles of pavement…read more The width of the path is about the same as a car lane on a road. If you are looking to get a scenic road bike ride in, but don't like having cars with angry drivers honking at you. This might be your kind of activity. This trail partially parallels the Deschutes river but does not have many opportunities to actually view the river. If you want to follow next to the river, there is a mountain bike trail in between the bike path and the river, but having a bike with shocks will be needed for it. There are many scenic bike trails in Bend, but not many offer the mellow paved biking experience with the natural feel of a mountain biking trail like this. When I want a ride that is smooth and dustless... this is where I go all of the time! Here is a link to the land management agency that maintains this trial https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recreation/bicycling/recarea/?recid=38394&actid=26 Here is a link to a good map for this path https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3813654.pdf

Anytime I have a friend that wants to learn to mountain bike, I take them to Marvins Garden Trail…read more This trail starts at Phil's Trailhead and ends at the COD Trail. If you really want to inspire yourself or a friend take them to the Lair and witness some gnarly jumps. I pee a little in my pants everytime I look at them. A good portion of the trail has some gradual elevation gain and loss that makes it rideable in the uphill and fun and fast in the downhill. I often fantasize about the Star Wars speeder bike scene when I am the ripping downhill on this section. This is a two lane trial and makes sure you stop for the uphill riders. There are a few jeep roads that cross paths with this trail that give you some options if you're needing a break from the singletrack for some reason. Lastly, there is a steep section in the middle of this trail that will have you huffing and puffing, but you make it, it has one of the best views of Bend from any other mountain bike trail. Overall, if you are looking for a short little exciting ride or have a friend who wants a proper intro to the Phil's Trailhead system, check this trail out for sure. However, if your looking for speed or berms you may want to try out some of the other trails that Central Oregon has for you. Here is a link to a website that has some trail etiquette information. https://bendtrails.org/ Here is a good link to a good map of this trail and some elevation information. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/26326/marvins-garden Here is a good link to the land management agency that manages this area https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3794824.pdf

It's a hike for those with good footing. Pets, children, and most people can do this hike. It goes…read moreup and down over lava beds in some portions. Probably not so good if it's been raining as there can be slippery parts. The reward is the Upper and Lower (two different paths, not well marked) Proxy Falls, which are breathtakingly beautiful. The Lower Falls has at the bottom, a lot of logs to cross and isn't recommended for some as it's difficult although it arrives at the base of the falls for that must-get photo opp. There are actually better view points before you get to the bottom. The Upper Falls, by contrast, is beautiful and the water frigid, temps chilly even in the middle of summer. Youngsters and oldsters alike can enjoy this hike but it's actually a moderate hike for some; know your limits as you're far away from help if you get stuck. There are a few picnic spots, and many wild huckleberries on the trail. Bring a water bottle if it's hot. Temps vary over 30F on the trail any time of the Spring or Summer. Yes, it's worth it! Note that this leg of road isn't good for long trailers or RVs, there are very sharp switchbacks that make them dangerous or even impossible to navigate the curves. Quite a bit of parking is available. There is a park fee, payable later or the Golden Age Pass makes it free as it's a National Forest resource.

Looove this trail! It's a short loop that takes you by 2 gorgeous waterfalls. The setting is…read morediverse and fun, starting off winding through a lava rock field and leading into the beautiful forest, off-shooting to both Lower and Upper Proxy Falls. If you read the info at the trailhead you'll see that the loop is meant to be a one way trek, however it seems that most missed that part as we encountered plenty of hikers coming at us. Not a biggie, as except for the lava section the trail is decently wide. You'll get a great view of Lower just past the directional sign, but I highly recommend if you're able to continue on down and right up the base of the falls. It's a bit steep heading down, and you've got to shimmy over and squeeze under a few downed trees, as well as using a massive downed tree-bridge to get across to the base. It's a bit of work, and probably not ok for everyone but definitely worth it. Lower Proxy is simply stunning and jaw dropping from right at the base. Upper is just a quick trip from the main trail, clearly marked by signage as well. While not quite the spectacle of Lower, it's definitely pretty and easily accessed. There are some picnic tables and a decent amount of shoulder parking at the head. The 1 1/2 mile trail is so much fun...it's like an adult playground...climbing around the rocks and trees, good times. From the gorgeous and varied scenery you encounter along the route to the stunning falls, Proxy Falls Trail is a don't miss.