The Bend Urban Trails System, developed and managed jointly by the Bend Park & Recreation District and the City of Bend, connects our community and encourages recreation and non-motorized transportation throughout the year.

Read on below for information on xc skiing, snowshoeing and trail snow removal for winter outings.

Trail Snow Removal

If Bend should have a snow event of 2 inches or more, Park Services will prioritize snow removal starting with our recreation centers and district buildings, facility parking lots and rights-of-ways.  Depending on crew availability and the severity of the storm, crews will then work to remove snow from the following trails:

• Riverbend and Farewell Bend parks
• Drake Park pathways
• Pine Nursery Park Loop Trail
• Alpenglow Community Park
• Cascade Highlands Trail from Overturf OLA to Skyline Ranch Rd.
• Coyner Trail from Ponderosa Park to Juniper Park.
• Discovery Trail from Clearwater Dr. to Skyliners Rd. and from McClain Dr. to Shevlin Park.
• Larkspur Trail from Bear Creek to Neff Rd. through Pilot Butte State Park.
• West Bend Trail along Galveston and Skyliner Rd. between 17^th to Skyline Ranch Rd.
• Haul Road Trail from McKay Park to the LOGE Bend hotel.
• Pioneer Park to the First Street Rapids Bridge.

Please be patient during heavy snows.

Cross-country Ski & Snowshoe Opportunities

When there’s adequate snow cover on the ground, Bend has parks and trails that work well for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing include Shevlin Park, Skyline Sports Complex, Riley Ranch Nature Reserve and the Cascade Highlands Trail. All have feature surfaces that are relatively level and some feature connections into the U.S. Forest Service trail system.

• Skyline Sports Complex is groomed for cross-country skiing; no other parks or trails are groomed. Learn more about Skyline grooming below.
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are allowed in all parks during the day or in the evening by moonlight or headlamp. Most parks close at 10:00 p.m.
• Shevlin Park and Riley Ranch close at dusk and are not available for evening recreation.
• During heavy snows, Riley Ranch parking lots may not be a priority to clear.

Let’s ski! Cross-country Ski Grooming at Skyline Sports Complex

Cross-country ski grooming at Skyline Sports Complex is done by XC Oregon community volunteers with the permission of Bend Park and Recreation District. All funding for the grooming equipment, gas and maintenance is 100% paid for by the XC Oregon 501c3 non-profit organization. You can learn more about XC Oregon and support in-town grooming through a tax-deductible contribution via XC Oregon’s website.

Please check back here for updates on most recent grooming status so you know what to expect when you visit.

• Please be patient during big storms and adverse weather.
• Grooming is contingent on snow conditions and volunteer resources.

Guidelines for groomed cross-country ski trail use:

• IMPORTANT: Keep dogs and foot/snowshoe/bike traffic off groomed ski trails.
• Use at own risk.
• Ski under control and be respectful of others.
• Step off trail when taking a break and announce when passing as courtesy.
• Lights will be on until 8:30 pm. The park closes at 10:00 p.m.
• Trails are open to all skiers unless there is a scheduled event.
• Learn more about Skyline Sports Complex.

For your winter walking, hiking and biking adventures, here’s a few recommendations.

Pine Nursery Park Trail
Location: Northeast Bend
Trail Length: 1.4 miles
Surface: Paved
Accessibility: Yes
Off-Street Parking & Restrooms: Pine Nursery Park
Cleared of snow: yes

One of the newer trails in Bend, Pine Nursery Trail is a great loop trail anytime of year, but especially in winter because east Bend tends to get less snow and Park Services regularly removes snow from its surface. Relatively level, the trail offers great views of the Cascades as it gently meanders through the park.

Deschutes River Trail: Awbrey Reach
Location: Northwest Bend
Trail Length: 3.9 miles
Surface: Unpaved
Accessibility: No
Off-Street Parking & Restrooms: Sawyer Park
Cleared of snow: no

This northernmost section of the Deschutes River Trail is constructed on top of the buried Tumalo irrigation canal. It has an unpaved surface and includes a few moderate hills. Along the middle stretch of this reach, the river drops into a deep canyon, but the trail stays high on the canyon wall, offering spectacular views of the river below and of the Three Sisters in the distance. A steep climb up the Archie Briggs Canyon Trail connects to Mt. Washington Drive. Visitors can best access the trail from Sawyer Park. There is also limited on-street parking at Sawyer Uplands Park with a connecting route down to the river trail.

Larkspur Trail
Location: Northeast Bend
Trail Length: 1.8 miles
Surface: Paved and unpaved
Accessibility: Yes, some portions
Off-Street Parking & Restrooms: Pilot Butte Park & Larkspur Park
Cleared of snow: yes

The Larkspur Trail extends between Pilot Butte State Park and Larkspur Park, passing through Pinewood Natural Area. Both Pilot Butte and Larkspur parks have ample parking and restroom facilities; Larkspur Park is also the site of the Bend Senior Center and the Rotary Centennial All Children’s Playground. Add an additional mile by climbing the trail to the summit of Pilot Butte or proceed north from the park on newly paved pathways to Neff Road.

Trail Management
The Bend Urban Trail System and the Deschutes River Trail are managed by the Bend Park & Recreation District.

Contact:

If you have any questions regarding park maintenance, please contact Park Services: