Arguably one of the best rides in Central Oregon, this 30-mile out-and-back starts at Barclay Park in Sisters (roughly 20 miles northwest of Bend) and climbs past a diverse mix of scenery to expansive views on McKenzie Pass. Warm up on the gentle climb out of Sisters on McKenzie Highway—a two-lane road flanked with ponderosa pines. The climb steepens near mile 8 near Belknap Crater and Black Crater. After 11 miles, spin past Windy Point and vast fields of lava rock before the final climb to Dee Wright Observatory and the summit of McKenzie Pass. Park your bike and make the short hike to the top of the observatory for far-reaching views of Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson, and the Three Sisters.
The ideal time to ride this route is before McKenzie Highway is opened to motor vehicles in late spring/early summer (the road is typically free of snow and debris in late June). Check the Oregon Department of Transportation for highway conditions. Bring supplies with you—there is no water along the route, though restrooms are available at the summit.
-Mapped by Dan Jacobson
Position Format:
Datum:
Tracks
Bend, OR: McKenzie Pass Out-and-Back
Distance: 29.97 mi
Points: 519
Calories: none
Total Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
#
Distance
Instruction
Distance to next
1
0.00 mi
Start - Head south on Ash St.
Then go 0.03 mi
2
0.03 mi
Turn Right - Hood Ave.
Then go 0.43 mi
3
0.46 mi
Turn Left - McKenzie Hwy./OR 242
Then go 14.58 mi
4
15.04 mi
U-Turn - Follow the same route back to the starting point at Barclay Park
Points of Interest
Windy Point
Location: 44.289698, -121.762505
Mount Washington rises behind the lava field at Windy Point. The terrain levels as you pedal past Windy Point. Views extend across the expansive lava fields to several well-known Cascade peaks.
Photo 5
Location: Unknown
McKenzie Pass Road
Windy Point
Location: 44.289698, -121.762505
Belknap Crater: The terrain levels as you pedal past Windy Point. Views extend across the expansive lava fields to several well-known Cascade peaks.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
Peak finder at the Dee Wright Observatory. Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
Mount Jefferson rises in the distance. Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
North and Middle Sister. Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Lava Fields
Location: 44.260446, -121.795378
The final climb to Dee Wright Observatory and McKenzie Pass summit winds through lava fields.
McKenzie Highway
Location: 44.307728, -121.651354
The road travels through ponderosa pines. The route climbs past ponderosa forest on McKenzie Highway.
McKenzie Highway
Location: 44.304595, -121.727271
McKenzie Highway
Location: 44.307728, -121.651354
The route climbs past ponderosa forest on McKenzie Highway.
Views near Sisters, OR
Location: 44.290474, -121.554955
Warm up on the easy-going terrain west of Sisters. You'll ride past farmland and views of the Three Sisters from the plains.
Windy Point
Location: 44.289698, -121.762505
Curve in the road at Windy Point. The terrain levels as you pedal past Windy Point. Views extend across the expansive lava fields to several well-known Cascade peaks.
Windy Point
Location: 44.289698, -121.762505
The terrain levels as you pedal past Windy Point. Views extend across the expansive lava fields to several well-known Cascade peaks.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
McKenzie Pass (5,325 ft.): Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Views near Sisters, OR
Location: 44.290474, -121.554955
Warm up on the easy-going terrain west of Sisters. You'll ride past farmland and views of the Three Sisters from the plains.
Windy Point
Location: 44.289698, -121.762505
The terrain levels as you pedal past Windy Point. Views extend across the expansive lava fields to several well-known Cascade peaks.
Views near Sisters, OR
Location: 44.290474, -121.554955
Fifteen miles to Dee Wright Observatory. Warm up on the easy-going terrain west of Sisters. You'll ride past farmland and views of the Three Sisters from the plains.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Windy Point
Location: 44.289698, -121.762505
The terrain levels as you pedal past Windy Point. Views extend across the expansive lava fields to several well-known Cascade peaks.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
North and Middle Sister to the south. Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Views near Sisters, OR
Location: 44.290474, -121.554955
Warm up on the easy-going terrain west of Sisters. You'll ride past farmland and views of the Three Sisters from the plains.
Seasonal Closures
Location: 44.306407, -121.711564
Although the sign says 'Road Closed', the highway is open to cyclists on the weekends. McKenzie Highway is closed seasonally to motor vehicles.
McKenzie Highway
Location: 44.307728, -121.651354
The route climbs past ponderosa forest on McKenzie Highway.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
Dee Wright Observatory: Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
Views from McKenzie Pass
Location: 44.260200, -121.801064
North and Middle Sister from the Dee Wright Observatory. Park your bike on McKenzie Pass and make the short jaunt to Dee Wright Observatory. Built from lava rock in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the observatory offers far-reaching views of snow-capped volcanoes. Use the peak finder to identify the surrounding mountains.
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