A good bike path should be safe, direct, and enjoyable and rideable by a 4 year old. The Haul and Rimrock trail mostly checks those boxes, making it my favorite route in all of Bend! I ride this route frequently to play pickleball at Widgi Creek, after the snow clears from the trails (usually some time in April). From Columbia Park, it takes me about 25 minutes to get to Widgi Creek on my ebike and it’s a great pre-game warm up. I often think of excuses to ride this route, such as seeing music or having a beer at 7th Mountain Resort, watching the sunset with friends at Lifty’s, getting a burger at The Row, having happy hour at the overlook, or bringing guests to the Visitor’s Center. This is also a great route to town for folks who are staying or living along the trail. The highlights along this route include Columbia Park, the Whitewater Park, Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room, overlooks with views of the river, OSU Cascades, Lifty’s/ Cascade Middle School/ Skyline Park and Sports Complex, Athletic Club of Bend, The Row, Loge, Good Dog Park, Widgi Creek Golf and Pickleball, 7th Mountain Resort, and the Visitor’s Center.
Overview of the Route:
Step 1: Columbia Park to Haul Trail
From Columbia Park, go southeast on SW Allen Rd and take a left on SW Shevlin Hixon Rd past the whitewater park. If you are going down the hill to the whitewater park as fast as traffic, it may be safer to take the middle of the lane and ride with traffic. Once you are slower than traffic, you should return to the right side of the road. Where SW Shevlin Hixon Rd takes a left, get on the paved path on the south side of the road in front of the Bend Armory. From here on out, you are riding off the road on a paved multi-use path. If you think you have to ride along a road, you have made a wrong turn somewhere. Continue along Simpson to the Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room and take a left on the paved path in front of Deschutes.
Step 2: Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room to SW Reed Market Rd
Continue west on the Haul Trail, crossing SW Columbia St. After the Deschutes Ridge business complex on the left, there is a natural area with great views of the river and Farewell Bend Park. There are a few rock outcroppings that make for a great picnic happy hour. Just make sure to pack out what you pack in. Continue southwest past the Pine Ridge Inn. To go to OSU Cascades, take a right at the next roundabout onto SW Chandler Ave. As you get close to Reed Market, the wide multi-use path becomes narrow and takes a 90’ turn to the right to connect with the sidewalks near the Reed Market Roundabout. Look for other users coming down the sidewalk- there is not enough room for people to pass here. Continue on the southeast side of the roundabout on the sidewalk to the crosswalk on SW Reed Market Rd. Be cautious- this intersection is very busy with traffic, although I’ve found that most drivers are paying attention to bikers/ walkers. A multi-use path tunnel under SW Reed Market Rd would greatly improve the safety of this crossing and help with traffic flow.
Step 3: SW Reed Market Rd. to Loge
To go to Lifty’s, Cascade Middle School, Skyline Park and Sports Complex, take a right onto Mt. Washington Dr. Shortly after crossing SW Reed Market Rd., Athletic Club of Bend is on your left. After passing Mt Bachelor Village and crossing SW Mt Bachelor Dr, the trail takes a 90’ turn to the left followed by a 90’ turn to the right to cross Mammoth Dr. Paying attention to the sharp turns in the trail is a distraction from paying attention to the traffic on Mammoth Rd. Use caution here. Ideally, the path would go straight and have great visibility of the road you are about to cross. For those who prefer dirt trails over paved, there is a fun dirt trail to the right here that parallels the Haul Trail. Continue on the trail towards the Braeburn development. As you approach SW Braeburn St. from either side, the trail takes some sharp turns, creating a potentially dangerous situation with people cutting corners coming from the other direction. I ring my bike bell in these areas as a warning to other path users. Ideally, the path would be straight with good visibility of traffic using SW Braeburn St. Continue on the path to Skyline Ranch Rd. To go to The Row, take a right on Skyline Ranch Rd. Cross Bachelor View Rd. to Loge.
Step 4: Loge to 7th Mountain Resort
After Loge, the trail veers left, away from SW Century Dr. and continues straight to Good Dog Park. Take a right on the trail (now also called Rimrock Trail), through the tunnel under SW Century Dr. To go to Widgi Creek Golf and Pickleball Club, at the next dirt road intersection with the trail, take a left past the gate to SW Century Dr. If the gate is closed, the path around it is very narrow and can be through mud and rocks: use caution. Take a right onto SW Century Dr and a quick left into Widgi Creek. USE CAUTION: cars are traveling at very high rates of speed but the visibility is good so you can see cars coming from far away. I would love to see the Haul Trail continue on the westside of SW Century Dr or include another tunnel to safely access Widgi Creek. A wider path past the gate would also help. Continue on the trail, climbing a steady hill that eventually starts to level off. Take a left through a tunnel under SW Century Dr. Unfortunately, once you cross SW Century Dr., the paved path ends. Take a left on dirt single track about ¼ mile to the 7th Mountain Resort. The trail would be a lot more accessible here if it was paved in the final stretch to 7th Mountain Resort. To go to the Visitor’s Center, go straight instead of turning left into the tunnel.
Some more about the Points of Interest along the way:
Columbia Park: A pirate ship and a horseshoe pit
Whitewater Park: lots of action!
Deschutes Brewery Taproom: Brewery tours are a must! They also have a food cart and beer garden.
Lifty’s: play some volleyball and have some tot-cho’s
The Row: enjoy a burger with golf course views
Good Dog Park: one of Bend’s favorite off-leash dog parks with river access
Widgi Creek Pickleball and Golf Resort: 10 indoor pickleball courts
7th Mountain Resort: Free music Fridays from May 23 – Aug. 29 from 5-8
Visitor’s Center: Access to lots of trails and interpretive signs