Peterson Ridge: Top Trails to Ride Near Sisters, Oregon

A few years back, I spent a summer riding as many trails as I could around Bend, Oregon and one of my favorite days on the bike was exploring the Peterson Ridge trail network in nearby Sisters.
Peterson Ridge is a stacked-loop system, so you can keep it short and mellow or go big with the full outer loop, which clocks in at just under 18 miles. I thought the trails were really well laid out with a nice mix of flow, a touch of tech, and some beautiful views the higher you climb.
In this post, I sharing everything you need to know about riding Peterson Ridge, including my favorite trails, route tips, and a few things to keep in mind before you go. (And sorry about the lack of photos—I must’ve been too in the zone to stop and take any!)
Quick Tips
For mountain biking at Peterson Ridge
TWW Take
Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂
Fun-ness Factor
Trail Variety
Average Difficulty

4-Day Bend Mountain Biking Itinerary
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Planning your ride at Peterson Ridge
Best trails to hit
The Peterson Ridge mountain bike trail network has almost 40 miles of trail, and honestly? They’re all pretty good! The singletrack is set up as a stacked loop system, which makes it easy to do any length of ride from a short 2-mile pedal all the way up to 20, 30, or even 40 miles.
- Peterson Ridge Trail East (beginner)
- Peterson Ridge Trail West (intermediate)
Tip: The higher up you go, the better the panoramic views of the Three Sisters, Broken Top, & Mt. Washington!
Route recommendation
- PRT – Up East Down West (intermediate) – This route follows the entire Peterson Ridge Trail by climbing up the east side and descending down the west. I definitely recommend doing the loop clockwise or else you’ll be climbing most of the techy sections. The best views are up near the top!
- Shorter options – Since this is built on a stacked loop trail layout, there are lots of options for cutting your ride shorter. Just take one of the several cross-over trails.
Peterson Ridge Trails Map

FAQs for riding Peterson Ridge

Looking for some friendly competition? The Sisters Stampede is a mountain bike race that takes place each year at Peterson Ridge on Memorial Day weekend. The race is open to everyone and offers two courses: a 14-mile loop and a 27-mile loop. Many riders do take it seriously while others do it just for fun. In addition to the race, there’s also a free kids’ race, a silent auction, and a post-race party. You can learn more about the Sisters Stampede here.
Need gear recs?
Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.
I really enjoyed my day out on the trails out at Peterson Ridge. I particularly like how they built it in a stacked loop system, so riders of all levels and abilities can experience the trails. I chose to do the full 18-mile loop, but there are lots of ways to make your ride shorter (or longer!). I do recommend riding down the upper section of Peterson Ridge Trail West, though, for the awesome views. If you head to Peterson Ridge, let us know your thoughts and experience in the comments below!
Have you explored the mtb trails at Peterson Ridge? What did you think of the stack-looped system? What’s your favorite route to ride? Leave a comment below!
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