Peterson Ridge: Top Trails to Ride Near Sisters, Oregon

A trail in the mountains with trees and rocks.

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

e-bikes are NOT allowed
Trails are multi-use, so watch out for hikers and runners
There is no water. If you plan on doing the full 18-mile loop make sure you bring plenty of water.
The higher up the stacked loop system you go, the more technical it gets

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

Screenshot of Bend Mountain Bike Itinerary

4-Day Bend Mountain Biking Itinerary

Want help planning your trip? Download my 4-Day Bend Mountain Biking Itinerary! It includes my list of favorite trails, route recommendations for all levels, and tips on how to make the most of your adventure to Oregon. Grab it now!

Plan your trip!

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

Singletrack mountain bike trail through the forest at Peterson Ridge in Oregon with mountain and volcano skyline in distance

FAQs for riding Peterson Ridge

The Peterson Ridge trail network is located just outside of Sisters, Oregon. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Bend.

No, e-bikes are not allowed at Peterson Ridge.

There are a few places to park. This parking area is at the bottom, which accesses the easier trails or lets you do a bigger ride. If you just want the best views and techier riding, you can park at the top (but you’ll have to finish your ride on a climb!).

I rode Peterson Ridge in July and it was pretty hot, but not unbearable. I did bring 3 L of water in my hydration pack and drank most of it.

I’d say late spring through summer and early fall are the best times to ride Peterson Ridge, but always check the forecast before heading out. It can snow in late spring and early fall and it wouldn’t be fun getting caught out there in a snow or hailstorm!

Singletrack mountain bike trail through the forest at Peterson Ridge in Sisters Oregon — Much of Peterson Ridge is buff, fast singletrack but the higher up you go the more technical it gets (with better views!)

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.

See my gear favorites

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!

Peterson Ridge: Top Trails to Ride Near Sisters, Oregon

Quick Tips