This paved path would provide a safe way to travel between the southern boundary of Bend to the Lava Lands Visitors Center, running parallel (but separate) to Highway 97. Public comments are welcome via email until May 8 to cristina.peterson@usda.gov​. Use subject line, Paved Path.

The Deschutes National Forest Press Release in PDF format with active links can be found below.

​The scoping notice can be found here.

Ecological thinning of our overly dense forests is conducted to reduce vegetation and growth on the forest floor, which leaves less fuel for wildfires. This work is especially critical in the forest adjacent to Bend, which happens to be some of our favorite riding areas.

The following trails within the Euro Stewardship contract area are temporarily closed for the safety of trail users as well as the safety and efficiency of timber harvesting and forest restoration operations: 

• Lower Whoops, Pine Drops, EXT, the northwest portion of Storm King, and Helipad (upper Phil's from Whoops bench to 300 road)
• Trails are closed Monday – Friday. Open Saturday, Sunday & federal holidays. 
• The 300 Road is currently closed also but will reopen once road reconstruction work has been completed.
• Beginning April 1st, a portion of the Forest Service Road (FSR) 4610, 4601-300 and 310 roads will be closed 7 days a week.

Please use caution and obey the closures! Your cooperation will mean the contractors can work more efficiently, ultimately resulting in the trails being reopened sooner.

Map and more info can be found here.

ALSO: Prescribed Fire Season is Here
With warmer temperatures approaching, fire managers on the Deschutes National Forest will also be gearing up for multiple prescribed burns planned for our area. The use of prescribed fire in Central Oregon’s fire-adapted ecosystems helps clear out small trees and brush that acts as wildfire fuel, and it also enhances wildlife habitat and plant life.

Throughout the next two-to-three months, you may see some smoke and other temporary trail closures, depending upon the prescribed burning locations. Make sure you're signed up for DCFP's newsletter to receive updates here.

Membership matters! But why?

• Trails don't build or pay for themselves - as much as we wish they could!
• Building and maintaining MTB trails over 3 counties with 6 operating chapters takes both financial and volunteer resources
• As a non-profit, memberships and donations pay for the lion’s share of our annual budget
• Land managers like the USFS & BLM have had continued budget cuts over the years and we receive no financial support from them. In some cases COTA donates money to get things done, like the new footbridge over the south fork of Tumalo Creek and various NEPA/environmental studies
• Membership numbers matter when representing how many users want and support trails when:
  • Advocating for trails with local land managers
  • Advocating with state officials 
  • Pitching grants

Now through April 30th, new/renewing memberships at the $100 or greater level receive an embroidered COTA logo trucker hat + membership & fun stickers! If you can step up for $100+, that’s great. But smaller memberships make a big difference too, so do what you can, if you can.

Interested in serving on the COTA Board? Elections are coming up in May. Yes, being a board member requires a time commitment, at least 15 hours a month, but there’s just no better way to get involved and influence the current and future mountain biking efforts here in Central Oregon (and have fun while doing it). Board positions are 3 year terms.

Check out the Board Job Description here to see what being on the board entails. This election cycle has 3 at-large Board positions, plus the Madras Chapter/Board member and SoDeCo Chapter/Board member spots. Interested? Complete the Nomination Form here by April 30.
 
The election process timeline:

• Now through April 30th, 2021, end of day: Nomination submission period open. 
• May 1st-4th: Election ballot assembled.
• May 5th: Ballots emailed to all current COTA members.
• May 19th, end of day: Ballot submission period closes.
• May 20th-23rd: Ballot tally period.
• May 24th (or before): All candidates notified of election results.
• June 15th: All new, incoming Board members introduced at the Annual Members Meeting, held on Tuesday evening, June 15, 2021, location TBD. A short Board meeting will follow the Members meeting.

Any questions, please email the 2021 COTA Elections Coordinators, Darlene Henderson or Kelly Burke.

Check out this great article written by Annie Fast as she shares the who's, what's and why's of our Wanoga winter fat bike trails. Article link here.

Effective January 27, several trails will be CLOSED Monday-Fridays into spring, 2021, so forest thinning projects can be conducted safely. In a nutshell + map below...

What trails are closed:
- Lower Whoops
- Pine Drops
- Upper Phil's Trail (aka Helipad), from Whoops bench area to the 300 road
- EXT (runs parallel to the 300 road from base of Pine Drops to Phil's)
- Portion of Storm King, from Whoops bench area to forest road 4615

When: Trails, and roads within, are closed Monday at 12am to Friday at 3pm. All areas and trails open Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays

Note: 300 road also is currently closed but will reopen once road reconstruction work has been completed.

​See below for map and press release from Deschutes National Forest, dated January 27, 2021.

DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST PRESS RELEASE
​Contact: Jean Nelson-Dean, Public Affairs Officer, Deschutes National Forest, 458-231-1242
Date: January 27, 2021                   
Trail Closures to Begin for Public Safety
Trail closures west of Bend to allow for timber sale harvest and restoration work
 
Bend, Ore.- Beginning this Thursday, several trails on the Deschutes National Forest will be fully closed for the safety of forest users and for the safety of the timber operators doing timber harvesting and forest restoration work in the Euro Stewardship contract area.
 
The trails within the Euro Stewardship contract area will be closed to all visitors, including all trail users. .  Euro Stewardship contract area is located just west of Bend, OR and is part of the West Bend Project and is located within the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration boundary.
Trail closures will occur on the following trails: Lower Whoops, Pine Drops, EXT, the northwest portion of Storm King from the junction with Forest Road 4615 and the junction with Phil’s Trail, and the western-most portion of Phil’s between the junction with EXT (near Forest Road 300) and it’s western terminus at the junction with Pine Drops, Upper and Lower Whoops, and Skyliners trails.
 
Trail closures will be in place on Mondays beginning at 12:00 a.m. through Fridays until 3 p.m. Trails will be open to the public beginning Fridays at 3:01 p.m. through Sundays until 11:59 p.m. and all Federal holidays. Trail closures will remain in place until work is completed in the area. The public will be notified when the trails reopen. Forest Road 300 also is currently closed but will reopen once road reconstruction work has been completed.
 
Euro Stewardship contract includes thinning of trees and mastication and/or mowing of brush and small trees.  T2, INC. located out of Sweet Home, OR was awarded the contract. The primary objectives of this project are to help maintain and restore forest and ecosystem health and contribute wood products to the local and regional industry.  Through the thinning of trees and mastication of brush, followed by prescribed fire Euro Stewardship will help create a forest that is more resilient to fire, insect infestations and disease.
 
The project was developed in collaboration with the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project and other stakeholders. 
 
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GET AND KEEP ACCESS TO MORE TRAILS.
COTA advocates tirelessly for new trails and protects access to existing trails.

SUPPORT TRAIL BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE.
Your membership dollars help us build and maintain hundreds of miles of trails in Central Oregon each year.

TOGETHER WE HAVE MORE POWER.
More members strengthen our voice when we talk to land managers, politicians and writing grants.

KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING FIRST.
Members are kept up to date on advocacy issues, events, races and rides in our region.

BE PART OF A COMMUNITY.
Meet and ride with like-minded mountain bikers who support fun, sustainable, legal trails.

Sign up here and chip in for trails!

Matt Prymak of Bend! Matt held the winning raffle ticket for our fundraiser to pay for winter trails grooming costs and to fund more trails. 

Thanks to EVERYONE who supported COTA with a raffle ticket purchase. Your generosity far exceeded our expectations, and we were able to raise a whopping $10,575!

These funds will be used to:

• Groom approved trails. Prepping snow-packed fatbike trails requires snowmobiles and unique grooming equipment, plenty of gas and oil, machine maintenance, equipment storage and insurance. 
• Add new trails. It’s challenging and time-consuming to get new trails approved by the US Forest Service. We’re proposing a new 4 mile loop, dubbed ‘Saddle Ride,’ that winds over the saddle of nearby buttes. NEPA (environmental) studies and other expenses that may be required are often partly or wholly funded by COTA (via your donations and memberships) to help get projects to the finish line.
• Share the trails. Our winter trails are open to fatbikes, snowshoers, cross-country skiiers and dogs - woof!

Our sincere thanks to Fatback Bikes, who generously donated a brand-new 2021 Rhino FLT fat bike. If your name isn't Matt Prymak, then you can get yourself a Fatback fattie at WebCyclery in Bend.

Happy (winter) trails to you all.

After conducting a thorough and robust nationwide search, COTA has found the perfect candidate right here in Bend. We are very pleased to announce Emmy Andrews as our first Executive Director. 

​Emmy has been hired to lead COTA in its next phase of growth, while continuing its core mission of developing, protecting, and enhancing the Central Oregon mountain bike experience through trail stewardship, advocacy, collaboration, and education.

Emmy has been actively involved on COTA’s Board of Directors for over four years (2016-2020), serving as Board Treasurer for three years, and then becoming the Bend Chapter Representative. While on the Board, Emmy was instrumental in developing COTA’s first Strategic Plan and coordinating the Crew Leader program. Emmy has been an active trail work volunteer and mountain bike advocate for many years.

“Emmy’s energy and enthusiasm for what we do, her ability to maintain positive long-term relationships with stakeholders and volunteers, and common sense approach convinced us that Emmy is the one to guide COTA in achieving great things in the years to come,” said COTA Board Chair, Bruce Schroeder. “We look forward to working with Emmy in this new capacity starting in 2021.”

With over 20 years of experience in project management, planning, and marketing, and a passion for implementing COTA’s mission and vision, Emmy is ready to get started.

“Mountain biking trails are essential to Central Oregon’s identity and economy,” Emmy said. “As Executive Director, I will focus on empowering COTA’s amazing volunteers and growing our revenue base so that our trail network continues to be among the best in the country. I look forward to strengthening COTA’s relationships with our members, volunteers, land managers, partner organizations, and sponsors.”

“COTA is growing at a phenomenal rate. We have six chapters—Bend, Crook County, Madras, Redmond, Sisters, and South Deschutes County—and trail planning or building going on in all of them. As Executive Director I want to make sure all of our chapters have the resources and support they need to achieve their goals.”

This newly created Executive Director position marks the first paid position for COTA. Established as a non-profit organization in 1992, all efforts by Board members, vast numbers of trail workers, and others have been 100% volunteer driven. Emmy was selected after a five-month search that included evaluating a strong list of applicants from all over the country.

Emmy’s start date is January 4, 2021 and can be reached here. For more information, please contact COTA’s Board Chair, Bruce Schroeder here.

The Forest Service recently requested public input on proposed updates to directives that clarify how e-bikes are managed on national forests whereby creating an e-bike definition and by adopting the three classes of e-bikes for designation as motor vehicles. 

Below you'll find the USFS comment request notification as well as COTA's comment letter. The deadline for public comments was October 26, 2020.