5 Central Oregon Bike Parks & How to Support Trail Work

Central Oregon is home to five incredible bike parks that are maintained by COTA. We work hard to continually improve each park and to ensure each park receives proper maintenance.  Due to our large (and growing - yew!) community of riders and the region’s dry, non-organic soil, these bike parks require tons of maintenance every year. And shaping jumps and berms and building rock and wood features takes a high skill level. Dedicated community of shredders, know that we are working hard so you have places to dial in your skills!  
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Well-maintained bike parks depend on COTA having enough funding!

In 2023, COTA invested more than $100,000 in upgrades and maintenance for just 3 of the 5 bike parks we maintain. To make that possible, we received grants from five local organizations and donations from more than 50 individual donors. 

For 2024, COTA’s budget envisions spending $70,000 on bike park maintenance and upgrades - all of which will have to be raised through memberships, donations, and grants. If we can’t raise the money, some of that work will get pushed out until we can, and some of the bike parks may not ride as well in the meantime. 

Long term, we hope to build our budget enough to hire a staff member who works on bike parks and flow trails full-time! Given all the fun and skill progression opportunities Central Oregon’s bike parks offer, it’s a great investment, and frankly, it’s a bargain! 

Read on to learn about Central Oregon’s five bike parks, recent maintenance and upgrade initiatives, future projects, and how becoming a COTA member helps us sustain and improve them.  
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Bike Park Hours of Operation and Levels

All bike parks operate from sunrise to sunset and are available to all rider levels unless stated otherwise. 
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Prineville Bike Park

Location: 470-506 NE Juniper St, Prineville, OR (next to the Ochoco Creek Park and across the street from the skate park) 

​Features: 4 progressive jump lines, a strider bike track, a pump track, and a skills loop

​Recent Initiative(s): In summer 2023, a group of volunteers spearheaded the “Goathead Cleanup” initiative to remove all the sharp burrs from the park. They used paint rollers to get all the dangerous spikes off the dirt and got the park looking top-notch. Neighbors reported seeing groups of riders shredding features the next day!  

Future Initiatives: The Prineville Bike Park is next up on COTA’s list for substantial upgrades, and for that, we need funding! We are fundraising now to invest in upgrades and maintenance. Work needed includes reworking some of the jump lines, weed mitigation, replacing weathered wood on the start tower, and more. This project will be implemented as soon as we can raise the money, hopefully in late 2024 or early 2025. Becoming a member will help COTA achieve our goal to upgrade the park and will support riders like the Prineville Composite Youth Mountain Bike Race Team (P-Comp) improve their skills.
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Wanoga Infield Bike Park (and Sno-Park)

Location: Cascade Lakes Highway, Bend, OR (15 miles west of Bend at Tiddlywinks trailhead) 

​Features: Progressive jump lines, a drop zone with progressive-sized drops, roller lines, and an easy return climbing route 

Recent Initiatives: In 2023, extensive work went into the Wanoga Infield Bike Park, which included adding a drop zone, adding a jump line, expanding the starting mound, and creating an approachable uphill return trail. Black Sage Dirt Works did the major dirt shaping, and COTA volunteers clocked 134 hours doing hand-finished work and improving the area’s sustainability by better defining the ride and return lines to protect native vegetation. The park still sports some original roller lines appropriate for beginner riders. ​ 

The project cost $25,000 and was funded by a grant from the Bend Sustainability Fund and COTA member donations. ​ 

Future Initiatives: A portion of COTA 2024's bike park budget will go toward Wanoga Infield Bike Park maintenance. 
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Sisters Bike Park 242

Location: 1750 McKinney Butte Rd, Sisters, OR (west of Sisters High School)

​Features: Wood skinnies, drops, jump lines (beginner to expert), and pump track

Recent Initiatives: In 2023, locals Steve and Michelle Smith and Mark Miskowiec (Chapter Rep of COTA’s Sisters chapter) took on the massive task of revamping Sisters Bike Park 242. With Steve as Technical Lead and Michelle as the Volunteer Project Coordinator, they elevated the bike park into a mountain bike playground for riders of all levels.

"I grew up building jumps," [Steve] said. "It was kind of my escape from growing up a troubled kid." (Steve Smith, Nugget News) 
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This extensive project cost $25,000 and was funded with support from Visit Central Oregon and Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD). Other essential players included Kyle Jameson of Black Sage Dirt Works and Charlie Wirtz, a local carpenter who re-designed and re-built the start tower. 

Volunteers logged 895 hours improving the start tower, reworking the wood skinnies and drops section, rebuilding the pump track, and increasing sustainability through dust mitigation, weed removal, and planting native vegetation. A volunteer hour is valued at $32.37, so the true cost of the project was nearly $60,000. 

The park's grand (re)opening in October 2023 was a huge success! More than 100 riders of all ages showed up to dial their skills, and St. Charles Foundation provided free helmets for rippers ages 5-15, which were professionally fitted by Blazin Saddles. 

Future Initiatives: Direct support through COTA memberships and donations is essential to maintain the park's rideability and to “raise [Bike Park 242’s] profile so both locals and visitors know the amenity is available” (Steve Smith, The Bend Bulletin). 
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The Lair Freeride Area

Location: Marvin's Garden Trail, Bend, OR (easily accessible by riding Marvin’s Garden from the Phil’s Trailhead)

Level: High intermediate to expert 

Features: Flow trail and progression park that features everything from three-foot beginner jumps to 20-foot monsters. Working on that backflip? This is the place for you. 

​Recent Initiatives: In 2022, Kyle Jameson (KJ), a world-class mountain biker and owner of Black Sage Dirt Works, “enlisted a group of enthusiastic local youth” to reshape The Lair. KJ taught the kids how to sculpt dirt, and the dedicated crew of groms spent hours building quality jumps that will last.  

“I guarantee, one of the 14/15 kids that were there is going to be a professional trail builder one day” (KJ, Build Your Dream//Youth Movement).
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The area includes downhill-only jump lines that range from challenging but rollable to expert/pro. Working on your backflip? Or just want to see someone do a back flip IRL? This is the place!

​See The Lair team in action with the Build Your Dream//Youth Movement video here. 

Future Initiatives: A portion of 2024's $70,000 bike park budget will go toward maintaining The Lair Freeride Area. COTA is also working with the land manager, the U.S. Forest Service, on offering more lines at The Lair. This project will likely take a while due to the USFS’s extensive planning and environmental review process, but we are working hard to make it happen! 

Phil's Skills Bike Park

Location: Phil's Trailhead, Bend, OR 97701 (off of FS 4604 Rd) 

​Features: Strider course, rollers and jumps, drop zone, and a flat zone 

Recent Initiatives: Phil’s Skills Bike Park is now equipped with a strider course, rollers and jumps for days, a drop zone, and an open area where coaches and groups can gather to work on skills. Additionally, there’s side space throughout for parents and coaches to hang out and keep the active areas clear. Since Phil’s Skills was built around progression, you’ll find features from beginner to advanced.  

The project took months of planning and cost over $50,000. More than 600 cubic yards of dirt and 30 large boulders were trucked to the site. Large machinery was used for construction, and hand finishing was done by dedicated volunteers. Special shout out to Designer and Builder, Kyle Jameson of Black Sage Dirt Works, for creating an excellent park and to Deschutes Trails Coalition, Mt. Bachelor Play Forever Fund, and NewSun Energy, all of whom made major financial contributions to this project.

​Future Initiatives: Annual maintenance is anticipated to cost $15,000 per year. If you love Phil’s Skills Area--or any of Central Oregon’s trails and bike parks--we’d love for you to join the crew and become a COTA supporter by donating time or money! 
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Think Before You Ride

It’s all about respect, folks! To reduce the maintenance load and keep things fun for all, please respect the following rules when enjoying the bike parks.

• Riding areas are for BIKE USE ONLY - please do not climb or play on jumps, tracks, or features   
• Wet/Mud/Snow - No go! 
• No skidding 
• Give respect to get respect 
• Be aware of the park’s diversity - these parks are often “All Levels” (striders on rollers are common at several parks)
• Follow all other posted park rules 

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Support Bike Parks & Trail Work - Become a Member!

Without the support of the riding community, these bike parks would fall into disarray - quickly. 

If you enjoy riding Central Oregon’s trails and bike parks, we encourage you to become a COTA member (monthly or annual - as low as $30 annually!) or donate any amount so we can continue to build a robust and diverse mountain biking experience for all. Your support keeps these bike parks (and 600 miles of singletrack trails) maintained, current, and FREE TO USE. We truly can’t do it without your support.

Interested in being part of the crew? Follow us on Instagram (@cotamtb) and join our Meetup group to ensure you never miss our events. 

Catch COTA’s Executive Director, Emmy Andrews, on a recent episode of “Bend Don’t Break” as she chats about trail work and maintenance, the newly updated Phil's Skills Bike Park, Wanoga Sno-Park, and Sisters Bike Park 242.