MiPeGr

Looking at visiting Bend some time in the late spring (May), and looking at putting some loops together. What I'm not seeing is a good paved route from Sunriver to Bend (west side, Century Drive area).
The shoulder on 97 looks fairly wide, the last time I was down there it seemed like it was in good condition. Is it crazy to consider riding from Sunriver to Bend on 97? Will there still be a ton of gravel on the shoulder that time of year? Is there another lower-traffic option? I'm not seeing one, but I'm hoping that someone more familiar with the area can provide better info.

Thanks!

mtnbud

It isn't crazy to ride Hwy 97. I don't believe there's any other reasonable paved route that wouldn't be incredibly longer. More than likely there will still be gravel on the shoulder in May.
Gravel Route 1.
Gravel Route 2
Single Track Route

MiPeGr

Thanks for the info. I may have found a mostly-paved way that would work as well. I'll post it to this thread when I get a chance.

Apparently ODOT and the FS are working on a paved route from Sunriver to Lava Butte, and then Lava Butte into Bend. But it's in the scoping/route alternatives/EIS stage now. Construction not expected to begin until Spring 2023.

mtnbud

Cool. That area keeps growing. If you have the time, there are quite a few nice rides you'll be able to do while you're there.

MiPeGr

More rides than available time! I definitely know I can't go on big adventures 5 days in a row...I'd be wrecked.

Seattle Forrest

Have a look at the Strava global heat map for the area, there's usually a good reason people are choosing the roads they ride on.

SteveE

Gravel Route 1 (with one revision) is certainly doable on a road bike. Revision: from Benham Falls take the unpaved access road (FS-400) to Conklin Rd (NF-41) to Century Drive, cross over to the Cascade Lakes Welcome Center and take the bike path (recently repaved between The Loge and Mammoth Drive) into town. Probably want to ride on 28cm tires.

This would be a nicer ride than Hwy 97, IMO. Only 3 miles unpaved from East Benham Falls TH to NF-41.

MiPeGr

That sounds very similar to what I had plotted out for myself. Thanks for the tip.
May be moot, at least in the short term, though. Doesn't look like that trip is going to happen.

Oreamnos

There's already a paved route from Sunriver (near Circle 7) to Lava Butte. But from there, if you want to stay on paved roads, 97 is pretty much your only choice.