Oregon Opens 11.5 Miles of Trails
11.5 miles of new trails opened at Cline Buttes near Redmond, expanding opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The new trail network is part of Central Oregon's broader push for accessible, sustainable recreation. The trails offer diverse terrain for different skill levels and outdoor activities.
This project was a collaborative effort between the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The development, which spanned two years, was made possible by funding from the Recreational Trails Program and the Central Oregon Future Fund. The total cost to complete the trail expansion was approximately $178,000. A significant portion of the labor was provided by volunteers, who contributed nearly 4,000 hours to the project's completion. Professional trail builder Velo Solutions also supported the construction efforts. A primary motivation for the new trail design was the protection of sensitive wildlife habitat. Reroutes and the decommissioning of some existing trails were implemented to avoid disturbing nesting golden eagles, which are sensitive to human activity, particularly from January to August. The project also addressed long-term access issues by rerouting trails, such as the downhill-specific DH1 and DH3, off of private property. This ensures the trails will remain publicly accessible and not be lost to future development. The expansion includes 6 miles of new trails at Cline Butte and 5.5 miles at the adjacent Cascade View area. Newly named trails include Chainbreak, Positive Vibrations, and Legal Eagle at Cline Butte, and Whiptail, Rattler, and Bull Snake at Cascade View. This 11.5-mile addition is part of a larger vision for the Cline Buttes Recreation Area. Future plans aim to nearly double the existing 12.7 miles of mountain bike trails to a total of 24.8 miles.
