I’d be willing to bet that Cultus Lake is on more than a few lists of favorite spots in the Oregon Cascades. It’s a classic mountain destination that comes with towering evergreens, water galore within a 5-mile radius and a ‘feel’ that you’re far more isolated than you really are.

We carted the bikes up to Cultus recently for a look around. We ended up circling past Little Cultus Lake, Deer Lake and Cultus Lake on a combination of Forest Service roads and single-track trails and raving about it afterward. It’s not the most exciting ride, but it’s fun.

At 12 miles, it’s no epic, but on this day, it was just enough. And this is a great time of year to get out and enjoy this country. On the trail, human beings are few and far between. The ride (or hike) begins at the picnic area on Forest Road 4635. It’s downhill to the junction of Forest Road 4630 where you turn right and begin a 2-mile intermittent climb to Little Cultus Lake.

Don’t get discouraged.

Just when you start hoping the ride is more than pedaling uphill on a two-lane gravel highway, everything changes. Over the hump, bear right on Forest Road 640, admire Little Cultus, which was sparkling in the sun when we passed by, then go left onto Deer Lake Trail.

We plunged onto this single-track section hemmed in by pondos and buoyed by this welcome change of terrain. There’s a 4-wheel-drive road up the trail that leads up, up, up to 6,759-foot Cultus Mountain, a 2,000-foot elevation gain option.

Next comes Deer Lake, every bit as pretty as the last lake. The trail then meets up with the intriguingly named Many Lakes Trail on the left, a path into the Three Sisters Wilderness that exerts a piscatorial pull on many who pass this way.

We resisted, continuing on to the back side of Cultus Lake, where there’s a (deserted) campground and another tantalizing photo opportunity. From the campground, the trail veers to the left and skirts the north side of the lake on the right and the Three Sisters Wilderness on the left.

A sign at the Winopee Lakes trailhead warns backpackers against feeding the bears. Spicey. From here, it’s a short pedal back to the vehicle. Even without the delicious possibility of a big-game encounter, the trail presents just enough technical challenge to make it interesting for intermediate mountain bikers.

A wooden footbridge over a dry streambed had us speculating whether there was anyone anywhere who could negotiate such an obstacle on a mountain bike.

From Bend, drive about 44 miles west on Cascade Lakes Highway, then turn left at a sign for Cultus Lake Resort (Forest Road 4635).

Drive down Road 4635 and park at the Cultus Lake day-use picnic area parking lot. No trailhead pass required.