Mountain Bike Trail Guide: Sparks Lake Trail

This time of year, in late summer, mountain biking loses its luster in Central Oregon.

A hot day spent on a river or lake paddleboarding or kayaking seems potentially more enjoyable than grinding and sweating up some dusty High Desert trail.

But now is a good time of year to hit those upper-elevation trails that may have eluded mountain bikers so far this summer. Before we know it, those trails will no longer be an option as fall and winter settle in on the Cascade mountains.

The Sparks Lake Trail is a high-elevation trail that is accessible only a few months out of the year — and you can swim or paddle in the lake after the ride.

The challenging trail starts near the entrance to Sparks Lake off Cascade Lakes Highway and connects to the Metolius-Windigo Trail.

The Sparks Lake Trail might be as close as mountain bikers can get to experience riding in a wilderness area without actually doing so. The Three Sisters Wilderness is located just across the highway to the north, where several hiking trailheads are located, including Green Lakes and Soda Creek trails. (Mountain biking is prohibited in wilderness areas.)

From the Sparks Lake Trailhead, bikers can ride past Hosmer Lake south all the way to Lava Lake, then loop back along Cascade Lakes Highway. That loop covers an ambitious 28 miles and takes as long as five hours — too much for me. My plan last week was to ride to Hosmer Lake and back for a 12-mile outing.

The Sparks Lake Trail starts at about 5,400 feet in elevation, taking riders through several lava rock gardens that vary in difficulty.

The trail rolls along short, steep, uphill and downhill sections, and I had to stay alert to make it up the climbs and make it down the more technical, rocky portions.

The trail descends gradually through a lodgepole pine forest to the remote south end of Sparks Lake, and Mount Bachelor was visible to the east through the trees.

I found a spur trail that took me to the lake.

From that end, Sparks Lake is quiet and simply stunning. Nobody was around, while the north end of the lake was busy with boats, kayaks and paddleboarders. Glacier-covered South Sister was reflected in the middle of the alpine lake on the warm, sunny day.

I rode on, and the sandy trail included some precipitous sections with more lava rock, but nothing impossible to ride.

Near Hosmer Lake, the Sparks Lake Trail connects to the Metolius-Windigo Trail. The trail does not wind right next to Hosmer Lake, so I decided to hop off my bike and make a short hike to the lake. I could see the marshy edges of Hosmer, a popular lake for fishing and kayaking.

The climb back toward Sparks Lake was difficult — Sparks Lake Trail is not really made to ride back uphill. Several steep climbs and rocky areas made dismounting frequently a necessity.

Making my way up technical climbs back through the rocks, I was relieved to reach the trailhead safely.

The end of the ride was probably my favorite part: mostly smooth terrain, and just enough rocky challenges to keep me on my toes.

At the trailhead, I chatted with two ladies who were preparing to go on a horseback ride along the trail. As the area is popular with equestrians and hikers, mountain bikers should remember to ride with caution and always yield to both groups.

Finished with the tough ride, I walked over to the dock at the north end of the lake and jumped in. The bitterly cold water was a shock to the system, but there is nothing more refreshing than a swim in an alpine lake after a hard day in the saddle.

— Reporter: 541-383-0318,

mmorical@bendbulletin.com

Editor’s note: Mountain Bike Trail Guide, by Bulletin outdoors writer Mark Morical, features different trails in Central Oregon and beyond. The trail guide appears in Outdoors on alternating Wednesdays through the riding season.