A hilly, juniper-laden stretch of land to the west of Redmond will soon be home to two new trailheads that aim to provide recreation opportunities for cyclists, equestrians and more.

In March, construction crews broke ground on the Buckhorn Staging Area and Cascade View trailheads on the north side of the Cline Buttes Recreation Area, a 32,000-acre section of land about seven miles outside of Redmond.

The area, which also contains Eagle Crest Resort and other privately held lands, is divided into several sections based on terrain and usage. However, Lisa Clark, public affairs officer for the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees and develops the land, said the trails that originate from the new trailheads will be designed to accommodate a variety of uses.

“We look to provide a diverse set of opportunities with our trails,” Clark said.

The recreation area could host a mix of users, including off-highway vehicle riders, pedestrians, mountain bicyclists and equestrians. Greg Currie, landscape architect for the bureau, added that the recreation area has historically been a popular spot when other, higher-elevation hiking and cycling trails are still covered in snow or ice.

“It’s been pretty popular from the get-go,” Currie said. “It fills a good niche.”

Because of that, the bureau has been searching for a good site for additional trails. Currie said the two locations were chosen, in part, for their proximity to county and state-maintained roads.

In the middle of March, the bureau awarded the trailhead construction contracts to Robinson and Owen Heavy Construction, a grading and excavation company based in Sisters. Rod Robinson, owner and vice president of the company, said the Cascade Views trailhead will have space for around 30 cars or trailers, while the Buckhorn trailhead can accommodate about a dozen.

Robinson said the bureau has given the company three months to complete the trailheads, each of which will feature a parking area for cars and trailers, a bathroom, picnic tables and a kiosk with trail-
informative signs. However, Robinson said a good weather forecast and a larger crew than expected has his team ahead of schedule.

“By the end of April, beginning of May, we should have it done,” Robinson said.

Once the gravel for the parking area has been laid and the buildings are constructed, Robinson said bureau workers and volunteers will handle the work of building the trails.

Currie said plans for the trails allow for some variation, but the bureau expects the trailheads to accommodate around 14 miles of horse trails and 24 miles of bicycle trails. Hikers will be able to use either set of trails.

—Reporter: 541-617-7818, shamway@bendbulletin.com