For avid mountain bikers who have lived in Central Oregon for a long time, like myself, late summer is that time of the season when we start to crave variety.

Discovering new trails at the upper elevations, or rediscovering ones that we have not ridden for awhile, becomes our pursuit before the snow arrives in the fall.

Most higher-elevation trails west of Bend are now snow-free and accessible, opening up seemingly endless opportunities for local riders. The North Fork-Flagline Loop near Tumalo Falls is a must ride this time of year, but that route includes a hellacious climb and I was looking for something a bit less grueling this week.

The west end of the Wanoga trail system, near Edison Sno-park, includes trails with moderate elevation change and an escape from the crowded trails closer to Bend.

I made the 30-minute drive from Bend to Edison Butte Sno-park on Monday, getting started early to avoid the afternoon heat that would reach 85 degrees.

My plan was to ride the Dinah-Moe-Humm Trail and part of the Kiwa Butte Trail out and back from Edison for about a 15-mile outing. I had not biked in that area for several years and was looking forward to something different.

Dinah-Moe-Humm is a 5-mile trail of moderate difficulty and is named for a Frank Zappa song. The rolling, twisty path cuts through the lodgepole pine and small buttes of that section of the Deschutes National Forest south of Century Drive. Like many of the trails in the Wanoga network, Dinah-Moe-Humm was designed by the Central Oregon Trail Allaince with the ideal mix of climbing, downhill and flowing sections.

The 8-mile stretch of singletrack that includes the Dinah-Moe-Humm and Kiwa Butte trails was designated as a state scenic trail by the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission in 2014. The section of trail was completed in 2011 and on clear days includes numerous views of Cascade peaks.

The Kiwa Butte Trail features sprawling views of Broken Top, Tam McArthur Rim and the Three Sisters. A section of the Dinah-Moe-Humm trail offers dramatic views of Mount Bachelor, Kwohl Butte, Tumalo Mountain, Diamond Peak and Maiden Peak.

From the trailhead across Forest Road 45 from Edison Butte Sno-park last week, I started out over a couple of technical sections, and then encountered a bit of a climb. The trail was mostly firm and free of sand, cutting through a lodgepole pine forest with barren portions that had been recently logged.

As I ascended Bowl Butte the trees gave way to open space, and I negotiated a rocky stretch before arriving at the summit. From there, I took in views of Mount Bachelor, Kwohl Butte and, farther in the distance to the southwest, Diamond Peak. I then descended Bowl Butte along several fast switchback turns.

As I cruised through more thick forest, I launched off several small jumps, built naturally into the flow of the trail. I eventually arrived at a primary junction, where the Dinah-Moe-Humm, Kiwa Butte and Tyler’s Traverse trails all intersect.

I turned onto the Kiwa Butte Trail and rode about a mile to a viewpoint featuring South Sister and Broken Top. Kiwa also connects to the Tiddlywinks Trail, so there are myriad options for loops of varying distances within the Wanoga system. Riders can also shuttle from Edison and ride Dinah-Moe-Humm and other trails in the Wanoga and Phil’s Trail networks all the way back to Bend.

From the viewpoint along Kiwa Butte, 7½ miles into the ride, I turned around to return to Edison and enjoyed the mostly flowing, downhill ride back to my car.

The 15-mile ride included about 1,200 feet of elevation gain and took about 2 hours, 45 minutes. I saw no other riders during the entire outing. It was satisfying to complete a lesser-known route that I had not ridden for quite awhile.

For late-summer Central Oregon mountain biking, variety is the spice of riding.