Bend’s Andrew Williams, left, and Mark Johnson ride the Mrazek Trail through a burn area in the Deschutes National Forest.

Mountain biking in Central Oregon can get complicated. With more than 900 miles of singletrack in the region, it is often hard to know where to begin.

Sometimes I like to keep it simple with an out-and-back ride on a well-known, intermediate-level trail that I know I will enjoy because it will not have soul-crushing climbs or intimidating downhill features.

Lower Mrazek is one such trail that has kept me coming back over the last 20 years. While Upper Mrazek (Road 700 west to Road 370) remains closed for Deschutes National Forest logging operations, Lower Mrazek from Shevlin Park west to Road 700 — the majority of the Mrazek Trail — remains open.

An out-and-bike ride along the Shevlin Park Loop and Mrazek trails provides a mix of lush, fall colors along Tumalo Creek and then a more typical High Desert feel cutting through manzanita and the aftermath of recent burns deep in the Deschutes National Forest west of Bend.

The ride also offers a gradual climb and then a fast and thrilling downhill on the way back to Shevlin Park.

Mrazek is a 14-mile trail (about 10 miles of which remains open) that connects Shevlin Park to upper-elevation areas on the edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Mrazek links to the Shevlin Park trails on the southwest end of the park.

While Shevlin Park is often filled with hikers and runners, Mrazek offers a more remote experience for mountain bikers seeking to escape the crowds.

Recently I made the drive to a small parking area on the northeast edge of Shevlin Park. I started out the ride along paved trails and then doubletrack to the east side of the Shevlin Park Loop, high above Tumalo Creek in the shallow canyon. I descended into a fall forest dappled with red, orange and yellow colors along the creek.

After crossing a narrow wood bridge I turned onto Mrazek, which begins with a long climb that leads riders from the forest canopy up onto the High Desert.

The section of Mrazek just above Shevlin Park includes a short segment that is pretty rocky and technical, with jagged rocks jutting out of the singletrack.

After that section, the trail became smooth again, although the the singletrack was quite sandy and dusty. (Rain and cooler weather this past week have drastically improved trail conditions throughout Central Oregon.)

As the trail became increasingly steep, I decided to turn around after having ridden about 7 miles.

The descent was fast and sustained over a few modest jumps and winding singletrack that cut through the ponderosa pine forest.

I eventually arrived at a downhill-only section, marked by a “Mrazek” sign. Designed by Phil Meglasson, of Phil’s Trail fame, this portion of the trail cuts through a ravine, with swooping turns built along a constant section of steep ups and downs.

The descent into Shevlin Park along Mrazek and the ride back along the Shevlin Park Loop trail made for a total distance of about 14 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Simplicity often makes for the best mountain biking experiences in Central Oregon.