Typically, crowds tend to dwindle along Central Oregon trails as fall creeps inevitably toward winter.

But some paths remain extremely popular well into autumn, especially when they offer the chance to view brilliant fall colors before all the leaves drop.

The Deschutes River Trail from Meadow Camp to Benham Falls is one such trail. This 9-mile section of trail is often clogged with hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and anglers who stick around well into October. The river scenery is mind-boggling: rapids and waterfalls surging through a landscape of jagged lava rock, ponderosa pine and colorful aspen trees.

I had planned an out-and-back mountain bike ride from Lava Island Falls to Benham Falls on Sunday but changed my plans mid-ride so as to avoid the crowds on my way back.

From Lava Island Falls, just 8 miles west of Bend, I cruised along the river on singletrack. From there, it was on to Big Eddy Rapids, where rafters often negotiate the series of four Class III rapids along one of the most popular rafting routes in Oregon.

After a few more miles upstream along the trail I arrived at stunning Aspen Day Use Area. The area was filled with red, yellow and orange aspens in a dizzying array of color.

An uphill portion just before Dillon Falls is really the only difficult, prolonged climb along the Deschutes River Trail, making it a relatively easy ride for most skill levels. At Dillon Falls, I stopped to watch the roaring river cut through the canyon.

The trail then led me back into the trees toward Benham Falls, and this was where I encountered dozens of hikers, trail runners and other mountain bikers. The section just north of Benham Falls is one of my favorite parts of the trail: The rapids begin to surge, and you find yourself riding high above the river once again along more beautiful autumn colors.

Dark, rough lava rock stretching all the way to Lava Butte 5 miles to the southeast covers much of the east side of the river. Plants poking out of the dark lava field make for a unique landscape.

Bridge the seasons with a ride at Sisters Tie Trail

Benham Falls roars white with abandon through the terrain. Near the falls, a separate singletrack trail is designed for bikers. Cyclists are required to walk their bikes as they approach the viewpoints of the falls.

Above the falls, the trail widens and comes to a wooden bridge. After crossing the bridge, bikers have a choice of heading west (right) to continue along the river trail to Sunriver, or going southeast (left) onto the Black Rock Trail, which leads to Lava Butte.

I made the decision to turn around there. Rather than ride the river trail back, I took Forest Road 400 for a couple of miles to connect to the Catch and Release Trail. This provided a fast and flowing downhill experience, without the crowds. (Mountain bikers who do choose to descend the Deschutes River Trail should always ride with caution and yield to hikers and runners.)

The river trail attracts mountain bikers of virtually every skill level. Beginners can easily tackle short stretches of the trail, while more experienced riders can enjoy a mostly smooth 30-mile trip from Bend to Sunriver and back.

After speeding down Catch and Release, I arrived back at the Lava Island Falls trailhead. The 14-mile ride took about 2 hours and included 700 feet of elevation gain.