TERREBONNE — It was time for a mountain biking change of pace.

After sticking to the trails west of Bend for most of the summer and early fall, I was ready to try something different.

It had been a few years since I had mountain biked at Smith Rock State Park, and I wondered why it had been so long. When I arrived at the bottom of Burma Road in the park on Monday and looked up, I quickly remembered why.

The climb up Burma Road to get to the best trails in the area is an absolute slog. But those who suffer through it are rewarded with thrilling ribbons of singletrack and panoramic views of Smith Rock and the Cascade Range.

While Smith Rock is most popular for rock climbing and hiking, mountain biking just might be the best way to tour the picturesque park, about a 45-minute drive north from Bend.

Burma Road is a dirt double track that rises sharply along a barren hillside just outside the park. Drivers on U.S. Highway 97 can see Burma carved into the hill. At the top of Burma Road, mountain bikers can access the Gray Butte Trail. The thrilling side-hill singletrack that leads to Gray Butte offers sprawling views of the Crooked River National Grassland and Cascade peaks.

So it was with the promise of riding that trail that I pedaled my way uphill from the Wolf Tree Trail in the main area of the park up to Burma Road on a mildly smoky but otherwise clear fall day at Smith Rock. I had never reached the top without walking my bike at least part of the way.

This time, I probably walked more than pedaled, but I made it to the top of Burma Road about 40 minutes after starting out.

At the top, riders and hikers are treated to a bird’s-eye view of Smith Rock that by itself is nearly worth the effort. And the trails to come make it completely so.

From the top of Burma Road, bikers can connect to the Gray Butte Trail leading toward the butte. Several options exist, including completing the Cole Loop to the east or the Burma Loop to the north. Both rides skirt the summit of Gray Butte.

My plan was to ride the Gray Butte Trail out and back as far as I desired, then take the Summit Trail down to the River Trail, which would lead me back through the park and complete the loop.

The Gray Butte Trail cuts along the hillside and is fast, flowing and fun. Keeping both eyes on the trail is a must, because it runs along a steep drop-off to the northwest — probably not steep enough to fall to your death but definitely cause for injury if you were to veer off the narrow singletrack. If riders want to take in the view, it is best to stop first.

I cautiously cruised along the trail, which was in good condition considering the current sandiness of trails near Bend. (Mountain biking at Smith Rock and Gray Butte is typically best in the fall and winter.)

Where the side-hill section ends, bikers can connect to the Cole Loop Trail or continue along the Gray Butte Trail.

I continued on the latter, and the trail became mostly uphill and rocky. Still tired from the climb up Burma Road, I decided to head back the way I had come.

Back at the junction of the Gray Butte Trail and Burma Road, I turned onto the Summit Trail, a path of switchbacks that connects to the River Trail on the west side of the park.

The switchbacks are quite sharp, but I eventually made my way down, negotiating some technical sections and squeezing the brakes to descend back into Smith Rock State Park. Mountain bikers should make sure to ride in control and yield to all hikers, of which there can be many at Smith Rock.

After one left turn I suddenly found myself following the sparkling Crooked River, with the prominent rock spire of Monkey Face rising ahead of me into the blue sky. I continued along the trail until it took me into the main climbing area.

Climbers hung tight to the rock walls and hikers meandered along the trail as I walked my bike in certain stretches, riding slow and with caution in the crowded area.

By the time I finished the short climb back to the parking area, I had ridden 13 miles with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain in 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Mountain bikers looking for some variety can certainly find it from top to bottom at Smith Rock State Park.