Cline Buttes Trail
Trail Snapshot:
Trail Description
Access via the (private) 'FAA Road' to the summit is now closed for construction in the area. You can use the 'Quarry Road' to enter the area, but please don't block the road.
E-bikes NOT allowed on Cline Buttes
The Cline XC trail is a good winter riding option when trails closer to Bend are wet or muddy. It’s not a very long trail, so lots of riders will hook it into a loop with the nearby Maston trail network.
If you are riding Maston and are ready to shoot yourself in the head from the lack of elevation — head across the highway and ride up this route. Here, you can get some nice steep riding in, and even a nice rock drop on the back side of Cline Butte. Once you hit the road at the end of the trail, you can head up the road to the top and descend one of the gnarly gravity lines.
This trail is maintained by Central Oregon Trail Alliance.
Cline after a good rain is usually all-time, and yesterday evening was no exception… well, that is except for all the horse tracks on the XC trail! I don’t know what’s worse – tracks all but destroying half the side of the narrow single track, the massive pile of full-trail-width horsesh!t that I splashed through before realizing what it was, or the fact that they randomly stamped in several short braids off the main trial that were literally just FEET away from the main trail (see a pic)! And all of this was just in the short section between the quarry access point and the fire road up to the saddle. Perhaps someone from COTA can have a chat with whatever the equivalent equestrian group is about trail etiquette?? Anyway, the dirt was amazing and will be today as well… Trail 1 actually had “traction” if that tells you anything, it was kinda weird… :)
Each spring someone grazes cattle on the buttes which ruins most things for a while. That pic that you took is the main route that the cattle take each day between where they bed above the quarry and where they graze on the flats east of the south butte.
I know about the cows, been there several times when they’re out. Every time I’ve seen them they have been kinda dispersed, not walking in a long single file line. It could have been them but I really don’t think so. To me it really looked more like horse prints. And I’ve definitely seen people out there on horses doing facepalm-worthy stuff. Like the time a big group came down Trail 1 on horses (beers in hand) totally jacking up the trail. Maybe I’m wrong. Can someone post a sign for the cows for proper trail etiquette? :) In any case some unfortunate damage to the trail.
I was stopped by a very aggressive dog at the bottom of the saddle and then again at the top. Earlier this week I was stopped by another with his owner struggling to hold it back whilst insuring me that “he’s friendly”. I was bit on the ankle this summer by the green gate, and had an out of control dog try to bite my tire at high speeds in a dangerous part of the trail. Please put your dog on a leash for the safety of others!
Map has been updated with the most current information we’ve received. Access via the ‘quarry road’ — and please stay out of the construction area.
Today 6/2 all gates were locked with no trespassing signs, not the gates at Cline falls highway but the new installed gates about .25 up the road, does anyone have any info on what’s going on?
I sent an email to Bob at cota. Will see what he says.
Pedaled the Road up trail 2 back down. both are in great shape. Looks like anything on the north side probably has some snow on it
There’s now an unlocked pedestrian gate next to the locked summit FAA road gate. Google calls this the Cline Butte Trailhead.
New gate is now installed about 50 yards South of the off road dirt parking which is accessed across from Juniper trailhead at Maston. Please DO NOT cross or tamper with fence.
One puddle on the backside (Cline XC) otherwise drying out quick
Fun Option but really poorly marked and easy to get off trail while following the fun rocky climb and descent and then stuck to deal with the horrible steep gravel road. Needs some sort of waypoints added!
Maybe COTA will add some in the future. All the trails here were built outside of an official process, and they are a bit chaotic. But so sweet!
The “XC Extension” is muddy. Recommend using the road instead of this section.
Otherwise, all good!
North side of Middle and South Cline Buttes soft squishy mud with snow in places. Trail on north to northeast side of Middle Cline Butte snowy and/or muddy.
Was at Cline on 4/2. All singletrack was 100% snow free and pretty much hero dirt. Get some!
Ran on Sunday March 17th. Still lots and lots of snow.
XC Loop is great (except that dang gravel climb). There a little mud around the west and north. Ride through the middle of it, please don’t make the trail wider. Keep single track single. Excellent!
XC Loop was in good condition SAT at noon. Some ice, mostly just good dirt to ride!
XC Trail was smushy wet ice on the North slopes in the afternoon today with lots of dirt starting to show. Firm and rideable, just wet. DH Trail is solid and bone dry. Road climb was 95% dirt. Saddle looked like it had snow and ice but I can’t be sure because I didn’t ride it.
Back side is perfect. Just a touch of white stuff on the edge of the tread. Super firm
Dropped a friend off at the airport so figured I’d swing by and see if anything was still packed. It was like riding up and down ball bearings.
Perfection! No mud, no dust. Go get some!
Trails on Cline are super nice right now. You might find small patches of light mud on backside of cross country trail and saddle Trail. But nothing major
Lower part of XC was riding great! Probably a couple miles or so to play around in. Snow gets a little too deep higher up.
PSA: Someone did some sabotaging on the jump line today (tree across a landing with no indication from above the jump; would definitely have hurt someone!). Suggest caution on other DH trails, particularly any blind features. More info and photos.
Found some info on mtbr.com about legal access to the Cline trails. Includes GPS map.
Tacky on the north side, dry everywhere else.
Gate was padlocked on 12/28 with No Trespassing sign added to it.
Rode today. Gate was unlocked when I went up. Locked when I came back down. Wouldn’t recommend driving in if its unlocked. You’ll likely get locked in.
Gate at the bottom of the road is now locked. According to a map that’s been posted the road is no longer accessible by the public. No word on the trails. DH Trails are on BLM land it appears. XC trail starts in private land so be aware.
The XC trail is riding well. Loose gravel seems to be the norm.
Didn’t attempt the backside of cline as it’s pretty apparent it’s under snow. Wouldn’t attempt if I were you.
rode the back side and up that wall, there was some good dirt and snow for the hiking. I think if you came down off the road climb and took the loop the other you would be able to plow through most of it.
Laps are possible using the road now. Both trail 1 and 2 are riding well.
Mucky and snowy at the bottom. Trail runout to parking area 6 inch deep snow. As much as I’m jonesing to ride, I’ll pass for now
In Prime Condition. Trail Packed tight.
Was riding very nicely today. A little precip right as I was leaving!
Riding really well — the rain really helped to firm up the trails.
From Maston trail head it is a 12 mile ride.
If you take the longer loop just past the rock quarry.
Mountain biked the XC trail, the Saddle, and Trail 1 today. They’re all in awesome shape. So killer.
Yesterday (Thursday) Cline Butte was great. XC loop, the Saddle and Trail 1 had great dirt with no puddles.
Few muddy sections coming down from saddle on Wednesday. Otherwise, 5 mile up & back in good shape.
Minor mud patches on the back side in the shade on Saturday. Seems like it’ll dry up fast.