Trail Snapshot
Trail Reports
March 1, 2017 at 2:10 pmFresh on packed. Some drifts in the clear cut sections. Corners and short climb sections are getting some wear and tear. All said, riding awesome.
Thanks Gary!- March 1, 2017 at 2:09 pmEmailed Kevin and Marvin in support of expanding the permit.
The short loop has some fresh on packed with some other traffic mixed in. A bit chattery, but fun.
February 23, 2017 at 1:59 pmCompletely spaced a report yesterday after 6 hours grooming. Both loops set up very well over night. Trails were riding great this morning.- February 22, 2017 at 11:04 pmGroomed, decently packed, not a lot of wind drifts.
Some boot tracks and/or ski pole plants mixed into the tread, but not super bumpy.
Ran 4.0" tires with pretty low pressure and floatation and traction were pretty good.
February 20, 2017 at 12:50 pmToo deep to ride the fatbike loops, but you can follow the snowmobile tracks up and around to the upper parking lot. Still fun!- February 18, 2017 at 4:25 pmRiding well. A few soft low spots, but on the whole in great shape today
January 29, 2017 at 3:11 pmThanks for the feedback. It may be frustrating but due to this being wanoga both dogs and snowshoers are allowed on the trails. The snowshoe trails at wanoga are the only official snowshoe trails open to dogs. And they are extremely limited. That said we also have to ride on existing snowshoe trails to get to the bike trails. I've already heard from 1 snowshoer that this is frustrating for them.
All this to say I hope the FS lets us move the trails higher sooner than later!
Gary’s Grooming Report:
Feb 28th
Both loops groomed. Last day grooming.
As your having fun on the trails think about what your going to put in writing this week to send to the Forest Service.
These trails are still under a trial permit, Your comments make a difference!
Send email or letter and stamp.
Subject: Wanoga Fat Bike Trails
Send to:
Kevin Larkin
District Ranger
klarkin@fs.fed.us
63095 Deschutes Market Rd.
Bend, OR 97701
Marvin Lang
Recreation Forester
melang@fs.fed.us
— Gary
Fat Bike Ride Description
Please help keep trails open to us by respecting trail etiquette:
- Weekends and Holidays – park in the upper Wanoga snowmobile parking lot and ride down to the lower Sno-Play area. Ride the fat bike connector trail between the upper and lower parking lots. Look for the snow-bike sign and cut through the snow bank.
- We share the ski and snowshoe trailhead on the north side of parking lot.
- Please fill out the trail registrar. We want to show the Forest Service that this something we would like to keep doing and expand.
- Take the snowshoe loop. PLEASE stay off the ski loops. Do not ride on or in the classic tracks.
- Wide tires 3.8″ or wider.
- Important: TIRE PRESSURE – based on current conditions use 4 PSI. Your sidewalls should wrinkle like a funny-car tire.
- If you’re leaving ruts its too soft to ride.
- Yield to all other users when riding.
- Meissner Nordic helped us get our trails please help ease trail conflicts and stay off the groomed Nordic trails.
Snowmobile trails:
- Its is difficult for snowmobile riders to see you. You will hear them way before they see you pull over and let them pass.
- Stay to the far right of the trail and yield to snowmobiles.
Winter conditions can change hourly… If you’ve ridden this route recently, you can add a report to the discussion area below — or use the status update pull down at the top of the page.
Trail Photos
Trail Reports » Wanoga Short Loop
The newest comments appear at the top and older comments follow. Click the reply button to add a comment to a thread.
Fresh on packed. Some drifts in the clear cut sections. Corners and short climb sections are getting some wear and tear. All said, riding awesome.
Thanks Gary!
Emailed Kevin and Marvin in support of expanding the permit.
The short loop has some fresh on packed with some other traffic mixed in. A bit chattery, but fun.
Completely spaced a report yesterday after 6 hours grooming. Both loops set up very well over night. Trails were riding great this morning.
Groomed, decently packed, not a lot of wind drifts.
Some boot tracks and/or ski pole plants mixed into the tread, but not super bumpy.
Ran 4.0″ tires with pretty low pressure and floatation and traction were pretty good.
Riding well. A few soft low spots, but on the whole in great shape today
Too deep to ride the fatbike loops, but you can follow the snowmobile tracks up and around to the upper parking lot. Still fun!
Earlier morning ride on the short loop on 1/28. Middle of trail was very firm at the time with softening as one migrated off center. In a single lap of the short loop we encountered eight snowshoers and two dogs. While we were polite and gave warning of our approach, we could not help but wonder how these scenarios with less patient or experienced riders could lead to conflict. While we cannot expect everyone to respect the limited capacity in which we are able to ride our fat tires on groomed trails, surely there is an opportunity for signage limiting the use on our TWO trails. Comment also logged in at check-in kiosk. Thank you Gary for all your hard work.
Thanks for the update Aaron.
The under the current permit the two loops fall under non motorized winter trails rules.
“All non motorized wither trails are open to all non motorized use, dogs excluded”. The dog part is dogs are only allowed on trails on the south side of the hwy.
Our trails are clearly marked as bike trails and the other users know that.
Every time I have encountered another user type I have explained the trails to them and they have always understood and are fine with yielding to us.
Thanks for the feedback. It may be frustrating but due to this being wanoga both dogs and snowshoers are allowed on the trails. The snowshoe trails at wanoga are the only official snowshoe trails open to dogs. And they are extremely limited. That said we also have to ride on existing snowshoe trails to get to the bike trails. I’ve already heard from 1 snowshoer that this is frustrating for them.
All this to say I hope the FS lets us move the trails higher sooner than later!
Looks like it’s going to be SOFT at Wanoga today.
High of 43° and it barley got down to freezing last night.
I’d suggest another sport.
Thanks Andrew.
I’m guessing your the tracks I saw between my second and third lap grooming. Good on you adjusting your tire pressure.
Short loop has been groomed
I did the short loop around 3:30 pm Tuesday. Dropped my tire pressure ,way down, to 5lb or less. I’m a newby but learning. Had no grip or rut issues. Trail was perfect. Thanks.
Short loop is reported to be hammered and soft.
Tried the short loop after a great ride on the long loop and it was noticeably softer. By the afternoon there was a bit more snow an had to walk one climb, but still fun.
Lots of fresh snow! Looks like it will be that way all week. Go skiing.
Both loops are riding very well. Bill is grooming tonight. If we don’t get a ton of snow tonight the trails should great tomorrow.
Wanoga Fat Bike Trails open on New Years Day!
This morning was mushy and soft on both loops. Only made it about 500 yards up one and had to turn around. 1″ + deep ruts and each pedal stroke had my rear fatty sinking.
Did ride a bit up the snowmobile trail from the loops entrance/exit spot. Shaded areas we fine with sections of soft.
Pray for a freeze soon.
Just got this report on the BendTrails Facebook page (Thursday afternoon): “The snow at Wanoga is SOFT! I turned around on the short loop after several attempts to stay upright. Maybe it’ll harden up by the weekend.”
Ride early… It’s supposed to be getting warm in the next few days. Check out Gary’s Grooming report for the latest.
Rode at 3 pm today. Trail is in pretty good shape.
Riding good at lunch today. A little bumpy but tons of traction and firming up nicely…
Riding good Friday Night. Staying in the center is the best plan.
Deep snow as of 1/20 at lunchtime. Not ridable after 50 feet.
Very soft and loose in spots. Will be great after another grooming!
Gary’s Grooming Report now appears at the top of both Wanoga Fat Bike trail pages…