Off-Road Trails Near Metolius, Oregon

This is a combination of gravel roads and dirt two-track accessing the Crooked River National Grasslands from nearby Madras. It is named after a spur that accesses a hill with a great overlook of nearby Haystack Reservoir. There are multiple cattle gates along this track and throughout the area. Mak...
Learn more about Haystack Overlook

So easy that a PT Cruiser can do it...wait, no. Please don't. To do this trail, a rear locker and 35-inch tires are recommended. It's short and sweet but an absolute blast and a great intro to teach people how to use the features of their rig.
Learn more about Willow Creek Crossing

This is a dirt road used to access Gray Butte and the adjacent Henderson Flats OHV system from US-97. This area is popular with equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers, and the UTV and moto crowd, all using nearby trails specific to the different activities. Expect traffic. It's occasionally snowbound ...
Learn more about NF-5740

This is an unmaintained dirt road accessing Gray Butte Trailhead and other nearby trails in the Crooked River National Grasslands just north of Gray Butte. There are numerous dispersed camping spots along this road often used by climbers visiting nearby Smith Rocks. This road climbs up over 4,000 fe...
Learn more about Gray Butte - NF-5700

Easy, unmaintained dirt road accessing Gray Butte Trailhead and other nearby trails in the Crooked River National Grasslands just West of Gray Butte. There are numerous dispersed camping spots along this road often used by climbers visiting nearby Smith Rocks. This road climbs up over 4000', so expe...
Learn more about NF-5730

This is a 75-mile gravel connector route between Madras, OR and Suttle lake. This route passes through Lake Billy Chinook State Park before climbing into the forest and dropping steeply down to the Metolius River. Once across the Metolius, continue on to Suttle Lake. Exploration opportunities includ...
Learn more about Green Ridge

Gravel Forest Service Road climbing out of the popular Skull Hollow campground up onto the shoulder of Gray Butte in the Crooked River National Grasslands. This road has multiple roadside pullouts used for dispersed camping by climbers visiting nearby Smith Rock State Park. This road climbs up above...
Learn more about Skull Hollow - NF-5710

Steep, rocky road accessing the communications towers on Gray Butte. This road starts at Gray Butte Saddle at roughly 3700 feet and climbs to almost 5100 feet at the summit. The gate at the lower end is occasionally locked. There are dispersed camping spots on this road near the Gray Butte Saddle Tr...
Learn more about Gray Butte Summit

Rough dirt and rock road accessing Alder Springs Trailhead and Wychus Creek. This road passes through a seasonal gate (and then through a private land easement) to access a section of the Crooked River National Grasslands, which is closed seasonally to protect large game winter range. Additional det...
Learn more about Alder Springs

This is an easy gravel forest logging road connecting NF 1170 to Squaw Ridge (NF-1190). It is primarily used when accessing the small portion of the Deschutes National Forest north of Prairie Creek. This road is tight with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely to occur, so if you value your pa...
Learn more about NF-200

This gravel Forest Service road winds through a landlocked section of the Deschutes National Forest above the Deschutes River. This section is accessible from the South and is surrounded by the nearby Jefferson Wilderness and Warm Springs Reservation. This road varies in elevation from 3500'-4000' i...
Learn more about Squawback Ridge - NF119000

Gravel Forest Service road winding through a landlocked section of the Deschutes National Forest above the Deschutes River. This section is accessible from the South and is surrounded by the nearby Jefferson Wilderness and Warm Springs Reservation. This road varies in elevation from 3500'-4000' in e...
Learn more about NF-115

Get ready for a rugged adventure on the Desert Ridge Trail, located on DNR land. This trail is not for the faint of heart, with its potholed, rocky, and dirt road that'll put your vehicle (and your nerves) to the test. It's a little bumpy, but the desert vibes and stunning views make it worth it. As...
Learn more about Dirt Road Dash

Just past the privately-owned "Overland Ranch" (a fitting name for their property), lies a trail system on BLM land. Remington Ranch Road has several different spurs, one of which winds along the border through patches of trees. The trail starts as gravel at first as you pass privately owned land on...
Learn more about Remington Ranch Road Loop

Trail 99 winds through low alpine terrain with tight curves among juniper trees and features numerous embedded rocks and ledge obstacles, making it an intermediate route. The trail has more elevation gain in the middle of the route, compared to surrounding trails, with small climbs and descents ofte...
Learn more about 99

This route will take you up to Prairie Farm Creek and the top side of Green Ridge. The route provides many camping opportunities with an abundant amount of other spur trails you can branch off on. From this road, you can head west to Green Ridge, which provides amazing views of the Cascade Range, in...
Learn more about Prairie Farm Creek

Trail 71 is a 4.5-mile narrow singletrack winding through the eastern half of the Buckhorn trail system. It traverses low alpine and high desert terrain dominated by sagebrush and junipers. Riders should be prepared for scraggly tree branches extending into the trail, scattered loose and embedded ro...
Learn more about 71

Trail 75 is a 1.6-mile loop starting from the intersection with Trail 74, running along a flat mesa top with expansive valley views, especially as it rides along the mesa's edge. The trail includes tight sections weaving between trees and areas with more embedded rock, providing a mix of flow and te...
Learn more about 75

Trail 74 is a 1.6-mile route beginning on a flat mesa top with easy dirt terrain. The trail crosses Trail 73 and a few roads before a semi-steep descent off the mesa near the intersection with Trail 73. It features whoops and mostly smooth dirt with scattered loose rocks. The landscape includes juni...
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Trail 73 is an easy 1.7-mile single-track connector between Trails 75 and 72. The trail features mostly dirt terrain with scattered embedded and loose rocks, along with lots of whoops. The profile is very gradual with small hills up and down. Trail 73 crosses Trail 74 about halfway through.
Learn more about 73

So easy that a PT Cruiser can do it...wait, no. Please don't. To do this trail, a rear locker and 35-inch tires are recommended. It's short and sweet but an absolute blast and a great intro to teach people how to use the features of their rig.
Learn more about Willow Creek Crossing

This is an easy gravel forest logging road connecting NF 1170 to Squaw Ridge (NF-1190). It is primarily used when accessing the small portion of the Deschutes National Forest north of Prairie Creek. This road is tight with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely to occur, so if you value your pa...
Learn more about NF-200

This gravel Forest Service road winds through a landlocked section of the Deschutes National Forest above the Deschutes River. This section is accessible from the South and is surrounded by the nearby Jefferson Wilderness and Warm Springs Reservation. This road varies in elevation from 3500'-4000' i...
Learn more about Squawback Ridge - NF119000

Gravel Forest Service road winding through a landlocked section of the Deschutes National Forest above the Deschutes River. This section is accessible from the South and is surrounded by the nearby Jefferson Wilderness and Warm Springs Reservation. This road varies in elevation from 3500'-4000' in e...
Learn more about NF-115

So easy that a PT Cruiser can do it...wait, no. Please don't. To do this trail, a rear locker and 35-inch tires are recommended. It's short and sweet but an absolute blast and a great intro to teach people how to use the features of their rig.
Learn more about Willow Creek Crossing

This is an easy gravel forest logging road connecting NF 1170 to Squaw Ridge (NF-1190). It is primarily used when accessing the small portion of the Deschutes National Forest north of Prairie Creek. This road is tight with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely to occur, so if you value your pa...
Learn more about NF-200

This gravel Forest Service road winds through a landlocked section of the Deschutes National Forest above the Deschutes River. This section is accessible from the South and is surrounded by the nearby Jefferson Wilderness and Warm Springs Reservation. This road varies in elevation from 3500'-4000' i...
Learn more about Squawback Ridge - NF119000

Gravel Forest Service road winding through a landlocked section of the Deschutes National Forest above the Deschutes River. This section is accessible from the South and is surrounded by the nearby Jefferson Wilderness and Warm Springs Reservation. This road varies in elevation from 3500'-4000' in e...
Learn more about NF-115