Peterson Ridge Trails, Sisters, Oregon

The Peterson Ridge Trail System is a series of horse, hiking, and biking trails. The bike trails are completely separate, so although you may see some cyclists as you ride, you won't be in close contact with them. However you will cross over their trails quite a bit, so it's good to keep an eye out for anyone coming.

Sisters Trails sign.

To get there: From Sisters take Hwy 20 east towards Bend for 4 miles, just after the rodeo grounds take a right on Peterson Ridge Rd.
From Redmond: Take Hwy 126 west towards Sisters for 16 miles, take a left on Cloverdale Rd for 3.5 miles, then a right onto Hwy 20, drive almost a mile and then take the left onto Peterson Ridge Rd.
From Bend: Take Hwy 20 west towards Sisters for just over 14 miles, then take a left on Peterson Ridge Rd.

Once you are on Peterson Ridge Rd which is a bumpy potholed gravel road, follow it half a mile and park on the right near the message board. You will be directly behind the Sisters rodeo grounds.

Parking directly behind the rodeo grounds.

This description is for the 12.5 mile ride to three viewpoints.
There are many signs and junctions along this route, but you can't go wrong if you just continue to follow the arrows and other markers that point you towards the various overlooks. There are maps in the map box, that you can take along with you.The first sign is right in the parking area, take the trail due west pointing towards Peterson Ridge Horse Trail.

The trail sign at the parking area.

After a short while the trail crosses over Harrington Loop Rd, and continues on the left side of the road.

 Harrington Loop Rd crossing.

The trail parallels the road most of the way then becomes a two track for awhile, then ends up back on the road. Keep following the white diamonds and you will shortly cross a second road. The trail continues on the other side and then turns into a dirt road that you stay left on.

The trail continues across this road.

Trails are marked with white diamonds.

At the next sign you reach, continue to the left up the hill, and then at the following sign the Lazy Z loop is straight ahead, which is another option for a shorter 8 mile ride, but for the viewpoint ride you need to go to the right.

From there just stay on the main trail, and you will get to the first viewpoint which is the Peterson Ridge Overlook. There is a convenient hitching rail if you want to tie up and wander around a little.

Hitching rail at Peterson Ridge Overlook.

Mountain views from the first overlook.

Continuing on, the trail crosses two red dirt roads in a row, after the second one the trail becomes dirt road 600. As you ride you will suddenly get a great view of North Sister. This is also where there is a new trail, on the left, that can be done as a short detour, to the Eagle Rock Two Viewpoint.

Mountain views from Eagle Rock Two Viewpoint.

Eagle Rock Two Viewpoint.

Back on the main trail the next junction you come to is the start of a loop, where you can either go left or right, for this description I went right.

Sign at the start of the loop.

You will get to the third viewpoint by following the sign towards Peak View.

Peak View.

Peak View.

Peak View.

Continue the rest of the loop, and then retrace your steps all the way back to the truck.

Some of the other riding options are: The aforementioned Lazy Z Loop, or you can just explore on random dirt roads in the area for miles. There is also a trail that goes from the rodeo grounds to Whychus Creek and beyond. In the spring after the water has gotten a little lower, you can cross the creek and continue to follow this to the Metolius Windigo Trail.

Rocks on the Peterson Ridge Loop.

Happy Trails!

GPS COORDINATES TO PETERSON RIDGE TH