Changes on the way for trail

The first of a series of spring-blooming events is unfolding now along the upper reaches of the Peterson Ridge Trail (PRT), with flowering manzanita everywhere.

Apart from the conspicuous beauty, the trail is in near-perfect condition with pretty much uninterrupted firm damp soil throughout the 25-mile system, and is getting heavy use from local cyclists and runners, and ever more from Bend, Redmond, and beyond. Central Oregon Magazine's winter edition listed the PRT as runner-up in two "Best of Central Oregon" awards, Best Biking Trail and Favorite Running Trail.

The PRT meanwhile has seen some changes in the three short years since Sisters Trails Alliance completed the system's makeover. Increasing use and the passage of time means that the trail is "ridden in," loose rocks are mostly gone, the dirt is smooth and firm, and banks are building up in the corners. Trails Alliance volunteers have added a number of more technically challenging options here and there throughout the system, loops off the main trails from a few dozen yards to half a mile in length, and a "log ride" feature on the East Leg. These will be better identified this summer.

And there are more changes to come, soon. The environmental assessment initiated and funded by the Trails Alliance that is currently being completed by the Forest Service includes a mile-long segment of trail that parallels the road to Three Creek Lake from the Upper Overlook to the point where the PRT now meets the road. The current upper terminus of the trail will then be the new apex of the "stacked loop" system, and the outer loop will be 20 miles long instead of the current 18.5. Sisters Trails Alliance will be printing new maps before the summer season, free to the public and available at many locations around town.

Another item included in the environmental assessment is a parking lot for the trail system a few hundred yards up Three Creek Road from the trailhead at Elm and Tyee. Even now on occasion 15 or more cars can be seen at the trailhead and along Tyee Drive. The plan is for a 20-car lot with a restroom in order to accommodate increasing use of the system.

And finally ... even more trail! As part of the Whychus Portal project, STA, with Forest Service oversight, will be designing and building a trail from the Whychus Overlook parking area west along an existing road corridor to the Metolius-Windigo Trail. The Whychus Portal project has teamed the Sisters Trails Alliance with the National Forest Foundation to provide limited access into the wild and scenic river area. While confined to a 100-foot corridor, this trail-to-be will greatly improve the experience of cyclists returning to the Peterson Ridge Trail from the Metolius-Windigo, or going over for a look at the river.