Mt. Bachelor (Bend) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

10.2
PDI
15.1 mi
DISTANCE
2,537 ft
GAINED
3 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Steve Jones, Olympia, WA; Joel Blatt, Bend, OR; Mark Mathewson/Catherine Dubay, Santa Rosa, CA

INTRO

Our source of cycling in Central Oregon, Joel Blatt, recommends this loop which includes most of the Mt. Bachelor from Bend climb (Start at Wanoga Sno-Park, climb to Mount Bachelor Ski Resort, loop past Elk Lake Resort, left on NF-40, and left on NF-45 (Sunriver Cutoff climb) - Bacherlor Loop

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
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ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Challenging
4.5
Road
2.5
Traffic
3.5
Scenery

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Crater Lake
United States (OR)
10 ROUTES
29 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
258.3
mi
DISTANCE
29,750
ft
ELEV. GAIN

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

FROM
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Jul 5, 2024
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 3
traffic: 2
road: 4
Jul 5, 2024
scenery: 3
traffic: 2
road: 4
July 4, 2024 This is a long, gradual climb from Bend on a good road with a smooth, wide bike shoulder. Lots of high-speed traffic - 60+mph. This is a very popular climb so vehicle drivers are courteous and move over. Descent down is nice and not too fast because of the low gradient. I combined this with a 17 mile descent down to SunRiver for a quick snack then climbed back up and down to Bend. HWY 45 down to SunRiver is also a good road with wide shoulders and very little traffic. Adds 34 miles RT and 2100ft.
May 9, 2021
difficulty: Strenuous
scenery: 4
traffic: 3
road: 5
May 9, 2021
scenery: 4
traffic: 3
road: 5
Climbing up to Mount Bachelor is safe, given wide shoulder. The problem comes if/when you descend from Bachelor back to Bend. Oncoming traffic (scenic byway) will often be passing slower cars and not see you! You could be going upwards of 50 mph, which means you won't have much time to react, if necessary.
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
S.G. (%)
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Segment Data
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Bike with PJAMM Cycling Jersey draped over it parked underneath US Forest Service sign reading "Welcome to Mt. Bachelor"

Cycling Mt. Bachelor from Bend, Oregon

Ride 15.1 miles gaining 2,539’’ at 3% average grade.

Photo collage, road signs for Scenic Byway Welcome Station, Mt. Bachelor, and Bend, aerial drone view of roadway cut within alpine setting, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner

The 19-mile climb from downtown Bend, OR (3,726 ft.) to the Mt. Bachelor Ski Area (6,386 ft.) is the classic road-bike climb for Bend cyclists.  Leaving Bend on Century Drive (Cascade Lakes Highway) on a broad highway with a generous shoulder, the ascent is steady but never steep.

Ride towards Mt. Bachelor much of this climb.

Mt. Bachelor in the distance from the road along the climb

Views of Mt. Bachelor from the road as we climb.

Continuing over the top of the ski area, passing Sparks Lake, Elk Lake, Lava Lake, and the Crane Prairie Reservoir, cyclists can complete a circumnavigation of Mt. Bachelor using Roads 40 and 45, rejoining this climb three miles below the ski area.

aerial drone photos show alpine setting roadway along the route to Mt. Bachelor

Climb finish.

Mt. Bachelor is in the background.