Without a doubt, we have a lot of outdoor activities to experience in Bend. From hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails to cooling off by floating the Deschutes River, it can seem like recreation in Central Oregon is endless.
That is, until you’ve lived here for a while and feel like you’ve done all that Bend offers. But the truth is, you haven’t discovered the next best thing: exploring trails on an ATV.
Here at Bend Magazine, we try our very best to keep you updated on the happenings around Central Oregon and what to do on any given day, any time of year. So, when Matt Miller and his crew at Octane Adventures invited us out for a day of four-wheeling on some of Central Oregon’s ATV trails, we jumped at the opportunity and thought we’d bring you along for the adventure.
Hitting the Trails with Octane Adventures
Octane Adventures offers a few different trips, both guided and self-guided. After reading rave reviews online, we opted for the guided tour, which we strongly recommend, too. Octane Adventures guides take you to all the best local spots as they know the area like the back of their hands. Access areas and views most people won’t reach even on the most epic hiking days. Propelled on four wheels, see lava flows, serene alpine lakes and views of the Cascade Range. Plus, with our guide leading the way, we didn’t waste time circling the same backroads, missing the best viewpoints, spots to cool off, or secret trails. We could focus on the fun, with no risk of getting lost. Despite maps on smartphones, ATV routes can take riders pretty far out there in areas with little to no cell service.
If you have more time, consider Octane Adventures’ Black Sands ATV Tour. The Black Sands tour gets deep into Central Oregon’s backcountry, featuring some of the area’s most challenging trails and backroads. Stunning mountain views, lakes, streams, and lava flows await you on this 4-hour ATV experience.
Tours with Octane Adventures take you so close to the Cascade Range that you can nearly reach out and touch the mountains. After winding down pine forest backcountry roads, you come upon some of the most pristine lakes and remarkable geological features, like lava flows and lava tube caves. We watched as bald eagles soared overhead. It is truly unbelievable to know this is right here in our backyard! Bend Magazine’s guided tour with Octane Adventures had us riding up to Little Cache Mountain near Mount Washington for some of the most spectacular 360-degree views we have ever seen.
To say we had fun would be an understatement.
If you have a handle on the area and know where to go, signing up for a self-guided tour is an option. Rental of one of Octane’s side-by-side ATVs, for four- or eight-hour rental options. The price of a four-hour rental was same as the four-hour Black Sands ATV Tour, so we opted to go with a guide to uncover Central Oregon’s secret spots.
How an Octane Adventures Trip Works
Booking a trip through Octane Adventures’ website is super easy. First, choose between the High Cascades, Black Sands, or self-guided trips. Next, select the dates you want to go — Octane Adventures will automatically filter out the days they are fully booked on their calendar. Lastly, after you confirm your booking, you’ll receive a booking confirmation with all the information you need for your ATV adventure.
On the day of your trip, you’ll meet Octane Adventures at their trailhead in Sisters, where they will have their brand new Polaris RZR XP1000 4-seaters waiting for you. And, yes, despite this being a “guided” tour, you and up to three friends will be driving one of these go-anywhere, off-road machines.
Driving the Polaris side-by-side should come naturally, as automatic transmission and power steering make them very similar to the car you showed up in. And don’t be afraid of getting lost, as each side-by-side is equipped with a user-friendly GPS navigation system. That way, you can track where the other vehicles are on the map at all times. Everyone stays together on this excursion.
Before you follow your guide deep into the forest, Octane Adventures goes over a few safety items. You’ll discuss where you are going and get a comprehensive orientation of how to operate the side-by-side. Next, you’ll be fitted for a helmet and goggles, both provided by Octane Adventures. And before the pedal hits the floor, you’ll be shown how to strap into the 3-point harness in your seat properly.
If you want to amp up your safety knowledge, watch the ATV safety and trail etiquette videos, along with a liability release form sent to you beforehand—they’re packed with useful tips, especially if this is your first time operating an ATV.
Pro Tips from the Trail
- Use the bathroom before leaving home, there are no facilities in the backcountry.
- Pack water, snacks, or lunch (you can rent a cooler from Octane).
- Be sure to stay hydrated and fueled to fully enjoy your epic adventure!
Now, you’re ready to ride. See you on the trails!
Explore Winters with Octane, Too
When the temperature drops and snow begins to fall, Octane Adventures trades their side-by-sides for snowmobiles. And while they explore the Cascade Mountains outside of Sisters during the summer, Octane heads south to explore Newberry Crater in the winter.
Octane Adventures offers three different guided snowmobile tours. The first is a two-hour tour of some of the most scenic locations at Newberry Crater. Two hours is added to the second tour option, with a stop at the historic Paulina Lake Lodge for food and drinks (which we highly recommend). The third tour has riders chasing the sunset around Newberry Crater to catch some of the most spectacular golden hour views.
Pro Tip for Weather
Embrace weather of all kinds! Cloudy sunsets can reveal an equally stunning and moody winter landscape. Tours for all four seasons offer remarkable experiences, rain, snow or shine.
Ready for Your Adventure?
Octane Adventures is your ticket to discovering more of Bend. Whether you’re exploring trails in summer or cruising the snow in winter, they offer an adventure like no other. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip and explore the wild side of Central Oregon.
