Mark Morical: Late fall mountain biking options in Central Oregon before snow arrives

BEND, Ore. — Waking up to a dusting of snow on the ground in late October means it is most definitely shoulder season in Central Oregon.

As we wait for the snow to pile up and ski season to start, mountain biking remains a viable option for those looking to enjoy the crisp, cold days of late autumn on the High Desert.

Here are a few options for mountain biking in the late fall/early winter in Central Oregon.

Swamp Wells Trail

The Swamp Wells Trail southeast of Bend is a good spot to find some autumn solitude on a half-day ride.

Just before the ponderosa pine trees give way to the sagebrush, Bessie Butte rises above the terrain off China Hat Road.

I recently drove southeast down China Hat Road and parked at the Bessie Butte Trailhead. I started out on the Bessie Butte Trail, and after riding about a quarter of a mile east, I made a right on the Swamp Wells Trail headed south.

Swamp Wells, which runs all the way to Newberry Crater more than 20 miles to the south, seems to be sort of an ignored trail among Central Oregon mountain bikers.

From Bessie, the Swamp Wells Trail is a gradual climb toward Kelsey Butte, about 5 miles to the south. Such a moderate climb is good for mountain bikers of all skill levels. A few rocky sections add in some technical challenges, but they are few and far between.

The Swamp Wells Trail stays in the trees until the tough climb up Kelsey Butte, where it leads to sprawling views of the vast forest and High Desert.

As I continued through the forest, getting closer to Kelsey Butte, the trail became steeper and steeper. Eventually it turned into a seriously challenging climb, but one well worth the effort.

The trail, with a couple of switchbacks, led me to the viewpoint about halfway up Kelsey Butte. From that perch, I could see a significant...