Tangent/QS 1041 For Mountain Biking

West of Bend in the Deschutes National Forest, the Tangent/QS 1041 route is an all dirt 11 mile (800) route. Drive 14 miles west of Bend on Hwy 46 (Cascade Lakes Hwy) to Virginia Meissner Sno-Park. Park in the Sno-Park and head north on FS 4615 to begin the route. Continue on FS 4615 for about 4.5 miles, as it winds around, up and down through the lodgepole pine and snowbrush. When you reach the junction of FS 250 (on your left) and FS 300 (straight ahead), take FS 300 and make the short, rocky climb to Quarry Site 1041. A short scramble to the top of the hill will give you excellent overlook views of Pine Mountain, Newberry Crater, Lava Butte and Broken Top. Return on FS 300 and turn left onto FS 4615. Descend on FS 4615 about 2.5 miles to the third FS 800 turnoff. Turn right here and begin riding south on a nice double track through the forest. Turn left onto FS 400, come to FS 4612 (unmarked) and head to the right. Turn left onto FS 090 and mountain bike ride for 0.5 mile to FS 060 and turn left, climbing back up to the junction with FS 4615. Turn left onto FS 4615 and mountain bike ride the mile or so back to the trailhead.

Overall, Tangent/QS 1041 is the 12th most popular mountain bike trail of all 56 mountain biking rides in Oregon. Several of the better mountain bike trails are nearby Tangent/QS 1041 including 420 Loop Trail, Deschutes River Trails, Phils Trail Loop, Sparks Lake/Lava Lakes Trail, Charlton Lake Loop Trail and Cultus Lake Loop Trail.