One of my favorite places to ride is the Peterson Ridge Horse Trail near Sisters. This trail has it all – panoramic mountain views, beautiful ponderosa pine forest, horse-friendly terrain, directional signs at every trail junction, and separate trails for horses and bikes.
The Peterson Ridge Horse Trail is an out-and-back trail that runs the length of its namesake ridge. You’ll find three scenic overlooks that offer views of Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Black Butte, Three-Fingered Jack, the Three Sisters, and Broken Top. Plus, you’ll have mountain views from several additional vantage points along the trail.
The route is well signed, with white trailblazer diamonds on the trees and trail junction signs that indicate the distances and directions to various destinations along the route. The elevation changes are minimal, and the trail is easy – the only minor challenges are a couple of irrigation canals that flow for about a month each summer.
The Peterson Ridge Horse Trail is open year-round, though it may be too snowy to ride there at times in the winter. The trail can be dusty in summer (this is Central Oregon, after all), but you can minimize the dust by riding in pairs or trios instead of in larger groups.
You'll park at the Rodeo Grounds Trailhead, then follow the while diamonds on the trees. They'll take you to the Peterson Ridge Overlook, the Eagle Rock Two Viewpoint, or the Peak View Viewpoint. Pick a destination and ride!
Find Out More
You can learn more about the Peterson Ridge Horse Trail in Riding Central Oregon Horse Trails, available at www.NWHorseTrails.com.
