Sparks Lake Tr4
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#sparkslake
Overall: 6
Aerobic: 5
Technical: 5
Steepness: 4
Flow: 8
Singletrack: 100%
The Deschutes National Forest Sparks Lake Trail runs 2mi from Sparks Lake to Metolius-Windigo Tr99, with several options to extend the ride.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 12.5mi
Ascent
Moderate
Elevation Change
TH:5000'
Avg Ascent:1100'
Ascent Incline
3%
Duration
Avg: 2hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
The OAB is often ridden from the 5400' elevation Sparks Lake to the 4700' elevation Lava Lake, which results in an inverted ride profile, so it's better to start that ride from the Lava Lake campground trailhead.
A lollipop ride from Lava Lake to Hosmer Lake is covered on the Metolius-Windigo Tr99 page.
This page covers several rides which originate from the Quinn Creek CG
View of the Quinn Creek Campground TH, a 12.5mi (1100' ascent) OAB to Sparks Lake and a 14mi (1300' ascent) CCW loop with Katsuk Pond Tr13.
These rides cover relatively flat terrain, although there are several brief but intense climbs covering benched terrain near Hosmer Lake.
Not really 'destination ride' terrain but a good end of day or last day ride if staying in the area, covering rocky, lava terrain which keeps the ride interesting.
Hosmer - Sparks CCW Loop
A 2mi section of Cascade Hwy is needed in order to connect the upper Sparks Lake Tr4 to Devils Lake Tr6.1, but otherwise this is a nice lake tour ride which covers most of the intra-lake terrain.
TH: Descend alongside Quinn Creek to the top of Hosmer Lake, then ascend sharply to the top of the butte and ride over to Metolius-Windigo Tr99.
2.2mi: Go left on Metolius-Windigo Tr99, with .8mi of flat terrain followed by a 1.2mi, 330' climb to the Appaloosa Tr13.2 intersection, continuing over relatively flat terrain to Sparks Lake Tr4.
5.1mi: Go left at the fork onto Sparks Lake Tr4 and ascend uneven terrain to the ride summit at 6.4mi, then descend to the Sparks Lake road. Go right, to Cascade Hwy, then go left and ride to the Devils Lake Tr6.1 intersection
9.3mi: Go left onto Devils Lake Tr6.1 and ride around the lake to the parking area. Find Katsuk Pond Tr13 at the south end of the parking area and descend to Quinn Spring Meadows.
13.3mi: Go right at the Appaloosa Tr13.2 intersection and continue riding around the marsh area, back to the TH.
Directions: Century Drive past Mt Bachelor to the Quinn Creek CG TH. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
hosmer to sparks
- TH: Descend alongside Quinn Creek to the top of Hosmer Lake, then ascend sharply to the top of the butte and ride over to Metolius-Windigo Tr99.
- 2.2mi: Go left on Metolius-Windigo Tr99, with .8mi of flat terrain followed by a 1.2mi, 330' climb to the Appaloosa Tr13.2 intersection, continuing over relatively flat terrain to Sparks Lake Tr4.
- 5.1mi: Go left at the fork onto Sparks Lake Tr4 and ascend uneven terrain to the ride summit at 6.4mi, then descend to the Sparks Lake road at 7.2mi, then return to the Quinn Creek TH.
- Option: Return on Appaloosa Tr13.2 and Katsuk Pond Tr13.
Trail Index
This Ride
Appaloosa Trail 13.2, Devils Lake Trail 6.1, Katsuk Pond Trail 13, Metolius-Windigo Trail 99, Quinn Creek Trail 1, Sink Creek Trail 20.1, Sparks Lake Trail 4
Area
Bens Trail 50, COD Trail 71, Cultus: Deer Lake Trail 6, Deschutes River Trail 2.3, Edison-Lava Trail 31, Elfin Magic Trail 45, Farewell Trail 26, Flagline Access Trail 40.1, Flagline Trail 41, Flagline Tie Trail 41.1, Funner, Grand Slam Trail 44, Kents Trail 43, KGB Trail 72, Many Lakes Trail 15, Mrazek Trail 32, MTB Trail 51, North Fork Trail 24.2, Phils Trail 42, Sector 16 Trail 27, Skyliners Trail 28, South Fork Trail 25, Storm King Trail 48, Swampy Lake Trail 23, Swampy Loop Trail 23.2, Swampy-Dutchman Trail 40, Swede Ridge Trail 52, Tiddlywinks, Tumalo Creek Trail 25.1, Tumalo Ridge Trail 25.2, Voodoo Trail 46, Winopee Tie Trail 16.5
Metolius-Windigo Tr99 Biking
Three Sisters Wilderness Hiking
Elk-Devils Trail 12, Mink Lake Basin Trail 3525, Mirror Lakes Trail 20, Moraine Lake Trail 17.1, Nash Lake Trail 3527, Olallie Park Trail 3530, Pacific Crest Trail 2000-E, Red Hill Trail 3315, Senoj Lake Trail 14.1, Six Lakes Trail 14, South Sister Trail 36, Wickiup Plains Trail 12.1
Campgrounds
Beach Campground, Devils Lake Campground, Elk Lake Campground, Lava Lake Campground, Mallard Marsh Campground, Sparks Lake Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
