Originally Posted by
SchralphMacchio
That’s a really tight schedule to sneak in a lush green ride, especially going 89 to 97. NUT isn’t exactly right along the way, as it will take some time to get from 97 to where the NUT starts off 138 - and the lush parts are well west of Diamond Lake.
The trails out of Klamath Lake or Bend will be much shorter detours but much less green. There is a cool mellow XC Loop about 40 miles west of Klamath Lake called Brown Mountain Loop that mixes lava flows and forests, but not lush by Oregon standards.
It won’t be as lush as the NUT, but doing an out and back ride at Waldo Lake is pretty wonderful - mossy Doug firs and Waldo is just about as clear as Tahoe. North side is busy and easy riding, west side is punchy rooty rocky, south and east sides are in between. Starting at Shadow Bay (south), and slathering yourself with bug spray and doing an out and back to the West side is a great ride. Waldo is maybe 30 miles west of 97?