Bend Things to Do

I AM SO SORRY YOU GOT SUCH POOR INFORMATION. BEND IS SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL CAMPGROUNDS WITH PLENTY OF WATER AS WELL AS SOME WITH A DECENT AMOUNT OF PRIVACY. THE HIGH LAKES (HEAD UP CENTURY DRIVE) ARE NUMEROUS AND CAN FIT THE LIKES AND NEEDS OF MOST ANY CAMPER. SOME ALLOW BOATS FOR SKING AND TUBING WHILE OTHERS ALLOW ONLY CRAFT WITHOUT ANY MOTORS. MOST HAVE DECENT FISHING AND THE SCENERY IS AMAZING. THERE ARE ALSO TRAILS FOR BIKING, HIKING , OR HORSEBACK RIDING. SOME WHERE THE MOUNTAIN WILDFLOWERS ARE ABUNDANT. YOU CAN EVEN TAKE THE SKI LIFT AT MT. BACHELOR IN THE SUMMER TO THE TOP, THE VIEW THERE IS SPECTACULAR. BEAUTIFUL PINES AND MOUNTAINS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TIME HERE, AND RETURN MANY TIMES. THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO SEE AND DO HERE.

Smack dab in the middle of Bend lies the Deschutes River backed up by a small irrigation dam just north of the downtown. The lake formed is called the Mirror Pond and it is home to many ducks, geese and swans. Houses occupy the west banks, but along the east bank a beautiful park - named for the City Founder - serves as the inner city living room. Walk along the paths and watch the families and the birds play. In the distance, snowy volcanic peaks loom.

About 15 miles west of Bend is the dramatic 97 foot high Tumalo Falls. Tumalo Creek drops in churning fashion over basaltic lava cliffs. There is a picnic area and viewpoint below and at the crest of the falls. Purple pentstemon glow out of the lava cliffs, brightening the picture and slowing the photographing hiker's progress.

See my Travelogue for pictures of some of the pentstemon at Tumalo Falls.

A stiff hike - 11 miles roundtrip and 4900 feet of elevation gain will take you the the top of Oregon's third highest mountain - South Sister, 10358 feet high. From Devils Lake Trailhead on the Cascade Lakes HIghway - 6.5 miles past Mt Bachelor - you push up a forested gully for the first 1.5 miles before emerging onto a large sandy plain. South Sister looms ahead and Moraine Lake is to your right. Crossing the plain is great as South Sister gets bigger with each step. Then a mile of uphill grind to a dusty saddle lying between Lewis and Clark Glaciers. Another sandy mile up and you reach the vast crater rim. Follow the rim on the east edge to the summit. From up here you can see from Mt McLoughlin, south of Crater Lake, to Mt Rainier, far to the north.

See my travellogue for a virtual climb.

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A very popular day hike that will really challenge you. It's a non- technical climb that many families and pets trek on up through the summer. Start on the well established Devil's Lake trail to the Moraine Lake trail and head on up. Start early, allow all day for the trek, and bring a good amount of water, sun block, and snacks. It really is a breath taking scenic hike to the top at 10,358 Ft, Bringing a ski pole helps. At the top is Tear Drop lake, the highest lake in the state.

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Just east of Circle 7 in Sunriver, enter the Forrest Service Road, park in the little lot provided, and hike or bike the 3 miles north to Benham Falls. Or, if you own sled dogs, bring them along with your scooter or bike and take them for a training run. (only if it's below 40 degrees)
Head down the main road and stay to the left and the trail soon finds the Deschutes River. Follow it to the Falls. It's a six mile round trip with great scenery and if you're lucky - some local wildlife. See you on the early morning trail!
Click on the pictures to get a better look. Two pictures were taken 2 miles up the trail at a scenic overlook. One in the parking lot after our run. (PS: My dogs are trained sled dogs with proper harnesses and we train regularly.)

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Lava Tubes are formed from lava flows that begin to cool and solidify on the surface and insolate the under layer of lava. This event eventually creates miles of caves just below the surface that thousands of years later you can hike and crawl through.
There are many Lava Tubes in the Bend area but only one is open year round and free of admission (the other caves are closed for protection of Bat habitats and icing in the fall and winter months Oct - Apr).
Located in the Deschutes National Forest off of Highway 97 you can spend a day exploring some of the Buttes, (Abrupt hills caused by geothermal activity) hiking trails, and lava tube caves.
The cave once your in becomes pitch black and goes on for miles so it is *VERY IMPORTANT* to go prepared. Lanterns help eluminate the cave surroundings but also definitely bring extra high powered flash lights and extra batteries. It is down right frightning if lost alone in the dark amongst the rocks, no one else will be close at all to help rescue you. More importantly bring someone along because even a very brave person would be affraid if alone in these cold, dark, and damp tubes. Once inside though it is an amazing if not a bit creepy experience. There are a lot of tight spots as well where it seems impassable but probably is, it's all based on your comfort level.
I thought it just amazing this unique geological wonder.
To Get there, take Highway 97 South through Bend, turn left on China Hat Road. Go straight for exactly 9 miles. Turn left at mile 9 onto the trail at FS242. You will know it has been 9 miles if you see a cattle guard and the road becomes unpaved just a few feet ahead. The small park sign will say .5 miles to Boyd Cave, continue on till a round about and look for the stair case. Enjoy!

Broken Top pushes itself barely into the 'climb' category from the 'hiking' side. Most of it is just a hard hike, but there are a couple of spots where very sure feet and your hands might come in handy. From the main Green Lake, you climb on bootpaths to Broken Top's long western ridge. Atop this ridge, you simply wander upwards, slowed mainly by the everexpanding views. One small 10 foot section of rock needs to be overcome en route and a narrow airy traverse of the summit block before easy scrambles take you to the summit. The cliffs to the east drop vertically down to the Crook Glacier far below. To the west, the Three Sisters are glorious. Mt Bachelor is in the immediate southeast. Coming back you can retrace your steps or - with good gaiters, balance, boots and trekking poles - you can ski the vast scree slopes. Cowabunga!!

This is the middle of three great northwards flowing river systems in Oregon - all are tributaries of the Columbia River. The Deschutes is a lifeline for the arid fileds and communities of central Oregon. An oasis among the juniper and lava fields. In Bend, the river is front and center forming the Mirror Pond along Drake Park. North from the city, the river carves its way through basaltic hills to the valley of Tumalo below. Here, at Tumalo State Park, you can enjoy the river and its meadows in stark contrast to the arid landscape beyond. Trout abound awaiting that special fly.