5 Amazing Activities to Keep You Outside in Central Oregon
By: Christian Vansise
Tags: Oregon, Hiking, Bend

When it comes to outdoor activities in Oregon, central Oregon is the mecca for everyone who enjoys the great outdoors. The high desert landscape is very unique and diverse. The winter is packed with snow and people playing in it, while the summer is hot and perfect for the lake. I had the privilege of growing up in Bend, Oregon and grew up going to many amazing lakes, rivers, trails, caves, and more beautiful places. These are just 5 of my favorites, but no where close to all the options Bend has to offer.

1. Hike to the top of Pilot Butte

Pilot Butte State Park is in the center of Bend and is an amazing place to hike. The hike up the Butte can be done on a road or a well kept dirt trail. It is a little over a mile to hike to the top of the Butte to the viewpoint. The Viewpoint is the best part though, and makes all the work you did hiking up there worth it. There is a diagram that identifies all the mountains you can see around you. It is a great way to enjoy the beauty of nature.

2. Winter sports on Mt Bachelor

Mt Bachelor is one of the premiere winter sports locations in Oregon. They have all the resources you would need for any winter sport or activity you can think of. Over 100 open trails for hiking or Nordic skiing, 11 lifts for downhill skiing and snowboarding and multiples lodges. Mt bachelor is a fantastic winter sport location and a big part of Bend’s outdoor lifestyle.

3. Visit Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park is a 40 minute drive from Bend, but worth it. It is a beautiful area covered in basalt cliffs that are known around the state for their great rock climbing. The rock climbing there is amazing for all levels of climbers and many lessons and groups go there to climb frequently. There are also multiple trails for hiking or running.

4. Enjoy the Deschutes River and Cascade Lakes Highway

The Deschutes rivers goes through downtown Bend and is a hot spot during the summer. Floating on the river on an intertube or even an air mattress is not a rare sight. There are often enough tubes on the river that traffic forms, and you have to maneuver around people to avoid tube accidents. It is all worth it though, as enjoying the cool water and hot sun cannot be beat. The best part is how much the Bend Park and Recreation department supports it as well. There is a bus that runs from the common start and end points for the floaters. This bus is exclusive to the people floating the river.

5. Experience the Newberry National Volcanic Monument

The Newberry National Volcanic Monument is a huge 55,500 acre area consisting of 4 main parts: Lava Butte, the Lava River Cave, Lava Cast Forest, and Newberry Caldera. Lava Butte is the site of a past eruption and is covered in lava rock and obsidian. The Lava Tube Cave is the sight of underground lave flow and can be hiked in today. The lava cave is also my favorite. The lava cast forests are areas where the lava flowed during past eruptions and many signs are visible in the landscape and plant life. The Newberry Caldera is a active shield-shaped Stratovolcano that is only 20 miles south of Bend. All of these natural wonders are beautiful to see and close to Bend.

After reading about 5 of my favorite things to do outside in Bend I hope you are motivated to get outside the next time you are there visiting. As I said at the beginning of the article, this is nowhere near everything to do in Bend and there are lots of things other than outdoor activities to do as well. Bend is a beautiful and fun place to live that I enjoyed for my whole childhood, and now I hope I can share some of my love for Bend with anyone who reads this list.