Dry River is a great short hike readily accessible from Bend. Located just east of the Oregon…read moreBadlands, the trail runs east and 'upstream' along a canyon. Dry River Canyon (which is the correct name per BLM) was carved out by repeated floods from an ancient lake, located SE of Horse Ridge. The result is some fairly high walls of lava where you can see volcanic layering. The trail is easy, although you have to step up and around some rocks in places. Junipers abound. To get to the trailhead, turn north off Hwy 20 at the Oregon Badlands sign just before the road steepens. It's about a mile east of the Flatiron Rock trailhead turnoff. This is the road that will take you to the Badlands Rock trailhead if you keep going north. After turning off Hwy 20, take an immediate right into what looks like a gravel yard (which it is). Drive east through the yard - you'll come to a dirt road (there's a sign). The trailhead is about half-mile or so at the end of this road, which is suitable for pretty much any vehicle as long as you pick you way through some nasty tire-killing rocks in spots. Note that Dry River Canyon is closed between Feb 1 and Aug 31 to protect peregrine falcon nesting, unless the BLM opens it earlier.

This is a great paved path that takes you out of town. This path travels along the Deschutes River…read moreand parallels Colorado Drive for the first part of the trail. As you start to leave the urban areas out of town, this trail will take you out to Forest Service land where you can link up to the Phil's trail Complex via the COD trail. The path itself starts on the top of an old canyon allowing for some great views of the Deschutes River and the Old Mill District. I always take this path when I am heading to school from the Old Mill. There are a couple side trails along this path once you get to the bend in the Deschutes River that are definitely worth stopping and checking out. The view at these trails is unique and perfect for a panorama shot. The view is on top of some interesting rock faces and can be a great way to scout how busy the river is in the summer. If you happen to be staying in the Old Mill District, this path is a great way to kill some time with some great views of Bend.

This trail branches off of the north side of the Deschutes River Trail. It travels uphill into…read moreAwbrey Butte. The beginning of the trails travels upwards into a dry canyon. The canyon is filled with smaller pine and junipers trees. You can start to see the view of mt Jefferson and Hood as you climb up in altitude. Once you leave the dry canyon that the trails start off on you begin to cross a few roads. There are about four from my count until you reach Sylvan Park. Nearly each time the trail approaches the road, the trail on the other side of the road is to the left or the right. So you may want to give the Bend Parks and Rec map a look before hand. This trail will take you to two different parks. The first being Sylvan and the second being Summit Park. Both have tennis courts, picnic tables, and water fountains. But most of the fountains are shut off currently. Most of the trail is shaded and not too busy from the few times I have been on it. All in all, I would say if you are looking for a good uphill hike and a good view isn't a deal breaker, this trail would be a good alternative to Pilot Butte!

The Oregon Badlands comprises a large area laced with interesting trails and features. The Dry…read moreRiver Trail, which runs north-southish on the east side of the tract, is perhaps not the most scenic when compared to the Badlands Rock or the Flatiron trails. But there's more here to see than you might imagine. For instance, towards the southern end you can divert through the fairly short Dry River gorge, which is not to be confused with (but often is) the longer Dry River Canyon trail located just east outside the Badlands proper. The gorge offers water-sculpted lava, some weird oil-like seepings and if you look closely, some pictographs. Most of the northern part of the trail is flatter, straighter with fewer of the iconic lava formations you find elsewhere in the Badlands but still offers a nice walk away from the hordes. The northern trailhead for the Dry River Trail is at the end of County Line Road off Willard Road, while the southern terminus is the large Badlands Rock trailhead.

One of the more accessible hikes into the Sisters wilderness, the trails to Moraine Lake take you…read moreto an area of superb and varied scenery. From the lake, the views of South Sister and Broken Top are fabulous, as is the lake itself. There are a couple ways to get to Moraine Lake - via the South Sister climbers trail from Devils Lake, or via the Green Lakes trail. We did the climbers route, which is about 6 miles round trip including walking the circumference of the lake. It's not a particularly difficult hike but the initial climb up to the lake elevation through heavily forested terrain (about 1.8 miles, 1200 ft el. gain) is steep. The trail is in good shape though. After that, it flattens out and you even have to descend a bit (you're going to a lake, after all). Along with considerably less huffing and puffing, you'll enjoy a radical change in terrain - more open, less cover, longer distance views (including South Sister, which dominates). The lake is cool, a great spot to chill. There's nothing there except what nature provides (it's a wilderness). If you're camping, you must do so in designated spots of which there about twenty. A bucket list hike if you spend any time in Bend.

Pretty cool and secluded spot for an easy hike along the scenic McKenzie Pass…read more We decided to pull off and check out the short hike to Hand Lake last weekend. There's a wide shoulder on which to park, big enough for 5 or so cars, right across from the trailhead. The trailhead sign provides info, as well as the free self-issue Wilderness permits for access. (Short and easy form) The trail is short and well-maintained, easy for most anyone. After trekking a bit through the gorgeous trees it opens up to the lake at the small cabin shelter. Right now it's more of a palm only, as the water pool is small this time of year, but you can still see the dry fingers. Nice views of the Three Sisters from the middle. It's a short trail, definitely more of just a leg-stretcher only as you travel along the McKenzie, but a cool setting and I'm sure much more of a scene when the waters up.

This is one of the coolest paved bike paths in Bend. I started my journey here on the side of the…read moretrail over by Overturf Park. It started on a gravel road and passes by a dog park. The trail is pretty high in elevation like the name suggests. It has great views of Awbrey and Pilot Butte. It travels through neighborhoods and ends near Phil's trail complex. There are plenty of native habitats that surround this trail. Though there are houses and neighborhoods in the distance, there are some natural aspects of the surrounding ecology. The pavement on this trail is in pretty good condition and the path is wide enough that you really do not have problems passing others. This is a great trail for a bike ride or walk. I will be back again!

If you're looking for spectacular views of the Cascade Range, including all the way to Mt Hood, as…read morewell as views of Central Oregon east of Bend/La Pine, you could do a lot worse than the Bessie Butte Trail. With a short but somewhat steep round-trip distance of 1.5 miles, Bessie Butte is an easy, quick hike, perfect for a morning or afternoon jaunt. The trailhead is off NF-1810, which branches off to the south from China Hat Rd. From Knott Rd near the Hwy 97 junction, take China Hat south and drive maybe 4 - 5 miles. The turnoff for NF-1810 is unmarked but after you come abreast of the butte on China Hat, look for a road to the right. After turning onto the road, you'll see a sign for a horse farm. The trailhead is a few hundred yards on the right. Or, just check Google Maps. Bessie Butte Trail is also listed on the AllTrails app, which I recommend. No parking lot - just a wide spot in the road at the trailhead, which has a National Forest sign. As mentioned, the trail is moderately steep, gaining about 480 ft elevation in 3/4 mile. It's a dirt trail easily negotiated with normal walking shoes. You may find runners on the trail, as I did. Other than the great views, there's nothing on the trail except one rickety wooden bench at the top (seriously, be careful if you sit on it). But the views ...