One of the Best Parts of Bend Was Right Outside Our Hotel While staying in downtown Bend, my family and I were looking for something outdoorsy and close by, and the Deschutes River Trail ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. What started as a casual morning walk quickly turned into a beautiful four-mile hike filled with rushing rapids, peaceful river bends, towering pine trees, and some incredible Central Oregon scenery. One of the best parts of this trail is how much the landscape changes as you go. At some points the river was calm enough for paddleboarders floating by, and at others the rapids were roaring against the rocks with serious energy and sound. The trail itself was also a nice mix. Some sections were smooth and paved, while others became a little more rugged with dirt paths, rocks, and small elevation changes that made the hike feel adventurous without being overly difficult. I would still consider this a very approachable hike for most people and fitness levels. We saw walkers, runners, families, and people out with their dogs enjoying the trail. Pro tip: bring water, especially on warmer days, because parts of the trail are fully exposed to the sun. Another thing I appreciated was how accessible this experience was from downtown Bend. We were able to walk straight from our hotel into what felt like a completely different environment surrounded by river, forest, and nature. We eventually wrapped up near the Old Mill District, which made for the perfect ending with shops, restaurants, and a chance to relax after the hike. Sometimes the best travel experiences are not the big tourist attractions, they are the simple moments outside on a trail reminding you why places like Bend are so special. read more

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This hike hit all the spots. Easy to get to from downtown. You get a nice river view. You get a bridge. You get trees. You get sunlight if the weather is cooperating. You get a small park/playground area at one point and you get rocks and trees and nature and a few homes to look at too. Easy 3.5 miles walk around. read more

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The Deschutes River Trail is super cool because you can walk, jog, or hike as far as you want. There are intermittent bridges where you can cross at different points. The landscape is beautiful because of all the shrubs with berries or the pretty flowering plants. The water in September is clean and clear. I didn't see any fish, but there were a few birds resting by the water banks. I liked that there were poles markers at different points showing the distance and a small map of the whole trail. read more

Deschutes River Trail System - Hiking Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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This was a highlight of our trip! What's better than being able to walk and explore without having to drive far outside the town. Right near downtown there are parks with parking lots and restrooms that connect to the trails. Simple maps show where you can go. We started in Riverbend Park and walked South. You immediately feel you're far away, but there are hints of homes along the ridges on both sides. The trails are kept well maintained; great for families, runners, or walking dogs. The entire length of the trail you're near the river so you can watch the rapids. Going this direction eventually the trail ends at a bridge to the other side; you can just walk the loop with plenty of other bridges back to wherever you started. There are also side trails into different neighborhoods; some are public and some are private. This is a great free and physical activity to do on your next trip to Bend. It's amazing for bird watching as well. read more

Deschutes River Trail System - Hiking Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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What a delightful way to experience beautiful Bend, Oregon. We walked this paved trail everyday during our recent trip to Central Oregon. The trail is paved and easy to walk on. It flows through the city and beyond into the rugged surroundings. We highly recommend enjoying this safe, clean, well-populated trail. read more

This is my favorite place to walk when I am visiting Bend. It's so beautiful and peaceful. The hike is easy, there are friendly people around and it's not too crowded surprisingly. There was a sign this time that said a cougar had been seen in the area but I didn't see it anywhere around thank goodness! If you have a chance please check it out, I think it's probably 3 miles but not sure. read more

Deschutes River Trail System - marked very well - Hiking Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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It was a lovely evening, so after we ate an early dinner at a restaurant in Bend we decided to take a short hike along the trail at the Deschutes River. We encountered a good cross-section of other people who had the same idea. The overall experience was quite enjoyable and we were treated to some exceptional views of the river. The trail along the river is just over three miles long; the terrain is a dirt/sand path. Note that if you hike here you need to be aware that some of the terrain is quite rocky, and there are several spots that you'll have to climb fairly high when the trail is on the ascent. Be prepared for a moderate workout, and wear shoes that lend themselves to hiking. We actually saw several people trying to do the trail in flip-flops, and they were NOT happy campers! read more

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I've been on many parts of this river, and it's really pretty! Paved paths, clear signs, peaceful and quiet views to chill and walk, not too many people usually. I really enjoyed it, would recommend! read more

One of the jewels of Central Oregon, the Deschutes River Trail comprises a host of segments along the river (several of which have separate Yelp listings), including through Bend and north and south of the city. The trail originates, if you will, at Deschutes River State Recreation Area at the confluence with the Columbia, although the trail by no means travels all the way from there to Bend. I'm not actually sure how much of the river is followed by the trail. I see a lot of trail on Google Maps. And I will explore it. In Bend and environs, the trail is more easy walking and biking rather than what one might expect with a true hiking trail. It's very accessible for casual walks. And while you're walking, you'll very often travel through areas where, if you're like me, you'll marvel at the majesty of nature. The Deschutes is a very scenic river and the River Trail captures a lot of that beauty. I could go on but for more information, read Christopher C's review. A former Yelp Bend CM, Chris has explored and reviewed a ton of hiking around Bend. Deschutes River Trail: highly recommended. read more

It is important to note that the Deschutes River Trail is massive. Many of the reviews on here are only covering a small section of it. So this reviews will be a general overview of the whole trail system. I will be describing the other sections in separate review pages for this trail. I broke them down according to the way the land management agencies this trail runs through breaks them down on their websites. The sections from south to north are called Benham Falls East, Benham Falls West, Slough, Dillion Falls, Aspen, Big Eddy, Lava Island, South Canyon Reach, Old Mill Reach, Pioneer Reach, River Run Reach, Awbrey Reach, and the North Reach. Each section has its own unique qualities that are great for certain activities. This is a multi-use trail, you may often find bikers, hikers, and even some horseback riders on different sections of this trail. But it is important to note that not all sections of this trail are ideal for these activities. If you have caught Bend in May to September, then consider only trying to bike the North Reach, Dillon Falls, Aspen and Big Eddy sections, as there are so many hikers on this trail during these months that you will just create frustration and conflict by biking here. If you are hiking it really won't matter, just be sure to be polite and keep an eye out for other hikers looking to pass you. If you are not a fan of crowds, then you may want to consider other trails to hike from May to September, or you can also wait until the evening or morning when there are fewer people. This is my preferred method as even the out of town trails are getting more and more populated. Just watch out for mosquitos as this is the time that they like to escape the intense sun and bite you. Parking is different for each section here. The sections of the river that are in Bend city limits all have free parking. But the sections in the Deschutes National Forest require payments during the busy time of year. The sections that require payment are the Benham Falls East, Benham Falls West, Slough, Dillion Falls, Aspen, Big Eddy, Lava Island, and the sections that are free in town are the South Canyon Reach, Old Mill Reach, Pioneer Reach, River Run Reach, Awbrey Reach, and the North Reach. This is a great trail and you will have a five-star experience if you research ahead of time what section you will be on. Lastly, I will leave you with a few nice little easter eggs, there are several spots along this trail great for bouldering, Moutain bike features such as a pump track and even an archaeological hunting cave that dates back 7,000 years. Here are a few links to the land management agencies that this trail runs through. You will want to read the rules before heading out to avoid any tickets. Bend Parks and Rec http://www.bendparksandrec.org/parks__trails/trail_list/ Deschutes National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=38338 read more

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The Deschutes River Trail system is an extensive trail system running along the Deschutes River. It's paved in town but it's dirt when it enters the national forest. While it technically could be ridden on a mountain bike, it would probably be difficult to do so on weekends due to the number of people on the trail. It is better suited for hiking and trail running. In addition to those two options, it would be a great trail to hike with a fly rod and waders, dipping into the river to fish the good spots. We saw one guy flyfishing a hole when we were there. While many of the spots along the trail are a mere 30 minutes from bustling Bend, both the trail and views from the trail appear to be unobstructed by development and retain their natural beauty. There is a windy road that follows the river yet remains a few miles away from the actual river. From this road, you can choose from the multiple entrance points that lead directly to the river. The entrance points are not paved or grated. They implore the driver to drive carefully, or at least have a high clearance vehicle. This did not limit traffic to the small dirt parking lot at the Benham Falls Trailhead. We were fortunate to find a spot from a driver who had just left, but it was evident from all the locked bikes that many people park elsewhere and bike the two miles to the trailhead. There are multiple vantage points to see Benham Falls, which flow into more tranquil, yet still fast-moving sections of the river downstream. I believe there are more falls in the area, but there is not enough time for everything. The view across the river, downstream from Benham falls, shows large lava fields near the river with dense pine forest and mountains in the background. read more

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Beautiful and breathtaking. It's also very close to the city. Such a leisurely stroll. You can do the whole 3 mile loop or just do as we did...park look at the river (it was freezing) and enjoy the view. Would highly recommend and would like to come back to do the entire trail. read more

Great trail for the scenery. It gets a bit busy during the summer, but the views are outstanding. The further up you go the more you are rewarded. Calm stretches of river are intermingled with rapids. Benham falls has a nice viewing terrace. read more

Deschutes River Trail System - Hiking Near Me - Bend, Oregon

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One of the most picturesque trails you will ever see! Put on some comfortable clothes, sneakers (preferably by Oregon-based Nike), and take in the sights of happy paddle boarders and inner tubers on the Deschutes River. Keep your eye out for beautiful deer among the numerous pine trees too! So many great photo-ops along the route, especially on the overhanging cliffs. I recommend you cool yourself off like me at the end of your Neature Walk and take a dip in the river at the beach of Farewell Bend Park. read more

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After dinner of our first night in Bend we took a short hike along the Deschutes (Deh Shoots) River Trail. It was enjoyable. The views of the river were outstanding and the trail is used by such a variety of people. The trail is 3 miles long and on a mostly sandy/dirt path. If you chose to trek the trail be aware that there are rocky and high climb sections as you ascend from the river to the cliff and then descend to the river again. Also, wear appropriate shoes. We saw several wanderers wearing flip flops. Come on people, this is a hike not a saunter! read more

Fantastic river trail in the middle of the city. Most of the trail is parralel to the river with several access points. Fortunately, we were staying around the Old Mill District so we just jumped on the Loggers trail and connected to Deschutes River Trail. The trail is fairly easy and seemed to be a local favorite. It is probably about 3 miles in distance but an enjoyable activitity. While exploring, be sure to stop and read the information posted about the ecosystem of the area. If your are in Bend for work, come take a walk on this trail for some brainstorming or decompression you will be surprise what nature can do to you. read more

Deschutes River Trail System - Its always a delight to go on this trail. - Hiking Near Me - Bend, Oregon

I have recently explored the Deschutes River Trail....the part of it that runs through the city of Bend and I wasn't very impressed. While it is a good trail for those who would like to take a short casual walk along the river, it works. But if you'd like to explore the river on a non-mountain bike for instance, it's not that great. You can be going along a paved section which suddenly turns into a dirt path, then comes to a busy street and it's difficult to find the place where the trail continues when you cross that street, if it does continue. A few times I ended up on a regular neighborhood street, not sure where the trail was. While the dirt roads outside of town are great for mountain biking, the Bend city track can't hold a candle to the city of Eugene's riverside trail system. read more

So far, this is probably my favorite trail system. Beautiful, scenic paths everywhere!! What we usually do is...meet and "fuel up" at one of the Old Mill cafes, then head toward the river (it's just a little walk over a bright bridge), find a trail we all agree on, and head on out for our adventure. Be sure to wear proper shoes...some trails are paved, some are dirt. Also, this is in Oregon's High Desert, so bring your water bottle. read more

We recently visited several parts of this trail system and enjoyed the beauty of it everywhere we visited. The areas we visited we still in a natural state, with mostly dirt trails carved into the natural landscape and following the river. Parking areas were clean and convenient, would be nice for sunny picnic lunches during the summer. There are several different places to access this vast trail system and parts are open to hikers, mountain bikes, and horses. We were camping in the forest area and we walked the trail portion between Big Eddy and Lava Island and mountain biked the Storm King trail from just below our camp to the Big Eddy area. We loved both the hiking and the mountain biking. In addition to the great scenery along the trail we saw river rafting groups and individual kayaks hit some good rapids near Big Eddy. I would encourage locals and people who travel to the Bend area to get out there and enjoy it! read more

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Take a short stroll or a long hike. Many sections are very flat so folks of all ages can enjoy. Be sure to look at a map and choose a suitable section if you are on a limited time-frame. Beautiful views of the river, wildlife and community. Soak it up! Share the trail with bikers and dogs! read more