This is not the fault of what was once a serene, quiet top quality fishing lake. Now, the fishing…read moresucks because the lake is not really stocked anymore, and all the fish are natives, but because of the fact that paddleboarders have taken over, the fish are not as plentiful as they once were. Get there after 10 am? Good luck finding a place to park that isn't the side of the road on Elk lake loop. People now crowd in parking so badly on both sides to the access to the boat ramp makes putting in and getting out an actual boat extremely difficult. Plus people have no clue they are in the way, just put out your paddleboard and pump it up, oblivious that they are blocking the road, on both sides. Fishing is incredibly difficult when there is a freeway of paddleboarders and kayakers continually going by. The lake channels seem even more crowded when having to stay to the right with a non stop rush of non fishers speeding by as if it is a race to get wherever. At last visit i noticed hardly anyone had nw forest passes displayed nor dashboard daily passes. I think the paddleboarders have taken advantage that this lake's parking and access is not regulated. When i left there were over 20 cars in the "parking lot" at least 10 on both side of the access road and another 20 lining the Elk lape loop. I talked with a local person that had been going there for 50 years and in their words, "this place is a f*cking zoo". Never going back, this lake is ruined, thanks paddleboarders.

I had the pleasure recently of visiting the Bend area for the first time since I was a kid -…read moreincluding a day trip to beautiful Hosmer Lake for some canoeing! Set against the picturesque backdrop of Mount Bachelor, Hosmer is a popular, serene lake full of wild birds, lilipads, and great canoeing and kayaking. The weather was warm and the water was smooth as we glided the canoe across the lake and found a quiet spot at the far end to go ashore and do some exploring. Even though the parking lot was busy, the lake was big enough that we didn't feel crowded or like we were encountering other visitors at every turn. There's a small boat launch, decent sized parking lot, and a pit toilet here - as well as a campground (which we didn't visit on this trip). If you're looking to enjoy some watersports near Bend, I highly recommend Hosmer!

We went here twice during our stay at Sunriver. We were a disheveled group when we first arrived…read moreand the owner and his daughter were some of the nicest, helpful, and easy going people ever!! Blown away by the service and the quality of the items. Came back for more gear the next day because we knew the level of service we'd receive. Highly recommend!!

Convenient, affordable, and great service! We found this place last minute when we decided to…read moresnowshoe. I took a chance and called the number on Christmas Day, and they were working. The person on the phone was very accommodating and patient. We let them know when we were planning on arriving, and they said they would make sure the store was open. Snowshoe rentals were only $15 each, and they included poles, goggles, and a balaclava. I believe the snow pants and snow boots were also only $15 each. The teal pants were SO cute. The person in the store was also very patient and helpful. There was a cute little hot cocoa station that included marshmallows, tea, Vitamin C, and apple cider packets. The only things missing were candy canes! But they made up for it with sweet treats (sugar cookies, fudge, and more). While we were there, we realized that we forgot our hand warmers. The person overheard us and gave us some for free!! What makes this place so convenient was that it was 6 minutes from our AirBnb in Sunriver AND they have a return box outside of the store if we get there after hours! I was also pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to return the rentals under the next morning at 9:00. Will definitely come back for more rental needs!

Our family had an absolutely unforgettable river rafting adventure with Noah and Justin as our…read moreincredible guides! This was our second time rafting, and somehow they managed to make the experience even more exciting, memorable, and enjoyable than the first. They showed us sites of river we hadn't viewed before, kept the entire journey lively and engaging, and did a fantastic job of including our girls, ages 9 and 11, in every part of the adventure. What truly stood out was how warm, friendly, and genuinely personable they were. They took a real interest in getting to know our family and hearing about our travels, which made the whole experience feel so much more meaningful and personal. Noah and Justin created an upbeat and fun-filled atmosphere that instantly put everyone at ease and kept spirits high from start to finish. If you're searching for an exceptional and truly memorable family rafting trip, we can't recommend Noah and Justin highly enough. They turned an already great outing into an absolutely unforgettable adventure!

I love the vibe here. Cute & eclectic. Beautiful outside area with a comfy area inside the…read moreoutfitter bar. Bartender Zach is so charismatic & makes sure you're taken care of! Laid back & homey.

Big Eddy Thriller: The ride was short and sweet! The whole thing is dialed in, these folks know…read moreexactly what they're doin. They start on time, so don't mess around and miss the bus (though not sure they'd leave anyone, it's a friendly place). Mikie communicated expectations well from the jump and got us to and from safely. Trevor was a great raft guide, clearly loves what he does, and as far as I could tell, does it well. Would row for him again for sure. Rode a raft with a family my partner and I didn't know, it was a good time all around. Will probably hit up another tour next summer for fun, was worth it. Tips? Kinda? You could easily hit this and another outing in one day. Set your timing right and you could ride and then raft, this is certainly a good time but it doesn't take long door to door. If you care about pics sit in the front. If you're worried about rowing, don't sit on the right for big eddy (the guide will likely seat folks for safety and row power anyhow). Not sure I need to say this but I will, there isn't a dry seat on the raft. The road to the spot is bumpy, sit toward the front if that bothers you. If your kids not taller than an oar, they likely won't get one. There are two spots you'll be offered to jump in.

Had a wonderful experience doing the Big Eddy Thriller out of Bend. The staff were very attentive,…read moreyou can tell they work like a well-oiled machine, and our guide, Hodge, was incredible! He did an amazing job remembering everyone's names, kept the conversation fun and was very clear with his instructions making us feel very safe. The photo package is a little on the spendier side, and the amount of photos you get of your party are random, but we got a few great action shots to show off. Would highly recommend!

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe is the best! Located right next to the Old Mill District in Bend, it's…read morethe perfect place to start an outdoor adventure and then enjoy lunch or dinner nearby afterward. The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful in choosing the right paddleboard for us. We rented stand-up paddleboards for one hour for $30, with the option to extend to two hours for $40, which is a great value. The river is beautiful, peaceful, and full of interesting scenery. There is always something to see along the way, making the experience fun and relaxing at the same time. And don't be shy about jumping into the water if the conditions allow--it can be part of the fun! Just be sure to follow the safety instructions provided before your adventure begins. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe to anyone visiting Bend.

On a Sunday morning, after exploring Bend and attending a concert the night before, my husband and…read moreI decided that we wanted to float the Deschutes River. Luckily, we managed to do a walk-up appointment and get our tubes for floating. They do offer online reservations, more than 24 hours in advance, but they had plenty of inner tubes so a reservation was not needed that particular day. From start to finish, they made the entire process extremely easy and seamless. From being able to park your car and get a ride with your inner tube to the drop off point and then being picked back up by the shuttle and returned to the parking lot, and everything in between. They provided us with a good safety briefing as well as the opportunity to leave our car keys since I had not thought about bringing a waterproof pouch. For just about $30 per person, it was well worth the experience and took us about two hours, but we did stop after the rapids and spend some time just swimming before continuing on. If you are a local or just visiting the Bend area, I cannot recommend floating the river enough.

Beautiful lake on the cascade lakes highway with the most incredible emerald color of water when…read morethe sun hits! It's also the starting point for south sister and it's fun to camp here the night before to get an early start. The camp sites are phenomenal right on the water, complete with fire pits. Great Lake for water activities for just to come hang out/walk around. Do watch out for mosquitoes though!

Another jewel on the Cascade Lake trail. Plenty of camping here. Beautiful views everywhere…read more Lakes here were formed by volcanic activity. This particular lake is in average 9' deep. Very clean banks and areas surrounding the lake. Plenty of places for day use and picnicking.

Sunriver, Oregon is our favorite vacation destination. It is practically our second home, so with…read morethis place being in the heart of our favorite vacation spot, there is even more reason to love it. One of the best places to rent your winter and summer sport rentals. They also have one of the yummiest shaved ice. They had a 50% off special on their skateboards over the summer so of course our daughter had to get one. If you ever go to Sunriver, make sure to stop by here and check them out. They're in a perfect location as well.

My son wanted a cold treat on this hot sunny day and ordered a blended taro bubble tea with tapioca…read morepearls. The flavor was good and the tapioca was fresh and chewy. One issue...there were 2 full sized ice cubes in the middle, which took up 1/3 of the cup because he ordered the small.

I wish there was a note BEFORE booking a campsite that the reservoir is completely dry. We got…read morethere and to our surprise the biggest "lake" in the area was gone. Our neighbors had fire going during fire ban (extreme fire danger). The host was nowhere to be found. Another neighbor had his generator going throughout the entire night.

This is one of the largest of the Cascade Lakes that are west of Bend. I have only explored a small…read moresection of this lake, so keep in mind my knowledge is only relating to these specific areas. I have been kayaking, fishing, and camping on this lake several different times. From my experience, it can be a little shallow and warmer than some of the other Cascade Lakes. This makes it pretty good for bass fishing, which is not super common in central Oregon. With this lake being so large, there is plenty of shore access as well as unofficial campsites that have a dirt road and a fire ring to them. This can be nice if you have some rowdy friends that you don't want to deal with at your typical campsite. This lake is not very close at all to Bend but is pretty close to La Pine if that's where you're coming from. Overall this is the best option in my mind for large or rowdy groups that want to do some fishing, boating or camping. Here is a link to the land management agency that monitors this area https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=71870