One of the Best Parts of Bend Was Right Outside Our Hotel…read more 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.

This hike hit all the spots. Easy to get to from downtown. You get a nice river view. You get a…read morebridge. 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.

One of my favorite short hikes that my family and I have enjoyed for decades. Stunning views, safe…read moretrails, lots of hikers and cyclists, I feel safe here. One can make this a long hike, but I limit my hikes to an hour round trip--Benham Falls is the perfect weekend hike.

Beautiful falls and area to hike and bike. Porta potties at parking sight. Was not very busy. Road…read moreis bumpy and dusty. Trail to falls was nice, clean and easy to walk. Map of area located in the parking area. Had picnic tables on area and wonderful sound of the falls in the background. Recommend SUV or 4x4 due to pot holes. Would love to return.

My family and I had an amazing time exploring the Redmond Caves! We took our family, including our…read more5-year-old niece, and everyone had a blast. The area was very well-maintained with hardly any graffiti, which was a pleasant surprise. We were able to explore four of the six caves, and it was a fantastic adventure. Some of the entrances were a bit tricky, but it made it all the more exciting. Walking completely through one of the caves, entering on one side and exiting on the other, was a definite highlight and a really unique experience! ​A few tips for future visitors: don't rely on your phone's flashlight--you'll need something more powerful to really see the caves. Sturdy shoes are a must for navigating the rocky terrain, and be sure to watch your head! The rocks are very unforgiving, as we learned with a one pretty good bump on the head. We highly recommend this spot for a fun and memorable family outing!

I've been to a decent amount of caves and this was a different experience. Without looking at the…read moremap, it doesn't look like much. The caves were neat, but watch your head in them! Bring your own flashlights and I'd recommend close toed shoes.

Nice view of the river and falls. Not very high but still beautiful. Would not recommend to lower…read morecars. I took a midsized car and encountered several locations that we bottomed out, muddy and or dusty area. Had porta potty at parking area. Near is addtional walking areas. Wear appropriate shoes since can be slippery. Area also looked like a tent camping place. No tents were in area. Possibly off season. Would like to return.

This is part of the Deschutes River System / Deschutes River Trail, which has its own listing…read more However, Dillon falls really deserves its own listing because there's parking nearby and you can treat it as a stand-alone destination. It's also listed on Google Maps as its own destination. The falls are glorious. This is a real gem of a spot. There's a couple of small parking lots nearby. It doesn't take long at all to walk to the falls - they are only a couple hundred feet away from the parking. There's also a bathroom that is maintained incredibly well. It's super clean. Check out the beautiful Ponderosa Pines on this land while you are on your way to the falls! The Deschutes River is incredibly beautiful. This spot is magical because above the falls it's quiet and serene. The falls themselves are loud and boisterous, a high energy feeling. Barely saw any people here. The few that I did see were walking dogs, fishing, etc. If you're looking for beautiful waterfalls to check out in the area, while Dillon isn't the biggest you've ever seen it's really pretty and worth the very short walk it takes to get there from the parking lot. Only downside... and it's non-negligible... the roads going in are amusingly atrocious. Like really really bad. I've never seen so many potholes in my whole life. I'm not docking any stars though, because it's still just so beautiful I don't care. Worth it anyway.

In these days of mandated social distancing and closed parks & trails, neighborhood paths become…read moreattractive alternatives. Having walked every neighborhood street and urban trail near my house several times, I decided I needed to expand my horizons. So, Larkspur it is. Larkspur is a Bend Parks and Recreation District in-town trail running from Larkspur Park (where the Senior Center is located) north to Pilot Butte. The BPRD trail map suggests it also includes a section from Larkspur Park west along Reed Market road but that's just sidewalk action. If you do go that way, you'll connect with the Central Oregon Canal Trail near the intersection of Reed Market and American. Larkspur Trail is an easy, wide path that runs through neighborhoods but in such a way as you get a good feel for not being so much in the city. I also like it because there are many interesting properties along the way. In fact, if you walk the short offshoot near the south end of Craven Rd, you'll see an airport! Yep, Pilot Butte Airport (private) still operates in the neighborhood with small plane charter service using a very short runway. Urban trails - one of the good things about Bend.

Often, I feel like the east side of Bend gets left behind when it comes to recreational…read moreopportunities. That is until I discovered the Larkspur Trail. This trail takes you from the Bend Senior Center to Pilot Butte all with minimal road crossings. The trail takes you by a pretty little canal with some greenery and then by some neighborhoods. Once you pass canal you will be walking through a Juniper forest and mountain bike trails. I have not taken the biking trails, so I can't say if they were made by some random people or professionally built. The trail takes you through some beautiful little wooded areas and eventually back to some neighborhoods. There are plenty of fences to make the walk less awkward, and after a while, you will cruise through some apartments. I have seen a few suspicious looking characters here, so keep that in mind. After the apartments, you cross maybe two or three roads and then need to take the sidewalk west to reach the other part of the trail. From here you will head over to the Lava Lanes bowling center and take the underpass to Pilot Butte. If you live on the east side and want to jog or walk a beautiful trail without driving far, this is a great change of pace from Pilot Butte. Check it out for sure!

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.

I love this little mountain bike trail. Though the trek to the top is a long and steady climb, it's…read moreworth it when you get to the top. From here you will have a downhill only section of trail to bomb down. This trial starts out off of Conklin Road and as far as I know there is no way to shuttle this. The uphill is pretty gnarly, but at least from my experience pretty steady. So you may want to bring a snack or two for energy. The trail follows a forest service road up to the top of a beautiful butte that is uphill only and separate from the downhill section of the trail. So you will not have to stop much for anyone passing you. When you get close to the top you will stat to notice the elevation increase and be able to witness some breathtaking views that are unique from this perspective of central Oregon. Once you get to the top, I would recommend taking a breather and getting some photos of the views. It's a good time to chill and have a snack. From here you will be ready to mob downhill. This is where things get super fun. There are a few rocky sections to watch out for, but for the most part this trial is pretty smooth and fast! As this trail is ways from any hospital you will want to use good judgment, but still, have fun. Be sure to stay on the designated uphill or downhill section that you are supposed to be on and you will have a five-star experience! Here is a good link to some of the biking rules and guidelines for Central Oregon https://bendtrails.org/trail/tylers-traverse/ Here is a link to a website with a good map and elevation gain/loss https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/6542301/tylers-traverse-downhill Here is a link to the land management agency that manages this area https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=38542

Very beautiful lake. A short walk from the parking. Don't forget your parking pass. Very quiet and…read moretranquil.

Did an engagement session, winter 2019 and there were a ton of cars/people in the parking lot. We…read moredecided not to hike the trail since my couples were dressed up and didn't have the proper shoes to hike. We went down to the field and took pictures and found snow to do the rest of the engagement photos in. If you are looking for an intimate wedding or elopement photographer, please visit stunningportraitphotography.com