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.

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.

Tumalo Falls was an amazing adventure and one of the highlights of our trip. We chose the loop…read moretrail so we could see all of the waterfalls, and it was absolutely worth it. One of the most exciting parts was crossing the river several times. In some places there were bridges, and at one point we had to carefully balance across a log, which made the hike even more fun and memorable. We visited in April, and there was still a little snow on the trail. The weather was beautiful, but I would recommend bringing traction spikes if conditions are slippery and hiking poles for extra stability. The waterfalls were spectacular, and the scenery along the trail was breathtaking. It was a perfect mix of adventure and natural beauty. I'm sure I'll return one day with my kids to experience it all again.

Beautiful hike along the Decshutes River. Taking in nature, breathing, walking, and crying. I will…read morecome again.

One of the reasons I love my neighborhood - the river is right here, with easy access to the…read moreDeschutes River Trail. Small park, nice footbridge over the river, a few areas to explore on either side of the river, a bench to sit on and watch the rapids. There is a very small parking area at the end of 1st Street. Otherwise, you're on the street.

This is a little spot at the First Street side of the Deschutes River Trail that goes between First…read moreStreet and Mt. Washington. Picnic tables and trash cans. A spot for a picnic, or meeting place before strolling along the Deschutes River. Beautiful location, great views, right on the water. Nothing fancy. No facilities. Street Parking in the neighborhood.

Sawyer Park holds so many memories from my childhood. I still stop by every time I am in the area…read more We used to eat lunch here with my grandma on her lunch break when I was a child. Sawyer has a nice grassy area with picnic benches. There is a few different trails you can take including the Fishermans trail that goes down to a few different water access points. There are large rocks and great photo areas. We used to eat lunch on the rocks by the river. This park is also dog friendly and we met quite a few furry friends on our visit.

See, this is why Bend is so great. Mere minutes from downtown, minutes from most of the city, a…read morestone's throw from a busy commercial street, you find an idyllic river park straight out of A River Runs Through It. This little spot where the Deschutes River gets a bit excited, where a reedy marsh attracts birds, where the Deschutes River Trail passes through, offers a wonderful place to do short walks, picnicking, dog-walking or just lazy contemplation. You also can jump on the river trail here and do a longer hike. Robert Sawyer Park is within the city limits and comprises acreage on either side of the river, connected by a nice footbridge. Other than picnic tables and benches, there are no facilities that I saw other than one port-o-john. Access by car is from O. B. Riley Rd just across from the Tumalo State Park Maintenance facility (the access road is easy to miss). There's a small parking lot a short distance down the road that can accommodate maybe a couple three dozen cars at most. Open sunrise to sunset. The parking lot side of the park (east side) offers a picnic area and access to civilization via a paved path. If you step off the path at the bridge and head north, you'll climb the basalt bluff and gain some pretty spectacular views of the river from higher up. You can also head away from the river here and wander among the ponderosa pines. Crossing the bridge, you can walk either straight up the hill to get to the Deschutes River Trail (which is a wide, bike-friendly trail here), or you can take less developed, less obvious paths along the river in each direction and through the trees. There's a large, grassy open area used for ... well, I don't know. Playing with your dog? Frisbee action? Whatever, there are no sports-related improvements such as baseball paths or anything. I'm a big fan.

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.

My wife and I were unsure about kayaking as we have never gone before and we're bringing our 11lb…read moredog with us. The staff here is very welcoming and they explain everything to you. Basically you kayak against current near the edges of river and then you go with the current back to the dock. The staff is very laid back and they don't pressure you into anything. It was a great experience and we'd definitely do it again. Very safe and reassuring.

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.

Unlike the larger adjacent Lava Lake, Little Lava Lake is motor-free, so it's a good kayaking spot…read more - The campground, which is popular and can be crowded, offers very convenient sites very close to the lake. - No facilities other than primitive toilets (which seem well-maintained) - Good boat (kayak) launch ramp - Views of Mt Bachelor, Broken Top, South Sister - Little Lava Lake is the head-water of the Deschutes River, which for those who live here is kinda cool. - You'll find hiking trails all around the area, some marked, most not. One goes over to Lava Lake and branches off into the forest towards Mt Bachelor. There are also maintained trails nearby across the highway, such as Lucky Lake and Six Lakes (a bit further north up the road). The road to Lava Lake & Little Lava Lake - Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway, Hwy 46 - is closed during winter due to snow. The affected portions and timing vary with snowfall and melt. Access to LL & LLL from the north past Elk Lake stays closed longer, while the road from the south opens earlier. Check with the Deschutes County road folks to learn if the road is open: https://www.deschutes.org/road/page/news-project-info-and-closures

This campground has the capability to be absolutley stunning. However, the facilities were not…read morelooked after at all and the water was turned off completely during our visit. The bathrooms were despicable along with the overflowing trashcan. If you have the luxury to camp in a trailer or RV this won't be a problem for you! The lake is absolutely beautiful and very clear!