We just stayed one night, right before the campgrounds closed for the year. The grounds were nicely…read moremaintained, and we enjoyed a very peaceful and quiet stay. Some sites are fairly tight, while others had some nice room. The trails here were very enjoyable. Serene surroundings around the river and through the trees. We saw lots of deer, birds, and other critters scrambling about. I'm sure it would've had a slightly different feel during peak season, but we very much enjoyed our night and day of off season.

August 26-29, 2025 - La Pine, OR…read more We've stayed at La Pine Campground a few times over the years, and each visit reminds us why we keep coming back. The campground is divided into three loops, each with its own character. The North Loop offers water and electric hookups, with sites that are more widely spaced than the others--something I really appreciate. That extra room makes it feel quieter and more private, and it's probably where we'll book our next stay. The Middle Loop has full hookups, while the South Loop is the busiest, featuring full hookups as well as some cabins. . There are many hiking/cycling trails (dog-friendly), and the Deschutes River runs through the campground. There is a short hike to a waterfall, and a large dog park. Unfortunately, we were a bit restricted in our outdoor activities because of the smoke from the two fires in the area. There was actually ash falling on one of the days. Also, there had been several sightings of a mountain lion in the area, so that added a bit of caution to our activities. Nevertheless, we will definitely come back.

This review is for 2 different trails. 1. Big Obsidian Flow…read moreTrail was a short and unique trail in Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon. It was a ~0.7 miles round trip that took ~30 minutes to complete. Trail begins on a dirt path and shortly becomes a stairway to the obsidian lava flows. The lava flows were extremely rocky so hiking shoes are recommended. At the highest point of the trail was a distant view of Paulina Lake! Decent sized parking area at the trailhead. Restroom available at the parking lot. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/zshtzzNOCI0 2. Located 5 minutes from the Big Obsidian Flow Trail, Paulina Falls Trail was another short and rewarding trail. It was a ~0.5 miles round trip that took ~30 minutes to complete. Trail was mostly a decline towards the bottom of the waterfall on a dirt path! Limited parking area at the trailhead. Restroom available at the parking lot. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/Q28kfFT9QM0 The Lava Lands Visitor Center was about 30 minutes away.

We did the 1.1 mile Trail of the Molten Lands while in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The…read moretrail paved and in good condition. It is uphill and some spots are steep. There are informational signs in different sections of the trail. It was incredible to see how far the lava rock stretched. We stopped in the visitor center as well as the lava river caves and lava butte. We werent able to do the Pauline falls or Obsidian parts as the storms came in quick and hard. It is definitely a sight to see though. Its a milder trail than some others we've done this week and is an easier walk for most of the trail. There is also a half way point to loop around and you dont have to do the steep uphill portion to the look out area.

Archeologists discovered 70 pairs of sandals made of sage brush that are 10,000 years old -…read moreuncovered in the rock cave, evidence of early humans in North America. During the Ice Age, Fort Rock was surrounded by water. Before drying up around 10,000 years ago, the lake with its associated wetlands and wildlife was the foundation of life for prehistoric humans. Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Western Medowlark, Rock Wren and Yellow Belly Marmots live here. Raptors are currently nesting and some trails off limits. With binoculars we saw 4 Prairie Falcons perching and two flying as fledglings sang through the high cliff recessions in raptor nest homes. Look for white poop splashes high up cliffs - that is where the raptors perch and nest! Wife and I hiked through lush high desert with lots of sage and pinkish-reddish spiny hops bush, horse bush and desert sage. Many wildflowers in bloom. Wild buckwheat dominating the landscape. Also there was paint bruch, penstemon and larkspur. What a grand day for a hike in the wondrous Oregon outback! Colors in rocks, flowers and sands! Smells fragrant!

Such a cool place to visit! About 70 miles southeast of Bend. There's a small gravel parking lot,…read morerestrooms with flush toilets, covered picnic area and a kiosk with information about the site. There are hiking options for everyone. It was pretty hot during out visit and no shade in the hiking area, so we only walked up to the base of the ring. It was still really cool to see. It's an old tuff ring set in what was a shallow sea in prehistoric times. The ring is about 4,460 feet in diameter and stands about 200 feet high above the surrounding plain. Sandals found in a nearby cave are the oldest ever discovered, dating back around 9,000-13,000 years. We really enjoyed our time here and the beautiful drive to the Oregon Outback. Would highly recommend.

Beautiful place Lovely hike…read morePlenty of parking Quick wrkout Scenic Popular Would recommend Go enjoy! :)

The views from the top are unmatched! You can see the entire valley, and luckily on this clear day…read moreall of the mountains too!! We did the dirt trail and though there were parts that were steep, it was fairly easy to navigate in just our regular sneakers & jeans. There were lots of people trail running, many walking the paved path, it was such a fun way to get a look at the city.

The Lava River Cave is a unique experience. It is something I remember doing with my grandpa as a…read morechild. It is 1.1 miles from the enterance to the end of the cave and 2.2 miles round trip. My boyfriend is really in to caverns and mines so I thought this would be perfect to take him to when visiting the area. He loved it. Its awesome that it is a self guided tour, they give you safety instruction and have a booth you can rent lights at. We walked the duration of the tunnel and back. We spent a little over an hour and a half exploring the cave. It is definitely something to experience and would reccomend it. It is on average 42 or below in the cave so bring a sweater and is only open in the late spring - summer.

An amazing natural phenomenon to explore when in central Oregon…read more Be aware: It's cold in the cave, so bring a coat. The footing is uneven, so wear sturdy shoes. It's pitch black in the cave, so bring it rent a powerful flashlight. Enjoy the cave, but be prepared.

South Canyon Reach comprises the section of the river trail running on both sides of the river…read moresouth of the Reed Market Road Bridge. Note that the section including Riverbend and Farewell Bend Parks is in the Old Mill Reach. A loop trail of about three miles in length, South Canyon is an easy walk. Much of it is on developed gravel trail. A footbridge spans the river at the loop turn around point. Bikes are allowed on the section running along the east side of the river but not the west. There are connections to other trails on both sides. A cool feature is an outfall from a small Central Oregon Irrigation District hydropower plant. You'll see it on the east side where a boardwalk runs along the river.

I came here on a weekday afternoon to run, and the trail was awesome! It goes along the river, very…read morepeaceful and great views. Not too many people, and it has a one-way path due to covid I think. Lots of water, trees, great views.

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 ...

The Deschutes River Trail system in the Bend area comprises several sections, called 'reaches'…read more Starting from the Deschutes National Forest south of town heading north, they are South Canyon Reach, Old Mill Reach, Pioneer Reach, River Run Reach and Awbrey Reach. North of that is North Reach but that's outside Bend limits towards Tumalo. The trail system also includes non-Bend sections both to the south and the north, including a section all the way up at the Columbia River. All are worthy of a visit. This section - Awbrey Reach - runs north from Robert Sawyer park to the northeast side of Awbrey Butte, tailing away from the river as you go north of the Archie Briggs Canyon trail intersection. With all due respect to Christopher C (former Yelp Bend CM, who made it a mission to review tons of trails and waterfalls while in Bend), he has it a bit wrong in that the section of trail that runs along the Rivers Edge Golf Course north to Sawyer Park is actually the River Run Reach. But as Christopher writes, Awbrey Reach is a good biking trail - little used, wide and offers spectacular canyon views. The Deschutes River Trail is a jewel of Central Oregon.

This is chill hashtag super cool I went hiking here multiple times and the views are greatread more