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Pilot Butte State Park

4.6 (57 reviews)

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View from the top at sunrise in July 2025
Catherine P.

We decided to do an early morning hike up pilot butte. There is a parking lot on the side by the apartments for hiking up to the top because the road is closed. The park hours are sunrise so we got there around 5:30 am. It was chilly around 52 degrees. The hike spirals up the mountain and the sun is in your face part of the time. The view from the top is lovely on a clear day. We were the only ones on the top except for one person that came up. A few people were on their way up but it was a nice quiet hike with no one else.

Looking towards downtown Bend, Oregon
Renee N.

This beautiful park sits right in the middle of Bend, Oregon. It became a park in 1928 and it was a volcano a long time ago. You have two choices to get to the summit of the 480 foot butte. You can either drive up one mile to the top or walk up the one mile nature trail. Once you reach the top, you are rewarded with a 360 panoramic degree view of the city of Bend, and the gorgeous snow capped mountains of the Cascades. You can see the Three Sisters, Mt.Jefferson, Black Butte and Mt. Hood in the distance. There are informational plaques located at the top to give you more information about the plants and animals. The nature trail is open year round, but the summit road for driving closes in the winter and opens back up in April. Plenty of parking up at the top and restrooms are available.

Gabrielle B.

Pilot butte is such a great place for a walk or a drive that offers amazing views. You can either take the road or a little hiking trail (you will get dusty!) that's a 0.8 mile hike up, so less than 2 miles round trip. You can simply drive to the top if you want to catch an amazing sunset too!

Trail that rounds out & back to viewpoint at the top!
Diana H.

I love Oregon State Parks. Clean and well kept with onsite camp hosts. Real restrooms kept tidy. Nice easy trail for families and dogs on a leash.

Copper on top of the butte.
Jon S.

Fun hike and you can do it round trip in about an hour. North side can be icy in winter.

Alexander G.

Central Oregon, being part of the Ring of Fire, has so many ancient extinct volcanoes. For how flat it feels driving around, it's amazing how many of these hills there are around. Outside of Bend/Redmond, we decided to have a fun hike going up to the top of Pilot Butte. Free parking/entry. Yes, you can drive to the top if you need to. The trail and road both circle around to the top, but never cross each other so while hiking you feel out in nature just enjoying the view. The parking lot at the bottom is big, with nice restrooms. The trail is mostly easy going with well maintained paths; it was rocky and muddy at certain parts. You quickly start getting a great view at the area around. It takes maybe 20-30 minutes to get to the top, but we didn't time it. At the top you have an amazing view every direction. There are signs explaining about the buttes, plus naming all the mountains around. The weather was nice to us; we enjoyed it despite a bit of snow and cold winds. Heading back down we went the same path, which was faster. It's worth the stop, both to stretch your legs and for the views.

Sandy B.

Beautiful spot to have a panoramic view of several mountain tops and the city. Volcanic rock steps (wear good shoes), railings, and decent parking at top. Bathrooms available. Plaques to point out mountains, wildlife and plants.

Mike F.

What great views of the cascade range mountains and newberry basin. Great hike or bike ride up and down this butte. Is also accessible for those needing ramps to the center area of the top of the butte. #peaceful

Pilot Butte views
Kim R.

Not much to say...you can get in a great walk or drive straight up and take in some killer 360 views. It wasn't a crystal clear day, but no matter, still great. Decent parking at the bottom and top. Bring some binoculars and a wide brimmed hat!

Eric J.

Awesome 360 degree view of Bend and surrounding mountains. If you or a passenger is afraid of heights. Have someone else drive up or tell them to not look over the edge. No guardrail and if you go over the edge you will die. It's fun at the top!

View facing north towards my hood and mount adams
Mary B.

A must do if you're a first timer to Bend. In fact I'd do it first to get a lay of the area. 1. Drive it: It is an easy drive to the top (windy narrow road with no guardrails and about 5 mins to the top depending on traffic) 2. Walk it: or walk up (not a fan of walking up though as there's no real walking path rather you walk up the hill with the cars going up and down on a narrow toad with no guardrails. And it's not that easy, it's a constantly winding road that's prob a mile or so up.) 3. What can you see? 360 views of all surrounding Mountains and landscape. On a clear day I imagine it is stunning as you can see various mountain tops and ranges including Mt Hood and Mt Adam's and Blacktop mountain. Might have screwed that name up lol! You get the gist. 4. No toilets, no water nor food at the top so be prepared. 5. It's free 6. Parking at the top is limited to maybe 30 cars and no real parking spaces just two spaces for handicapped vehicles. Everyone else has to park on the edge of the mountain side around the paved circular mountaintop. Scary for those scared of heights. No guardrails but there's some walkable clearing just below where you park before the cliff side. 7. You can walk around the paved mountaintop and take pics from all angles or walk up a few stairs on any side and stand on the platform and take pics which also has a few historical signs detailing what you're looking at. 8. Weather: It was 75 today and it was about 70 up top until the sunset whereby the temp dropped fast. I wouldn't go up in snow or rain as I imagine it gets tricky on that narrow road with no guardrails nor lights and must be very cold. 9. No lights at night! I went just before a 6:30pm sunset and the park still had people coming in. Not sure when they close exactly. 10. Theres no one on-site to ask questions, no store or visitor center. It's just a mountaintop with pretty views. Kind of like a mini Twin Peaks in SF.

Kira U.

When you visit Pilot Butte State Park you can take a somewhat stenuous hike up to the top, and your reward will be both the workout and a lovely view of the surrounding area. To be clear - if what you want is lush terrain with dense woods then you should go elsewhere - Pilot Butte is in the desert, so you'll find nothing here except for rocks and dirt. For my money, the scenery to be enjoyed here has only limited repeat value, but the workout value of the hike is totally worth taking at least once ;-)

Angie S.

We didn't have time to hike to the top so we drove. The road is narrow and a little scary going up since you're right on the edge but the views are worth it. If you go on a clear day you can see all the mountains and buttes surrounding Bend. There are various information boards located around the viewing platform and a map in the middle pointing out which mountains are which. Definitely worth the 10 - 20 minutes it takes to take in the beautiful view.

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9 years ago

All of the snow is now melted and the road is open. So be careful of all the drivers on the road at this point.

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Ask the Community - Pilot Butte State Park

Review Highlights - Pilot Butte State Park

Outside of Bend/Redmond, we decided to have a fun hike going up to the top of Pilot Butte.

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Riley Ranch Nature Reserve - Riley Ranch - saying hello to one of the sweeties gathered around us on the canyon loop

Riley Ranch Nature Reserve

(6 reviews)

Great place for a peaceful walk…read more We love Riley for getting some exercise in a serene setting. There are a couple of loops running the upper perimeter of the ranch...flat and easy for anyone. Then there's the gorgeous canyon loop below, through the trees and along the river. Both are great, but canyon loop is my favorite, just a beautiful space...large boulders, sweet trees, and the constant sound of rushing Deschutes. Apparently you can take the canyon trail to Tumalo State Park, although we haven't done that yet. Love having this space for nature and animals. Although we saw deer on the way in, we didn't see any while inside, but we did spot lots of tracks...as well as lots of birds. Great preserve!

Riley Ranch is a wonderful nature area operated by Bend Parks & Rec that probably many Bendites…read moredon't know about yet. It hasn't been open long. - Scenic views of the Deschutes, where the river runs fairly fast and has carved a canyon through the lava. Above the canyon wall on the east side lies Gopher Gulch air field (private property). - Lots of riparian areas here. People are instructed to only approach the river at designated access points. There are several, so that isn't too much of a restriction. - Junipers and ponderosas abound. - Trails are easy walking on mostly level terrain in the higher elevation areas (Juniper and Sage Loops). Robin's Run is a short segment which drops down somewhat steeply but there are rock steps installed to make it easier. The Canyon Loop trails along the river are much like you'd encounter along the Deschutes River Trail south of Bend. - This is a well-marked hiking area. Directional signs at key intersections, a very good overall map at both entrances (and mini-versions on some intersection markers), river access points identified. - If you keep going north past the Canyon Loop, the trail will take you out of Riley Ranch and towards Tumalo State Park. Along the way is the confluence of Tumalo Creek and the Deschutes River, which is pretty cool. - There are a couple of old (~1900) cabins fenced off along the Canyon Loop trail (one is actually a short distance down the trail towards Tumalo SP). - A Bend Parks & Rec person was stationed at the parking lot on a Sunday to remind people not to bring their dogs. - Medium-sized parking lot. As Rick J suggests, maybe its not larger on purpose. There's certainly room for a bigger lot. Bend has a surplus of great in-town and nearby casual walking trails. Riley Ranch is one.

Pilot Butte State Park - hiking - Updated May 2026

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