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!

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.

A beautiful park right here in downtown Bend. What seems so far away is within walking distance if…read moreyou are anywhere close to downtown Bend. Lots of space to throw a blanket and chill. You can put i. to float here as well.

Drake Park has a lovely walking trail as well as water access, restrooms, picnic tables and large…read moregrassy areas. There is alot of street parking (4 hour max). There were people floating on paddle boards, there could be some good fishing within as well as alot of crayfish. There are beautiful homes along the waterfront as well as some resturants and downtown access from the parkway.

The water is shallow so the kids can go out pretty far. It's got a rock beach so you can bring sand…read moretoys or things to float the water with. Awesome way to spend the afternoon!

Great spot for families. ..kids...dogs. Love the lake! My kids had a great time here today. You can…read moreswim and float and have a picnic. Theres a fun natural area for kids to play...fun rocks and sand and tree trunks to play on!

Love Elk Lake in both the summer and winter. In the summer it's an easy drive. They have beer and…read morepizza. Nice spot to paddle board. In the winter it's a good spot to snowmobile to. They did just have new ownership and have redone the whole restaurant. It's a little fancier now, still very good. Excellent customer service. Cool spot to get out of the cold, couple of fireplaces. They just opened for the winter. The have some great cocktails and food.

We go here for summer lake activities. Very affordable and staff are nice and welcoming. Food and…read moredrinks are also good.

The oath is well cleared so the walk is easy. It's about 100 paces from the parking lot to seeing…read morethe falls. And if you want to walk more it's a little less than half a mile to Paulina lake. Then you can go across the bridge and hike down the otherwise to see the falls from the other side. I don't think it actually loops all the way around unless you go even further.

Loved this spot! The falls were easy to get to. The upper view was an easy walk from the parking…read morelot. The lower view point required a little bit of hiking, but nothing strenuous. I would recommend some sneakers or hiking boots for the lower view.

Cultus lake was good and fun and very cool and fun to do stuff at while it was us super cool funread more

This is one of my favorite campgrounds in the Cascade Lakes area. It is pretty far from Bend, but…read moreworth it if you have the time. The campground itself is pretty similar to what you might find at the other Hoodoo ran campgrounds, though it always feels a bit cleaner than the rest. The sites come with running water, shared bathrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, and a parking space. You will want to bring plenty of cash for the fees and if you bring more than one vehicle you will need to pay extra. This campground is right next to the lake and has an awesome trail that runs around the perimeter of the lake. There is a boat ramp at the end of the lake and if you just have paddle boards and kayaks you can just launch them right by your campsite. In addition to the boat ramp, there is a very nice shallow swim area. This has a gradual slope that allows the sun to warm the water up pretty fast. Overall I would say that this campground is slightly nicer than the other campgrounds in the Cascades, but the location is what really pull it up to five stars. When I have the time and money, this is my preferred campground.

So impressed by the service of SUPrents. Ordered a used Pint for an amazing price. Arrived with all…read moreof the original packaging materials/manuals and they even shipped it to me on a weekend. Amazing. Very customer focused. Super impressed and happy. Thank you!

Great experience renting from Suprents last weekend. They had exceptional customer service &…read morereasonable prices, + boards to fit us all perfectly. We were unsure of the inflatable boards but they were high quality and made for easy transport. There were 3 of us in our party - the guy had a little trouble getting his board pumped but the girls managed theirs just fine. Will be back in Bend next year and will definitely rent from them again!

I can't stop saying good things about Stand on Liquid. The crew is phenomenal. The service is top…read moretier. The selection of boards is nuts. There's a board for everyone of all shapes, sizes and experience levels. I've got a few days on my new inflatable SUP so far and the value of what you get it great. I originally got a board that was a little small for me and that was all fixed with a simple, quick call to the shop. I swung back by, the guys helped me pick out a better size board and the rest is history. I'd also point out that the shop is second to none. The vibes are immaculate and I recommend everyone stop in and check them out.

Knowledgeable and accommodating. The team at 44 Latitude Sports/Stand on Liquid sell top quality…read moresports equipment for summer and winter hobbies. They also do repairs! You can test out products and they'll offer helpful tips. I drive 4.5 hours for the quality and service found here. Doing business with Rob, Pat, and the rest of the team is worth the roadtrip!