Bend, oregon
Attractions Guide

The city of Bend is set in the high desert of Central Oregon surrounded by a vast volcanic landscape. Bend is a great base from which to explore the incredible natural wonders in the area, including Smith Rock State Park, the Newberry Volcanic National Monument, and many waterfalls.

Within Bend you might like to visit the Deschutes Brewery, which offers free tours and tastings at the headquarter brewery of this popular craft beer. Across the river from the brewery is Old Bend, the city's historic downtown area which hosts many great shops and restaurants. The city is even home to the last remaining Blockbuster video rental store, which is quite a surreal place to visit.

You might also consider driving up to the top of the Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, a volcanic cinder cone in the middle of the city which offers sweeping panoramic views over the area, which is also a popular place to watch the sunset from.

To the north of Bend is Smith Rock State Park, an immensely beautiful volcanic landscape of tall sheer cliffs which are great for rock climbing or hiking. The Crooked River flows around the center of the park, creating a giant peninsula.

The most popular moderately challenging hiking route in the park is to follow the Misery Ridge Trail to the River Trail, which forms a 3.6 mile (5.8 km) round-trip loop offering stunning canyon scenery while also traversing alongside the river.

For a more challenging and rewarding hike, you can follow Misery Ridge up to the Summit Trail and loop back around. This trail follows along the rim above this beautiful river canyon, with a round-trip hiking distance of about 5.6 miles (9 km) and elevation gain of nearly 1,800 feet (550 m).

South of Bend is the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, where you'll find several places of interest.

The most notable attraction in the monument is the Big Obsidian Flow Trail, which takes you on a short but scenic 0.6 mile (1 km) walk amongst a fascinating landscape of sharp obsidian rocks atop the Newberry Volcano. Nearby you can admire the beautiful Paulina Lake and East Lake, and then take the short 0.8 mile (1.3 km) round-trip hike to see the stunning Paulina Creek Falls.

Other popular sights within the national monument include a 1 mile (1.6 km) long Lava River Cave which you can explore on your own. Also popular is the High Desert Museum, which hosts interesting exhibits on local wildlife and the historical culture of Eastern Oregon. The lava cave and museum are located just south of Bend.

Just west of Bend is the majestic Tumalo Falls, which can normally be reached with a 0.6 mile (1 km) round-trip hike around late spring to early fall. During the colder months however, the trail is much longer at about 7 miles (11.3 km) round-trip as the road to the much closer trailhead is closed off.

About 1.5 hours southwest of Bend by car is a gorgeous waterfall, Salt Creek Falls, located deep within the dense forests of the Southern Williamette National Forest. This massive waterfall is nearly 300 feet (90 m) tall and can be seen just off the road.

If you make the journey all the way out to see Salt Creek Falls, then you might also consider hiking to the stunning Diamond Creek Falls, which can be reached via a 5.4 mile (8.7 km) round-trip hike from Salt Creek Falls.