While Bend is famous for its beauty and multiple outdoor activities, there’s something to be said about visiting in fall. Mountains previously blanketed by summer greenery become seemingly alight with the fiery hues of autumn. Stunning shades of rust and orange dominating the landscape. Take a moment to enjoy the season and the things to do in Bend Oregon before the snows set in and the skiing begins! Check out some of the fall activities down below.
Things to Do Around Bend, Oregon: Celebrate the Season the Bend Way
During the fall season, the same lush trails of summer become ideal for fall foliage hike. They provide plenty of opportunities for beautiful landscape photography sessions too! Start with the popular Tumalo Falls hike or the Paulina Plunge, where you’ll find spectacular waterfalls after hiking through beautiful alpine forests and high mountain prairies, or hike through Newberry National Monument and completely different scenery as you explore dormant cinder cones and lava flows of an ancient volcano. Cooler weather offers the perfect time to visit Newberry since this amazing geological wonderland is mostly without shady trees. If you’re planning on bringing your pet along for some of the hikes, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these pet friendly Bend, OR vacation rentals.
How about a picnic under all those colorful leaves? Drake Park, Shevlin Park, Pioneer Park, and Smith Rock are all great spots for picnicking while enjoying the brisk fall weather and the gorgeous fall foliage, without breaking a sweat. Of course, if you’re looking to get in a little more exercise, hit the Deschutes River Trail for a nice jog along the river amid some of the prettiest scenery around.
If you’re more of a biker than hiker, you’re in luck. There are over 500 miles of single-track trails in Bend. These well-maintained trails offer riders of all abilities an exciting ride as they hurl themselves downhill and do a lot of dirt-jumping along the way. And if the weather has been crazy and the trails are muddy, fear not. Just rent fat bikes and enjoy the trails no matter the weather or trail condition. And with its several lift-served trails, Mt. Bachelor Bike Park is also a popular site this time of year.
Autumn also brings on a slew of pumpkin-flavored and fall-themed beers that are perfect for the chillier weather. If you’re looking for things to do in Bend Oregon, hit up the Bend Ale Trail. It’s the largest beer trail in the west! Sample beers like Big Ol’ Pumpkin from 10 Barrel or Twisted Gourd Pumpkin Ale by Silver Moon. A few more local breweries that should be on your tasting list are The Ale Apothecary, Crux Fermentation Project, and the Deschutes Brewery, where you can taste their Jubelale Festive Winter Ale among other seasonal brews. Similarly, Bend’s coffee shops are especially cozy and inviting during this time of year. So, if you’ve been jonesing for your yearly Pumpkin Spice Latte, you can relax – it’s finally time!
It’s not just coffee houses and breweries getting in on fall celebrations, either. The Bend area has several local distilleries too. Take a tour of Gompers Distillery or Oregon Spirit Distillers and be sure to make a stop in their tasting rooms. Oregon Spirit Distillers offers a taste of their usual offerings of whiskeys, absinthe, dry gin and vodka, and exclusive seasonal spirits like the Oregon Spirit Autumn Harvest (distilled from Halloween pumpkins then aged) and favorite One-Eyed Jon Spiced Rum.
Bend puts on quite a show when it comes to fall festivals. Kick off your fall celebrations with Oktoberfest during mid-September, the German holiday devoted to enjoying beer, food, cider, live music, and more.
If you happen to be in town for the first weekend of October, there are even more things to do around Bend Oregon. You can go to the Bend Fall Festival, a fun free event that is open to visitors of all ages! Enjoy fall-themed art, craft, food, and contests, with live music and high-quality local craft beer for those.
In early to mid October, you can enjoy a host of incredible fall events and things to do around Bend Oregon. From Harvest Dinner at the High Desert Museum with farm-to-table dishes to the Bend Film Festival, there are a variety of events suited to all interests. Visit Naked Winery for pumpkin picking and carving at the Terrebonne Pumpkin Patch. On the night of Halloween, the Old Mill District transforms into a trick-or-treating wonderland. Join children dressed up in costumes going from store to store and restaurant to restaurant for trick-or-treating goodies.
Make sure to visit the Old Mill District, whether there’s a festival or not. This downtown neighborhood is the spot to find delicious food and drinks during your stay. The Old Mill is located in an old lumber mill and has plenty of charm and history, not to mention lots of shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants.
Bend Vacation Rentals – Bringing You the Best of Bend
Bend is a wonderful destination to vacation in, whether you’re coming with friends, for your honeymoon or to host your wedding. To find out more about these fall activities and other enjoyable things to do in Bend Oregon in Bend year-round, contact our team of reservation specialists and reserve your accommodations in one of our cozy vacation rental properties today!
