It doesn’t get much better than summer activities in Bend, Oregon. The only problem you’ll have is trying to decide which amazing outdoor activities you’ll do during your visit! Here are some suggestions for our favorite Bend, Oregon summer activities. Find out all there is to do in Bend by checking out the Visit Bend website at www.VisitBend.com.
Mountain Biking
With seemingly endless miles of sweet single track, you will be grinning from ear-to-ear as you ride your mountain bike in Bend. Many of our vacation homes are convenient to Phil’s Trail system as well as the Deschutes River Trail. If you don’t bring your bike, we can suggest a few local shops that rent good quality bikes. Check out Cog Wild for a guided mountain bike tour and shuttles. And the new Mt. Bachelor Downhill Bike Park provides intermediate and advanced riders with gravity grooviness at the ski resort.
Road Cycling
While Bend is renowned for its mountain biking, its road cycling is no second fiddle, and is part of the reason Bend is known as BikeTown USA. The roads in and around Bend are very cycling friendly, many of which are marked with bike lanes and share the road signs. Check with us for suggestions on popular routes, including the new Three Sisters Scenic Bikeway, and where to rent a road bike if you don’t want to bring your own.
Whitewater Rafting
There is amazing whitewater rafting only minutes from town with Sun Country Tours. Their most popular trip, the Big Eddy Thriller, easily fits into a morning or afternoon. They also offer longer trips, including an all-day trip through a western river canyon and a half-day trip on the McKenzie River.
Standup Paddle Boarding
Sun Country Tours also offers Standup Paddle Boarding (SUP) rentals, lessons and tours. If you’ve never tried SUP, you’ll be amazed by how easy it is to learn and how fun it is. Before you hit the river with your paddleboard, why not practice a bit on a calm area lake? Elk Lake, Scout Lake, and the Wikiup Reservoir are all great spots for paddleboarding, fishing and swimming.
Fishing
Bend is ranked as one of the Top 10 Fly Fishing towns in the country by Fly-Fisherman Magazine. Our pristine rivers, streams and lakes are home to many varieties including trout and steelhead, and there are many fishing outfitters and guides to help you explore the endless opportunities to enjoy world-class fishing in Central Oregon. If you’re familiar with the area, head out by yourself, or if this is your first time in Bend, it’s best to book a guided fishing trip on a local river like the Deschutes River, Crooked River, or Fall River where you can fly fish for rainbow or brook trout, or one of the area’s lovely lakes like Cascade Lake or East Lake, where you can fish from the shore, paddleboard, kayak or boat.
Floating the River
One of the favorite things to do on a hot summer day for a local is to float the river through the Old Mill District. There are float tube rentals from Riverbend Park and a shuttle service to take you back to the put-in from the takeout. If you can’t decide whether to go paddleboarding, kayaking, bodyboarding or tubing, don’t worry. While you’re at the Old Mill District, head to the Bend Whitewater Park. The park has multiple, easy access points to the Deschutes River, and the river has been divided into sections at the park. One section, The Passageway Channel has a few rapids to make your tubing trip a little more exciting, while The Whitewater Channel is a bit more challenging, perfect for practicing your whitewater skills before hitting the Class V rapids in the Deschutes or the wild Rouge River.
Hiking
There is amazing hiking close to Bend on the Deschutes River Trail and in Shevlin Park, as well as stellar, more remote trails near Mt. Bachelor and the Cascade Lakes. Nearby Smith Rock State Park, which is well-known for its world-class rock climbing, also offers great hiking with incredible views. Or hike to the popular Tumalo Falls or Paulina Plunge for spectacular waterfalls.
While you’re vacationing in Bend, you should hike Pilot Butte. This dormant volcano is right in downtown Bend and offers breathtaking panoramic view of the Cascades and Bend. And while you’re wandering through historic downtown Bend, take time to enjoy hiking along parts of the Deschutes River Trail. It winds along the river and through downtown, on both sides of the river, with amazing views along the way.
Golfing
With no shortage of beautiful golf courses in Bend, you’ll have a difficult time choosing where to go first! Some of our favorites are River’s Edge and Tetherow, as well as the driving range at Widgi Creek Golf Club. And of course, there’s the Jack Nicklaus designed Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn Golf Club, where the fairways are lined with tall Juniper trees and lava outcroppings.
Brewery Tours
The Bend Ale Trail TM. Bend has more breweries per-capita than any other city in Oregon. Find out why it has been dubbed “Beer Town USA.” If you like beer and bikes, take a ride on the Cycle Pub and enjoy your favorite craft beer while taking in all the summer activities in Bend, Oregon.
There’s More
Hikes through Newberry National Volcanic Monument take you over ancient lava flows like the Big Obsidian Flow, along the rim of the Newberry Caldera, past lakes and hot springs. And the Monument is home to the Lava River Cave, an amazing mile-long lava tube.
Craving a bit more excitement? How about bungee jumping over the Crooked River Gorge? Or a zip line adventure through Crater Lake National Park? Or take a helicopter tour over the Cascade Mountains, a sunset tour or Heli-Wine Tour?
Want a few more suggestions? Contact us today!