Location: Bend
Top Things to do in Bend
The 10 Best Things to do in Bend, Oregon (OR)
Only 21 miles from RDM airport, Bend is a natural playground for families and adventure travelers. Hiking and fishing along the Deschutes river, mountain biking and skiing at Mt. Bachelor are among the favorite activities. Enjoy award-winning restaurants or one of the nearly 30 breweries and pubs. Sunny weather compliments the many world class festivals and concerts. Bend is a great spot for family-friendly fun as well, from the High Desert Museum to ski areas with no fees for children under 12.
Restaurants in Bend
1. Deschutes National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 201 reviews
Encompassing more than 1.6 million acres of Central Oregon, this region extends for about 100 miles with a scenic backdrop of volcanic mountains of the Cascades.
Reviewed By pepevallejo
amazing place to visit with family or groups, nice views, good kids activity , clean and the gardeners work very hard to keep this area up to . at 100 %
2. Deschutes River
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 253 reviews
Reviewed By jonc588 - Las Vegas, United States
Wide open park and river space (was there during beer fest!)...float down the river, surf on rapids and miles of walkways, with plenty of restaurants, pubs, shops and other distractions. Everyone seemed to have a great time...as did we!
3. Mt. Bachelor Ski Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 668 reviews
Offers twelve ski trails and ski clinics to help novice to advanced skiers.
Reviewed By 617JamesM617 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Our trip to Mt Bachelor was in late April 2021. My wife and I purchased the late-season pass, which was the best value we have ever found in over 40 years of skiing together. We had a great trip and we think that Mt Bachelor is probably about as good as it gets for a trip at this time of year. I If you are considering a trip to Mt Bachelor, you need to understand that this is not a typical destination ski resort. There is no lodging on or near the mountain. Most people who come from outside the area stay in Bend, Oregon, which is about 1/2 hour from the ski area. We did not find this to be a problem. We flew into Portland Oregon and rented a car and drove to Bend, where we stayed. The daily drive to the ski area was very pleasant. It is along a very scenic route. The road was bare and dry during our stay. The first thing you should do when planning a trip to Mt Bachelor is reserve your parking (easily done from Mt Bachelor's web site). Do not buy a resort pass, plane tickets or reserve a room until you have reserved parking. It is clear from other reviews that parking can be a major problem during the high season. However, during our trip, parking was no problem at all and we were always able to park within a 1-2 minute walk to the lifts. We skied from April 19-23, 2021. The first three days were wonderful, blue-sky days. The temperatures during the day were above freezing and we had great corn snow skiing, particularly on the side of the mountain with the most direct sun exposure. The third day was also a warm blue-sky day but it was a little windy. As a result, for much of the morning, they were only running two of the high speed chairs, the Sunrise lift near the parking lot and the Northwest lift, accessible only by hiking a considerable distance. We decided to stick with the Sunrise lift. It only has an 800-foot vertical rise. They slowed down the chair because of the wind. Also, because of the pandemic, most of the chairs were only loading two people. As a result, there was about a 10 minute line for most of the morning. A lot of people quit skiing because of this. Later in the day, however, they were able to open most of the other lifts. The afternoon was absolutely epic, with the best corn-snow skiing we have ever experienced. The final day was partly cloudy and colder and the runs were pretty icy, so we quit after only a few runs and went back to Bend. It was by no means a lost day, however. We used this opportunity to have lunch at one of the micro-breweries in Bend, and we also went on a nice hike along the Deschutes River. Despite the poor skiing conditions, we still had a great day. The vast majority of the mountain immediately accessible by the lifts consists of easy blue runs, and a few green runs. Most of the black runs below the summit chair are accessed from the Northwest chair lift. The resort does accurately state that there are runs off of 360 degrees of the summit (accessed by the Summit chair). Most of the black or double-black runs off of the summit are not groomed or regularly patrolled, so we did not ski any of these runs. There are several really nice blue runs off of the summit that are groomed. We usually skied these runs in the afternoon when the snow was softer. It was really fun to ski well-above the tree line on a dormant volcano! Everyone who worked on the mountain was very helpful and courteous. Also, they are taking all of the appropriate measures to protect their staff and guests during the pandemic, such as loading only families or groups traveling together on their quad chairs. To maximize your enjoyment on a ski trip to Mt Bachelor in the spring, you need to have realistic expectations and be flexible. Understand that you may be mostly skiing blue and green runs. Recognize that resort operations may be limited as a result of conditions, such as wind. Plan ahead for the possibility that some of your skiing days may not happen as planned. There are other activities in and around Bend to consider, such as hiking or fly fishing on the Deschutes or just walking around the charming downtown area and checking out their many fine restaurants. Our trip was not perfect, but it was still great fun, even on the day when we quit early due to icy conditions on the mountain. In the future, Mt Bachelor will be at or near the top of our list for a mid to late spring skiing vacation.
4. High Desert Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,911 reviews
The museum, set on 135 acres of pine forest, has something for everyone. Explore the nature, culture and spirit of the High Desert through fun, interactive, indoor and outdoor exhibits. Encounter live animals, interact with living history characters at the Miller Ranch, visit the 1904 sawmill. See what life was like for pioneers, enjoy Western art and an extensive Native American collection. Special programs and events for all ages. Due to current state COVID-related restrictions, our outdoor exhibits, gift shop and cafe patio are open. All indoor exhibits are closed. Go to highdesertmuseum.org/tickets to see our reduced rates!
Reviewed By NorthStar606814
OHDM is an awesome place to visit. It has wonderful interpreter presentations to discuss wonderful exhibits like the Otter Ponds and the Rapters (Eagles, Hawks, Owls,etc) The American Indian exhibits are excellent with awethentic displays. The reptile exhibit is very interesting (altho I miss the rattlesnakes). There is just so much to see -- both inside and outside! The walks and living history exhibits of pioneer days, logging days, and the interesting willow brush round pen for livestock is fascinating. It is easy to spend a whole day seeing and interacting with the wonderful displays and presenters. Be sure and schedule time to take in the excellent retail shop with its array of books, gifts, food, children's items and collectibles. A top-rate facility!
5. Sparks Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 257 reviews
Reviewed By A1288HTallanb - Clackamas, United States
Center lake shallow, gets deeper as you paddle south. We have secret camp tucked away. Been canoeing since 70’s, spent 5 anniversaries there. Few fish at south end. Kids filled canoe with salamanders. Crowded now a day—get there early. Has ramp but so many people can not use ramp—I now have row boat on trailer. Camping around lake may not be allowed—stay at Elk or Hosmer
6. Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 819 reviews
One of the nation's newest national monuments, this 55,500 acre area seeks to preserve unique accessible volcanic features.
Reviewed By hbodesign - Portland, United States
Take the whole day and don’t miss a thing! We went to the lava fields first (caves were closed due to COVID) - an easy paved path throughout with plenty of view points and info placards along the way for a self-guided tour. Getting to the top requires some uphill walking, but not too steep. Next up was the Obsidian Flow - DO NOT MISS THIS! Unbelievable, and the perfect follow up to the rough textured pumice from the lava fields. The Obsidian Flow trail is more rugged than the lava fields, so wear sturdy shoes (no flip flops!). You can view from the bottom of the hill, but if you are able, you can get a gorgeous view from half way up via a railed staircase. There are benches to sit down and take it all in. And if you’ve got some stability and healthy knees/ankles, you can climb even higher via a worn rough path through the rocks. The view is SPECTACULAR up there, and its a bit like walking on another planet, with black glass rocks all around. Literally, awesome! Lastly, we ended our day by driving to the peak of Paulina. WOW - a winding drive on a sometimes narrowing road, but so worth it! I thought the view at Timberline Lodge was good, this is BEYOND. 360 degree views from 8000 ft. Additionally, incredible foliage, random obsidian, and petrified wood abound. No hiking required but there are a few paths from the parking lot if you’re adventurous and want to get a little closer to the edge!
7. Lava Lands Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
The interpretive hub for the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
Reviewed By Anne47675 - Bend, United States
We love this visitor center and would visit frequently since it is free with your northwest pass. The short hiking loop around the lava flow is great for a short hike with a super view of the 3 Sisters and Cascades. The displays have an amazing amount of information about volcanoes and the formation of the local area. In addition you can take a shuttle up to the top of the cinder cone lava butte. Super outing for family or friends.
8. Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 707 reviews
Reviewed By E4823BPbenv - Spokane, United States
We hiked up the road which was in the sun and a steady grade. It was tougher than I expected for a trail ranked as easy on AllTrails. Hiked down the dirt trail and it was more scenic and shaded and less steep. The 360 degree view was worth the 1.2 mile hike. Appreciated the signs that pointed out each of the peaks in the distance. Stunning!
9. Lava River Cave
10. Tumalo Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 684 reviews
Reviewed By JimHop - Seattle, United States
This trail was fantastic. You can drive right up to see the spectacular falls right from the parking lot, then our group did an 8 mile hike through the forest to the valley, with even more waterfalls and views along the way.
