Top Things to do in Central Oregon
Top Hotels in Central Oregon
- 1. Best Western Plus Rama Inn
- 2. SCP Redmond Hotel
- 3. Best Western Premier Peppertree Inn at Bend
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Bend
- 5. The Oxford Hotel
- 6. Hilton Garden Inn Bend
- 7. Springhill Suites by Marriott Bend
- 8. Best Western Plus Bend North
- 9. Best Western Ponderosa Lodge
- 10. La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Bend
Things to do in Central Oregon, Central Oregon: The Best Outdoor Activities
Discover the best top things to do in Central Oregon, United States including McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass loop, Deschutes River Trail, Middle Sister, Crooked River Scenic Drive, Brasada Trails, Tam McArthur Rim Trail, Bend Rock Gym, Alder Springs Trail, Broken Top Trail, Mt. Bachelor Ski Area.
Restaurants in Central Oregon
1. McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 240 reviews
Eighty-two-mile scenic byway offering the best foliage in the state.
Reviewed By aprilcD2559QJ - Yakima, United States
Great loop drive with lots of interesting things to stop and see along the way. Flowers, Dee Wright Observatory, Proxy Falls, Clear Lake, Salhalie/Koosah Falls, Camp Sherman, Head of the Metolius, Wizard Falls Hatchery, and more.
2. Deschutes River Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 58 reviews
A popular 10.5-mile mountain biking trail in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest.
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, United States
We stayed at a hotel adjacent to the trail and went out for a peaceful walk at sunset. The paved trail follows along the banks of the Deschutes River, so the scenery is great. It's suitable for wheelchairs and strollers and passes through Riverbend Park and Farewell Bend Park where there is a playground and some picnic shelters. We easily walked about 2 miles, crossing bridges over the river to go down both sides. There were a lot of people out walking or jogging and we saw people fishing, kayaking and paddle-boarding on the river. Waterfowl were abundant and didn't seem bothered by the company. The Mill District shopping area is right next to the trail; it would make a fun date night to have dinner at one of the restaurants there and then take a walk along the river.
3. Middle Sister
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Https://www.mountaineers.org/activities/routes-places/middle-sister
4. Crooked River Scenic Drive
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By Freedom29161356425 - Silverdale, United States
Beautiful drive, a few spots a big scary, since trucks over 60 ft should not use this road. We had a pickup with a very long trailer coming down the road, we stopped on before a corner to give him room otherwise we probably would have an issue. Its a slow traveling road with lots of campsites, evidently great fishing as there were lots of fisherpersons out. the damn is hard to see when on top. Its worth the drive, enjoy.
5. Brasada Trails
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
Brasada Trails is home to some of Bend Oregon's best horseback riding. Our trusty troop of Mustangs, Draft-Cross and Western Pleasure horses come complete with instruction for all ages and abilities in indoor and outdoor arenas as well as trail riding experiences over 900 acres within the resort and thousands more on adjoining lands. Customize your trail ride and take a private lesson.
Reviewed By SeattleDoc2010 - Seattle, United States
Great range ride for beginners, with an entertaining wrangler, wonderful views, and beautiful horses.
6. Tam McArthur Rim Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Brittany_11_10 - Los Angeles, United States
We started at Three Creeks Trail and went counter clockwise on the Broken Top Loop trail, so I suppose we only came down Tam McArthur Rim Trail as opposed to doing it as an out-and-back, but it was a nice walk and I wouldn't say too difficult. There is some scree hiking--if you choose the west side--(the other side was more of a hard-packed trail), but even then it was okay. The views along the way are nice, but the views from the top are stunning; definitely try to make it to the top if you can! You can park at Three Creeks Lake and easily find the trailhead, and from there, the path is easy to follow (minus the one section where you have a choice to take, mentioned above). It's worth it as well to check out No Name Lake, which you'll see from the top if you make it that far. This trail is fairly exposed, so be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat. Not buggy at all in mid-August. It's a beautiful place to hike.
7. Bend Rock Gym
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
We aim to provide a safe, comfortable climbing experience in a cutting edge facility with high quality routes, comprehensive climbing programs, and general fitness activities. We value opportunities to get involved our local community, promote life-long healthy habits in youth, and cultivate a welcoming environment to build lasting friendships and climbing skills.
8. Alder Springs Trail
9. Broken Top Trail
10. 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.
