Best known for its glorious rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park boasts rust-colored 800ft cliffs that tower over the pretty Crooked River. Nonclimbers…
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Bend
Bend is where all lovers of the outdoors should live – it's an absolute paradise. You can ski fine powder in the morning, paddle a kayak in the afternoon and play golf into the evening. Or would you rather go mountain biking, hiking, mountaineering, stand-up paddle boarding, fly-fishing or rock climbing? You can even surf a river wave in the center of town. Plus, you'll probably be enjoying it all in great weather; the area gets nearly 300 days of sunshine each year.
Not all of Bend is pretty – Hwy 97 (3rd St) is a long commercial strip of cheap motels, fast-food restaurants and run-of-the-mill services. But something has to support Bend's fast-growing population, which has skyrocketed with outdoor-lovers over the past decade or so.
Explore Bend
- SSmith Rock State Park
Best known for its glorious rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park boasts rust-colored 800ft cliffs that tower over the pretty Crooked River. Nonclimbers…
- HHigh Desert Museum
This excellent museum, about 3 miles south of Bend, charts the exploration and settlement of the West, using reenactments of a Native American camp, a…
- TThree Sisters Wilderness
This beautiful 283,400-acre region spans the Cascade Range and is highlighted by the glaciered Three Sisters, three recent volcanic peaks each topping 10…
- NNewberry National Volcanic Monument
About 13 miles south of Bend is this impressive area, a relatively recent volcanic region resulting from 400,000 years of volcanic activity. Newberry…
- PPeter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint
Just a couple miles north of Smith Rock, Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint highlights a stunning 300ft-deep gorge. You can walk over the old…
- DDeschutes Historical Museum
Located in an old grade school, this museum houses Native American and pioneer artifacts. There's also historical information on the area's logging,…
- LLava River Cave
About 1 mile south of the Lava Lands visitor center, Lava River Cave is the only lava tube that's developed for visitors (bring a flashlight or rent a…
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bend.
See
Smith Rock State Park
Best known for its glorious rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park boasts rust-colored 800ft cliffs that tower over the pretty Crooked River. Nonclimbers…
See
High Desert Museum
This excellent museum, about 3 miles south of Bend, charts the exploration and settlement of the West, using reenactments of a Native American camp, a…
See
Three Sisters Wilderness
This beautiful 283,400-acre region spans the Cascade Range and is highlighted by the glaciered Three Sisters, three recent volcanic peaks each topping 10…
See
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
About 13 miles south of Bend is this impressive area, a relatively recent volcanic region resulting from 400,000 years of volcanic activity. Newberry…
See
Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint
Just a couple miles north of Smith Rock, Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint highlights a stunning 300ft-deep gorge. You can walk over the old…
See
Deschutes Historical Museum
Located in an old grade school, this museum houses Native American and pioneer artifacts. There's also historical information on the area's logging,…
See
Lava River Cave
About 1 mile south of the Lava Lands visitor center, Lava River Cave is the only lava tube that's developed for visitors (bring a flashlight or rent a…
Guidebooks
Learn more about Bend
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