Smith Rock State Park
Bend
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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Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades
Love mountain tops? Well, that's what Central Oregon and its Cascades are all about. You can practically skip your way from peak to snowy peak here, from Mt Hood, to Jefferson, to Bachelor, to Three-Fingered Jack and the lovely Sisters volcanoes. As you can imagine, there's plenty of awesome skiing and mountaineering, along with stellar hiking and camping. And it's not just mountain-lovers who come here – world-class biking, golfing, rafting, kayaking, fishing and rock climbing are also on offer.
Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
High Desert Museum
Bend
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…
Three Sisters Wilderness
Bend
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…
Timberline Lodge
Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades
The building of Timberline Lodge in 1936–37 was a huge project for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed up to 500 workers to construct…
Waldo Lake
Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades
At an elevation of 5414ft on the very crest of the Cascades, Waldo Lake has no stream inlets – the only water that enters is snowmelt and rainfall. It is…
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Bend
About 13 miles south of Bend is this impressive area, a relatively recent volcanic region resulting from 400,000 years of volcanic activity. Newberry…
McKenzie Pass Area
Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades
From the lava fields of 5325ft McKenzie Pass, you'll find stunning views of the Cascade Range and one of the youngest and largest lava flows in…
Odell & Crescent Lakes
Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades
Immediately on the eastern slope of Willamette Pass is gorgeous Odell Lake, resting in a steep glacial basin. Hiking trails lead into relatively…
Articles
Latest stories from Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades
Filter by interest:
Skiing
From year-round skiing to carving up a volcano: top 10 places to keep powder-hounds happy in OregonOct 21, 2019 • 7 min read
Sustainable Travel6 Oregon hot springs where you can melt your troubles awayOct 9, 2019 • 6 min read
Guidebooks
Purchase our award-winning guidebooks
Get to the heart of Central Oregon & the Oregon Cascades with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
