Smith Rock State Park
A canyon of red and tan volcanic cliffs above the Crooked River, half an hour north of Bend. Hike the Misery Ridge loop, watch climbers on Monkey Face, and see why this is the birthplace of American sport climbing.
Oregon
Bend
Bend is the high-desert city on the sunny side of the Oregon Cascades, where the Deschutes River runs through downtown, volcanoes fill the western skyline and a craft beer culture grew up around a lifestyle of floating, skiing, climbing and hiking.
Within an hour you can stand on the rim of a cinder cone, walk through a lava tube, paddle a mountain lake, watch climbers on the red cliffs of Smith Rock or ride a chairlift on Mt. Bachelor. This guide books the best of it: guided tours and tastings, free viewpoints and trails, the High Desert Museum and the volcanic monument, plus hotels and resorts from a walkable downtown boutique to family lodges in the pines.
Don't miss
Smith Rock State Park
A canyon of red and tan volcanic cliffs above the Crooked River, half an hour north of Bend. Hike the Misery Ridge loop, watch climbers on Monkey Face, and see why this is the birthplace of American sport climbing.
Lava Tube Cave Tour
Walk underground through a lava tube south of Bend, where the temperature hovers near freezing and the walls show how molten rock once flowed beneath the high desert. A guided option removes the planning.
Mt. Bachelor
The volcano that dominates Bend skiing: more than four thousand acres of terrain, long winters and a summit lift that opens to sightseers in warm months.
High Desert Museum
Central Oregon's best museum, a mix of indoor galleries and outdoor wildlife and heritage exhibits on a forested campus south of Bend. Frontier life, Native cultures, otters and birds of prey in one visit.
Things to do in Bend
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Lava Tube Cave Tour
Walk underground through a lava tube south of Bend, where the temperature hovers near freezing and the walls show how molten rock once flowed beneath the high desert. A guided option removes the planning.
Lava Lands Visitor Center and Lava Butte
A cinder cone, a lava field and a visitor center about twelve miles south of Bend. Climb or ride to the rim of Lava Butte for a view over the lava flows and the Cascade peaks.
Mt. Bachelor
The volcano that dominates Bend skiing: more than four thousand acres of terrain, long winters and a summit lift that opens to sightseers in warm months.
Deschutes River Trail E-Bike Tour
A guided electric bike ride along the Deschutes River through Bend, with easy pedaling, river views, parks and a bit of local history from a guide who knows the shortcuts.
Floating the Deschutes River
A summer Bend tradition: rent a tube or raft, drift through town on the Deschutes, and pass parks, patios and the whitewater park with the Cascades on the horizon.
Cascade Lakes Kayak Tour
Paddle a high Cascade lake beneath volcanic peaks on a guided kayak trip from Bend. Clear water, mountain reflections and no kayaking experience required.
Cascade Lakes Moonlight and Starlight Canoe Tour
A guided evening paddle on a Cascade lake as the light fades, with dusk colors, rising stars and the quiet of the high country. One of the most memorable ways to spend a summer night near Bend.
Guided Snowshoe Tour
A guided winter walk on snowshoes through the Cascade forest near Mt. Bachelor. Quiet trails, big views and a gentle pace make it the easiest way into the winter backcountry.
High Desert Museum
Central Oregon's best museum, a mix of indoor galleries and outdoor wildlife and heritage exhibits on a forested campus south of Bend. Frontier life, Native cultures, otters and birds of prey in one visit.
FreeOld Mill District
A former lumber mill turned riverside shopping, dining and music district, with three preserved smokestacks, the Deschutes River Trail and an outdoor amphitheater.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
FreeDrake Park and Mirror Pond
Bend's living room: a green park on a calm stretch of the Deschutes called Mirror Pond, with ducks, picnic lawns, paddlers and a view of the Cascades from downtown.
30 minutes to 2 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Oxford Hotel Bend
Downtown Bend
A downtown boutique hotel a short walk from Mirror Pond, with a design-led feel, a restaurant and bar on site and the best address in Bend for walking to everything.
Check rates →Tetherow Hotel
West Bend
A modern golf and mountain resort on the west side of Bend, with a links-style course, contemporary rooms, a restaurant and quick access to Mt. Bachelor and the Cascade Lakes road.
Check rates →
$$McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Near Downtown Bend
A converted 1930s Catholic school with quirky guest rooms, a brewpub, a movie theater and a soaking pool. The most characterful place to stay in Bend.
Check rates →Riverhouse on the Deschutes
North Downtown / Riverfront
A large riverside hotel and convention complex on the north side of downtown, with river-view rooms, pools, restaurants and easy access to the trails and the center of Bend.
Check rates →Sunriver Resort
Sunriver (15 miles south of Bend)
A big family resort about fifteen miles south of Bend, with golf, pools, bike paths, river access and a nature center set among ponderosa pines and views of Mt. Bachelor.
Check rates →Seventh Mountain Resort
Cascade Lakes Highway / Southwest Bend
A classic condominium-style resort on the road to Mt. Bachelor, with pools, a river setting and rooms and suites for groups and families who want space and a kitchen.
Check rates →Pine Ridge Inn
West Bend
A small, upscale inn on the west side of Bend, known for spacious suites, quiet grounds and personal service, a short drive from downtown and the Old Mill District.
Check rates →The Lodge at Eagle Crest
Redmond (20 miles north of Bend)
A golf and family resort near Redmond, about twenty miles north of Bend, handy for Smith Rock and the airport, with pools, courses and a relaxed high-desert setting.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Smith Rock State ParkStay
The Lodge at Eagle CrestRedmond (20 miles north of Bend)
Do
Lava Tube Cave TourStay
McMenamins Old St. Francis SchoolNear Downtown Bend
Do
Mt. BachelorStay
Sunriver ResortSunriver (15 miles south of Bend)
While you are there
What’s on in Bend
60+ concerts, shows and games are on sale in the coming months, from stadium nights to small rooms. Our sister site Purveyor lists them with dates, venues and seats.
Bend guides
Bend for First-Timers: What to See, Where to Stay and How the Town Fits Together
A practical first-visit guide to Bend, Oregon: how the river, downtown and the volcanic landscape fit together, what is worth your time and how to plan.
Three Days in Bend: A Balanced Itinerary for Town, Canyon and Volcano
A three-day Bend itinerary that mixes downtown, Smith Rock, the volcanic sights south of town and a brewery evening, with seasonal swaps.
Eating and Drinking in Bend: Breweries, Food Carts and Where to Start
A guide to Bend's beer and food scene: breweries and taprooms, food cart pods, chocolate and how to plan a tasting day.
The Best Time to Visit Bend: Season by Season
A season-by-season guide to Bend, Oregon: what each season offers, what is open, road closures and how to choose the right time.
Bend with Kids: Family Activities, Easy Hikes and Where to Stay
A family guide to Bend, Oregon: easy hikes, river days, museums, snow play and family-friendly places to stay.
Day Trips from Bend: Canyons, Lava Fields and Cascade Lakes
The best day trips from Bend, Oregon: Smith Rock, the Newberry caldera, the Cascade Lakes, Tumalo Falls and a lava tube cave.
