Bend is a beautiful small but growing city in central Oregon and one of the best places to live the United States. The city is on Deschutes River and is surrounded by volcanoes, lakes, as well as wilderness areas, creating an endless list of things to do for all ages. You will need to stay here at least a day or 2 to enjoy all the attractions.
- Tumalo Falls
- Downtown Bend
- Old Mill District
- Drake Park
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Tumalo Falls – About 10 miles west of Bend, this 97-foot waterfall plunges off a sheer wall to the roaring river below. You can view the falls from an observation area near the parking lot, which looks up the river to the wall of water pouring over the cliff. This is the best view of the falls, but if you want a closer view and a different perspective, you can also hike up a .2-mile trail that leaves from near the restrooms at the Tumalo Falls Picnic Area. At the edge of the falls is a fenced area, where you can look down on the falls.
A hiking trail continues on from here. If you are so inclined you can hike about two miles up Tumalo Creek to a view over a double falls and beyond to upper falls, and then return the same way.
Stroll around Downtown Bend – The whole area is full of restaurants and coffee shops (many with patios), eclectic shops, galleries, spas, and pretty much any other kind of retail establishment you can imagine.
Old Mill District – Set along the Deschutes River, about a mile from downtown, the Old Mill District is built around the remnants of the Brooks-Scanlon lumber mill. The landmark three silver smokestacks make it easy to spot.
This rejuvenated area features mainly shops and restaurants with a mix of chains and local establishments. In the summer you can dine on an outdoor patio and enjoy views over the river. There are also concerts during the summer.
Drake Park – This is a beautiful green space with walking trails, benches, and picnic tables. Set along the Deschutes River, the 13-acre park provides a half-mile stretch of public river access. The river here widens, creating a placid stretch of water named Mirror Pond.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument – 12 miles south of Bend, is the interesting Newberry National Volcanic Monument, where you can explore numerous attractions of the Newberry Volcano. Newberry National Volcanic Monument is divided into three distinct regions: the Lava Cast Forest, the Lava Lands, and the Newberry Caldera. The latter two are the most popular.
We visited the attraction near the Lava Lands Visitor Center off highway 97. The Visitor’s Center has interpretive exhibits, a short film, and a giant map showing all the areas to visit. You can also explore the interpretative 1.0-mile Molten Land trail as you walk among chunks of Lava.
In the summer, you can take a shuttle bus to the top of Lava Butte, where you’ll take in sweeping views of the surrounding volcanic landscape. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes ($3 round trip). The Lava Butte is a cinder cone that rises to 500 feet above the surrounding landscape, from where you can look out over the old lava flow. You can also take a walk around the crater rim which is wide and less that half a mile loop.
There are a few other trails you can walk here as well as walk underground through the Lava River Cave, a one-mile-long lava tube.
In another area of the monument, you’ll find beautiful lakes and mountain peaks, with wonderful hiking and camping opportunities. Information is all available at the visitor’s center.