Bucket-list
Smith Rock State Park
Misery Ridge Loop
The signature Smith Rock loop, a steep climb to a ridgeline past Monkey Face spire with a Crooked River return, big reward for the effort.
Visit official site
For the active traveler
Big effort by day, slow restore by dark.
Bend rewards a rhythm of effort and recovery in the same day.
Design This TripBend rewards a big-effort, slow-restore rhythm: the Misery Ridge loop at Smith Rock or a Green Lakes alpine hike in the morning, then a high-desert spa or a natural hot-spring soak by evening. Trails flex from soul-stirring summit climbs to flat riverside paths in town, so any fitness level fits.
Effort and recovery, same day
Build in a Deschutes float or a Cascade Lakes paddle to cool down, and the day carries you from the heart-rate spike to the wind-down. Soak at Paulina Lake's primitive pools inside the Newberry caldera, or keep it close with a treatment at Brasada or Jinsei in town.
We sequence the weather windows, secure the wilderness permits, book the guides who know where to be, and keep a spa table waiting for the evening you push hardest.
What’s inside
- Misery Ridge at Smith Rock or a Green Lakes hike
- A Deschutes float or a Cascade Lakes paddle
- A natural hot-spring soak in the Newberry caldera
- High-desert spa treatments to land the big days
- Wilderness permits and guides arranged
A sample rhythm
- 01
Summit or rock
Misery Ridge or an alpine lake hike in the cool morning.
- 02
Water
A river float or a lake paddle to bring the heart rate down.
- 03
Soak
A natural hot spring or a resort spa, depending on the day.
- 04
Restore
A quiet dinner and an early start for the next big day.
The Bendwe’d build in
The pieces that fit this trip.
On foot
Summit ridges, river trails, and alpine lakes.
From the famous Misery Ridge loop at Smith Rock to gentle riverside paths in town and high-country lake hikes, paced to any fitness level.
Many Cascade trailheads require a Northwest Forest Pass or a Central Cascades Wilderness permit in summer; we arrange these in advance.
Top rated
Bend
Deschutes River Trail
A scenic riverside path threading the Old Mill and South Canyon, flat and accessible near town, wilder as it climbs toward Benham Falls.
Visit official siteIconic
Bend
Tumalo Falls to Upper Falls
A forested climb past a string of cascades above the main waterfall, a satisfying half-day hike a short drive from downtown.
Visit official siteAlpine
Cascade Lakes Highway
Green Lakes Trail
A beloved alpine hike through meadows to a basin of glacial lakes between South Sister and Broken Top, a permit trail in peak season.
Visit official siteSummit
Newberry Monument
Paulina Peak Trail
A high-desert summit hike to the rim of the Newberry caldera, with views over both Paulina and East Lakes and far across the Cascades.
Visit official siteIn town
Bend
Pilot Butte Summit Trail
A short, brisk loop to the top of the in-town cinder cone for a sunrise or sunset panorama of the entire Cascade range.
Visit official siteSignature adventures
Float the river, climb the rock, paddle the lakes.
The one-of-a-kind Bend days: drifting the Deschutes through town, world-class climbing at Smith Rock, and stand-up paddling the Cascade Lakes.
Only-in-Bend
Old Mill / Riverbend Park
Deschutes River float
The classic summer ritual: drift the gentle Deschutes from Riverbend Park through the Old Mill District, with the Bend Whitewater Park wave for those who want it.
Visit official siteBucket-list
Terrebonne
Smith Rock State Park
The birthplace of American sport climbing, towering welded-tuff walls above the Crooked River with thousands of routes and the famous Misery Ridge hike.
Visit official siteScenic
Cascade Lakes Highway
Cascade Lakes paddling
Stand-up paddle or kayak the alpine lakes along the byway, Sparks, Elk, and Hosmer, with Mount Bachelor and South Sister mirrored on the water.
Visit official siteGuided
Bend
Wanderlust Tours
Bend's veteran naturalist outfitter, guided canoe trips, volcanic lava-cave tours, and snowshoe treks led by certified guides year-round.
Visit official siteGeology
La Pine
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
A vast volcano with the obsidian Big Obsidian Flow, Paulina and East Lakes, waterfalls, and the panorama from Paulina Peak south of Bend.
Visit official siteIconic
Bend
Bend Ale Trail
The largest beer trail in the West, more than twenty breweries linked by an official self-guided passport across the original American craft-beer town.
Visit official siteThe big views
A byway, a butte, and a high-desert garden.
Bend's scenery is reachable by car: an alpine scenic highway, a cinder cone in the middle of town, and one of the finest botanic high-desert experiences anywhere.
The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is typically snow-closed in its high stretches from late fall into early summer.
Iconic
Bend
Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
A sixty-six-mile loop past Mount Bachelor and a string of alpine lakes beneath the Cascade volcanoes, one of the great drives in the Northwest.
Visit official siteTop rated
Bend
Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint
A cinder cone rising from the middle of town with a drive-up or hike-up summit and a 360-degree panorama of the Cascade peaks.
Visit official siteAward-winning
Bend
High Desert Museum
An acclaimed indoor-outdoor museum of high-desert wildlife, culture, and history south of town, with live raptor and otter exhibits.
Visit official siteIconic
Bend
Tumalo Falls
A ninety-seven-foot waterfall a short forest drive west of town, with overlooks steps from the lot and a trail to a chain of upper falls.
Visit official siteGeology
Bend
Lava Lands & Lava Butte
Part of Newberry monument, a paved road or shuttle climbs a cinder cone for sweeping views over black lava flows and the Cascade skyline.
Visit official siteScenic
McKenzie Pass
Sahalie and Koosah Falls
Two thunderous waterfalls on the McKenzie River within an easy loop walk, a worthwhile day trip over the pass from Bend.
Visit official siteRestore
High-desert spas and hot-spring soaks.
Bend is built for the slow restore after a big day outside: resort spas, a downtown sanctuary, and natural hot springs in the surrounding national forest.
Iconic
Powell Butte
The Spa at Brasada Ranch
A serene ranch spa with treatments drawing on high-desert botanicals, soaking pools, and wide views over open country east of Bend.
Visit official siteTop rated
Sunriver
Sage Springs Spa at Sunriver
Sunriver's full-service spa and fitness center, a long treatment menu, hot tubs, and a saline pool for a family-friendly recovery day.
Visit official siteResort spa
Bend
Tetherow Spa Services
In-room and on-property treatments at the Tetherow resort, an easy wind-down after golf or a day on Mount Bachelor.
Visit official siteBoutique
Downtown Bend
Jinsei Spa
A downtown wellness sanctuary known for massage, facials, and a calm urban retreat steps from the Old Mill and Drake Park.
Visit official siteNatural soak
Newberry Monument
Paulina Lake Hot Springs
Primitive hot-spring pools along the shore of Paulina Lake inside the Newberry caldera, reached by an easy lakeshore walk.
Visit official siteNatural soak
Willamette Pass
McCredie Hot Springs
Rustic riverside hot pools in the Willamette National Forest southwest of Bend, a scenic soak on the way over the pass.
Visit official siteFly water
Trout and steelhead on legendary rivers.
Central Oregon is fly-fishing country: guided floats and walk-and-wade trips on the Deschutes, Crooked, Fall, and Metolius for redside trout and steelhead.
Iconic
Maupin
Lower Deschutes River
A blue-ribbon tailwater famous for native redside rainbow trout and summer steelhead, classic dry-fly and swung-fly water by raft.
Visit official siteBucket-list
Camp Sherman
Metolius River
A spring-fed, gin-clear river rising from the ground near Camp Sherman, technical wild-trout fishing in one of the prettiest settings in the state.
Visit official siteTop rated
Sunriver
Fall River
A small, clear spring creek south of Bend, ideal for a relaxed walk-and-wade day and a favorite introduction to Central Oregon fly fishing.
Visit official siteYear-round
Prineville
Crooked River
A productive tailwater below Bowman Dam with steady year-round trout fishing in a canyon setting, excellent for nymphing and winter outings.
Visit official siteGuided
Bend
Confluence Fly Shop
A respected Bend fly shop and guide service arranging float and wade trips across Central Oregon's rivers with local expertise.
Visit official siteGuided
Bend
Fly & Field Outfitters
A full-service Bend outfitter running guided trips, schools, and gear for the Deschutes, Crooked, Fall, and Metolius river systems.
Visit official site
Adventure & wellness
Let’s design it around you.
Share what you can already picture. A concierge fills in everything still open and sends back a plan, not a quote.