We took a trip with Sam’s family to Bend, Oregon at the beginning of August and I absolutely fell in love. I have never been anywhere in Oregon and didn’t do a ton of research beforehand (shout out to Melanie for taking care of so much planning!) so I didn’t know what to expect. Bend itself is way more modern and clean than I expected, and the scenery is stunning. I also think the beginning of August was a perfect time to visit – we had mostly sunny, warm days and clear, cool nights. Perfect for activities and nighttime stargazing!
We stayed in an incredible house about 25 minutes outside of town. The house sat on a small lake shared with 4 other houses, all owned by the same couple. There was a 2-mile trail that surrounded the lake, so we could walk, run, paddle board, and kayak. It was really, really awesome and serene.
The only downfall to Bend in general is how far we had to drive to do hikes. If we had been in town, it would have shaved some time off these long drives and maybe helped with feeling like we spent so much time in the car. However, I have come to expect these types of drives when out West so I wasn’t too bothered.
Getting There
We flew into Portland, which is about 3.5 hours from Bend. On our drive, we stopped at Mt. Hood to check out Timberline Lodge and stretch our legs. It was hard to see the peak due to some fog, but walking around the lodge was really neat and definitely worth doing… no matter the season. It was one of the biggest we’d ever seen!
We later discovered there is an airport in Redmond, OR, which is only 20-30 minutes from Bend. Although more expensive to fly in here, certainly worth looking into to avoid the longer drive to and from Portland.
Here’s an overview of how we spent our week and the spots I’d recommend! All hikes and locations are linked.
Day 1
Tumalo Mountain – 4.1 miles
We spent our first day hiking Tumalo Mountain, located about 25 minutes from downtown Bend. This out and back trail ended up being kind of a bust for us because it was incredibly foggy. Once we finally got to the summit, we were met with a wall of fog that blocked our view of Mt. Bachelor. However, we still enjoyed the challenging hike and I especially thought the section of dead trees looked wild.
Bend Brewing Company
After our hike, we made our way into Bend to quench our post-hike thirst with some absolutely delicious craft beers. Bend Brewing Company has multiple award-winning beers and I can understand why! I especially recommend the Day Use Hazy IPA and Desert Sky IPA. We got a table out back and enjoyed some snacks and live music.
Day 2 – Smith Rock State Park
Misery Ridge and River Trail – 4 miles
To do any hiking, you take a steep walk down to the river and across the bridge. We all started out our hike together along the River Trail, which was enjoyable and moderate. Some of us chose to venture on to the Misery Ridge trail, which was steep and consisted of a lot of switchbacks to get to the top. However, I really enjoyed the challenge and views. Since we went backwards, we got the challenge over with and were able to come down at the end.
We had packed a cooler with lunch, so were able to sit at one of the picnic tables back at the top of the park for lunch. It was shaded and lovely!
Crescent Moon Ranch
Right outside of Smith Rock, there’s an alpaca farm where you can feed alpacas! We were so excited when we saw this on our way into the park, so we made it a point to stop on the way out. You can go into the quaint gift shop to purchase food ($5) to hand-feed the alpacas… we had a great time doing this.
Initiative Brewing
After our very eventful day, we grabbed a table outside at Initiative Brewing and enjoyed some drinks and dinner. The cocktails were outstanding! They also offered complimentary bacon popcorn, which was interesting yet delicious.
Day 3 – Tumalo Falls
Tumalo Falls Loop – 7 miles
This hike was right down the street from us, which was very welcomed after all of our long drives to get to trails! After parking, you’re immediately met with a massive waterfall overlook, which is mesmerizing. There are several different routes you can choose from here, depending how long you want to hike, but we chose the loop trail so we could see multiple falls. One of our favorites was the Double Falls! There were several bridges to cross in addition to one spot that did not have a bridge… so be prepared to cross via logs or get your shoes wet.
The back part of the loop was honestly very boring and dry, so I would recommend doing an out and back rather than the loop, unless you’re just enjoying the walk and distance.
There was a perfect picnic area near the parking lot where we enjoyed lunch and stuck our toes in the (very cold!) water.
Day 4 – Crater Lake National Park
Oh. My. Gosh. Crate Lake National Parks is one of, if not the most, beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The enormity and beauty of the lake is so hard to translate via words or pictures… but the pictures do look pretty cool. This was our longest drive, about 2.5 hours from the house, but I’m so glad we went. When we all got the first glimpse of the lake from the car windows, we gasped!
You of course need a National Parks Pass to enter, which you can purchase at the gate.
Cleetwood Cove Trail – 2 miles
We only did one hike while here, and only a few of us made it down, but the Cleetwood Cove trail takes you down to the only boat dock in the park. It’s pure switchbacks for one steep mile down, but getting to see the park from below and touch the crystal-blue water was so worth it!
There were several people swimming when we got to the bottom, which seemed chilly but fun!
We spent the remainder of our day driving around the park and making several pit stops. The road essentially circles the lake, so you have to drive from one lookout point to the next. We also stopped in the lodge and gift shop area before finding a picnic area to enjoy our packed-lunch.
Sisters, Oregon
On our way back from Crater Lake, we stopped in an adorable town called Sisters to grab ice cream and walk around. The town felt like a time capsule, with such character and hospitality. Plus,The SweetEasy Co. satisfied all of our sweet tooths (teeth??) and caffeine needs!
Day 5 – Tamolich Blue Pool
Sahalie Falls, Koosah, and Tamolich Falls via McKenzie River Trail – 9.5 miles
While part of our group took the McKenzie River Trail in and out from the blue pool, some of us took this longer route to the pools, then went back with the group via the shorter McKenzie River Trail (so we totaled about 7.5 miles). The route with Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls was very pretty and I really enjoyed this hike. You see Sahalie Falls right before you even start the hike, and it’s not only massive but also surrounded by moss, creating a colorful view (we even got a rainbow!)
We hardly saw anyone on this trail, which made it very peaceful and enjoyable. The terrain varied, but overall was quite flat. After walking a few miles, we were in the woods surrounded by many very tall trees. I was happy as a lark!
The trail takes you to the Tamolich Blue Pool, which is where we met up with the rest of our crew. I didn’t end up going down to the bottom, but heard the view was better from the top anyways. It’s another one of those views that is hard to translate to photos, but the blue of the water was like nothing I’d ever seen.
Taking the McKenzie River Trail back was definitely crowded and required a lot of walking on volcanic rock. It wasn’t as enjoyable as our hike in, but was nice to have a shorter distance to get back.
Day 6 – Old Mill District
We spent much of our final day hanging at the house and enjoyed the nature. We had a big breakfast, paddle boarded and kayaked, and walked around the trail.
Later that afternoon, we headed to the Old Mill District to explore. We walked along the Deschutes River and watched the “surfers” on The River Wave, a man-made wave that is controlled by underwater hydraulic plates. I could’ve stood there all day and watched person after person attempt it — some much better than others! Many people were floating along the river, and we wished we would have planned to do that while there.
The area has an outdoor mall filled with shops and restaurants, so there’s no lack of things to do. It’s perfect for strolling, eating, drinking, or people watching!
I can’t recommend Bend enough, and I hope to go back soon. I actually told Sam we should get a summer house there, ha! I hope you get the chance to visit and enjoy the weather, hikes, views, and more.