One thing about the Pacific Northwest is there is no shortage of green. The trees, mountains, and lush forests are stunning and the hiking possibilities are endless. With that being said sometimes a change of scenery is nice! So come with me on a journey to the Oregon High Desert where I’ll give you some tips on places to go and how to find some of the best Bend, Oregon has to offer.
Things to do:
From breweries to plant shops this town really packs it in. There are so many options of things to do while staying in town. Personally, I loved the Old Mill District which had charming streets to peruse and adorable local shops. I also enjoyed the Podski Food Cart Lot that had plenty of options for whatever you’re craving. One of my favorite stops however was Somewhere That’s Green. This was a magical plant shop with a huge variety of indoor plants, pottery, and a little bit of witchy items. The employees were friendly and offered plant care tips to everyone I saw go through checkout. If you only have time for one stop make sure it’s this place!
This next place really ages me a bit, but that’s okay. If you’re an 80’s or 90’s baby you’ll remember the good ole days of driving up to your local Blockbusters to grab a movie, video game and some candy. If you’d like to relive that nostalgia then Bend Oregon is a must for you. They have the last remaining Blockbuster, and I will tell you, it didn’t disappoint. Walking through those doors was a blast from the past! I’m embarrassed to say how excited I was to see that yellow and blue sign from the road but I’m glad I did. This stop is one of those things that isn’t a necessity but is definitely fun and brings back those childhood memories. While you’re there don’t forget to grab a VHS shaped ornament for your tree or a trucker hat-they had an endless supply of logo garb!
Hikes
Smith Rock State Park
Our first hike in the area was located here at Smith Rock. As you approach the state park the rock formations get bigger and bigger and you’re all the sudden aware of how awesome this hike is going to be. Parking is $5 for the day with pay stations throughout the parking lot. There’s clean flushing bathrooms and even some hike in campgrounds. We got there at noon and although the lot was pretty full we had no trouble finding a spot. We chose to do the Crooked River Trail along the bottom of the ravine since we had young kids in tow however if you’re hiking level allows I’d opt for the misery ridge trail. The crooked river trail was rated easy and I will say it for the most part was, however if you are brand new to hiking or have any disabilities getting down and up from the trail could be somewhat difficult. In order to get down to the river you have to hike down into the ravine which is pretty steep. This also means you have to get back up. There are different ways to go, one being more gradual however it is still fairly steep. I would also recommend bringing extra water, there were some spouts throughout the park but even in October it was pretty warm there. If you don’t feel like hiking you can get really nice views even from the parking area!
Boyd Cave
This spot was very accessible even with a regular front wheel drive, however it was a little tricky finding the right spot since the navigator doesn’t take you directly to it and it’s literally a hole in the middle of nowhere. So here’s what you’ll want to know, follow your navigator down China Hat Road to Coyote Loopa Rd the marker for the road was small but located on the right hand side of the road. This is where the navigator ended for us but the cave is actually a little ways down. So just a little ways down when you pull onto Coyote Loopa you’ll see a small dirt parking area to the left of the road; on the right directly across from the parking you’ll see a sign that says Boyd Cave with a gate behind it. DO NOT FOLLOW THE TRAIL THROUGH THE GATE! This was our mistake and we walked through desert for about 20 minutes before realizing we’d taken a wrong path. Instead follow the dirt road all the way down to where it dead ends at a pile of boulders and a sign. If you have a higher clearance vehicle then you can drive the road if not you can walk it. It took us about a 3 minute walk. Once you’re at the end of the road you’ll see the small gate surrounding the opening of the cave. Head down the ladder and pick which way you’d like to take! Be sure to bring flashlight and a sweater as it is dark and cold down there!
Pilot Butte
This could either be a hike or a drive depending on parking and your mood. Pilot Butte is located right in town and was the perfect spot for catching sunset or sunrise! There’s a road that leads around and up the hill but if you’re wanting to enjoy a nice walk and get all the views then you can choose to walk up the will on the pedestrian path. It can get really crowded during peak times so if you’re hoping to park either come early or expect to drive around the top a few times as the parking lot area is rather small. It is well worth it though as the top of the butte allows 360 views of the city and mountain ranges beyond.
Where to Stay
Tumalo State Park
We chose to camp because we love to stargaze. Tumalo was perfect because it is far enough from town to get amazing sky views but close enough to easily drive down to get whatever you may need. The park was on the smaller side but the yurts and bathrooms were well maintained and the camp hosts were incredibly friendly! Also, the showers were free which is a plus. There was also a very nice trail down in the day use area that ran along the river. And the day use was very nice with picnic tables, bbq areas and even a small wading area in the riverside. If I was staying in town I would recommend the Campfire Hotel or Hipcamp as there are a lot of great options on there as well.
Beyond Bend
We chose to take the scenic route back home through the Willamette Forest into Mackenzie Bridge and Blue River. This drive was absolutely beautiful when we made it during the fall season. There were so many places to stop off and check out- these were our favorite stops along the way!
Dee Wright Observatory
The observatory was one of our favorite stops for several reasons. One it was so cool seeing all the lava fields and the castle made out of lava rock. You could go inside of it and look out these little windows to each of the mountains on the skyline. Then going up further on top of the castle it had a compass with 360 views of the landscape and mountain ranges. The paths were easily accessible and had some great historic and geographic information.
Bigelow (Deer Creek) Hot Spring
This was by far our favorite stop! This hot spring is a lesser known option so if you’re looking for more solitude while you soak this is your spot. Since the area also houses the nearby Belknap and Cougar hot springs this little pool is overlooked but that makes it even better in my opinion. To find this take the highway down until you hit deer creek road. Turn down deer creek road and go over the bridge across the river there you’ll see a parking area right after the bridge on the right hand side of the road. Park and walk back across the street down to the trail that follows close to the river bank. Do not take the upper trail as it has no access to the pool. Once you’ve taken the lower trial follow the river along until you see the pool, there is another pool closer to the river which is cold the hot spring is just to the right of it nestled into the hillside. The deeper you go into the little hillside crevice the warmer the water gets. We were able to soak for over an hour in midday before anyone came along. Sitting in the warm springs, watching the fall leaves float in wind while listening to the river rush by was something magical. If you’re in the Bend area or planning on being this was well worth the out of the way drive.
Goodpasture Covered Bridge
This one was more of a quick stop but worth it all the same. It was beautiful to see the bridge complimented with all the fall colors. There was even a small beach area at the base of the bridge down on the riverbank. It was the perfect stop to get out stretch our legs and have a little snack before the rest of the drive home.
Bend was truly the perfect jump off point for so many neat adventures in the area. The downtown was great and had so many options for any type of interest you may have! If you’re in the area try these places and definitely do some exploring. Thanks for following along(:
Comments