Trails

You would be reading all day if we talked about every trail and hiking opportunity that Bend Oregon offers. To make it simpler, I will mention a few popular attractions and divide the trails into two categories: trails in town and trails outside of city limits.

First, there are the out-of-town hiking trails, 20 to 60 minutes away, particularly famous in the summer months (although many are also good for snowshoeing too). These trails explore the many lakes and rock formations in the mountains around Bend. For easy hiking trails near bend, visit Misery Ridge and venture on the misery ridge trail next to the Crooked River located in Smith Rock. For a moderate hike, check out the Green Lake trail or Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascade Mountains located near the Cascade lakes highway. Based on popular opinions, the best hikes in Bend include Broken Top near the South Sister and Mount Bachelor within the Three Sisters Wilderness. Other popular hikes include the panoramic views of Cascade Mountains Range, the lava flow of Newberry National Volcanic Monument, and Smith Rock State Park sites around the city of Bend. The hiking isn’t too arduous but these are usually all-day or half-day adventures – with lots of camping opportunities for bigger fans.

The second category is the trail system within Bend itself. Deschutes National Forest is one of my favorite hikes. The dense forest with flat trails and surrounding landscape makes it easy to hike or go mountain biking with friends. If you’re looking to experience some elevation gain during your bend hike, Mount Washington and Mount Jefferson are great options. For a challenging hike in the high desert, Whychus Creek is a perfect trail. These trails wind around canyons, desert views, rocky river paths, and mountain forests, and are excellent for mountain bikers, casual hiking, or playing with your pooch. They’re fun in both summer and winter months and many merge naturally with nearby parks or neighborhoods, making them easy to find.

© Nate Wyeth
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Another great resource for information about Bend’s trail system with reviews and tips from hikers is AllTrails. Following is a list of trails in and around Bend, along with their address and distance from downtown: