The following guest post ‘6 Reasons to Visit Bend‘ was written by Glenn VanLandingham who blogs at EpicBend.
Many consider Oregon in the Pacific Northwest the most beautiful and diverse state in the US. No town represents everything fabulous about Oregon more than the mid-size town of Bend in Central Oregon.
Bend, Oregon is a quintessential mountain town that rewards visitors with endless outdoor possibilities, beautiful scenery, a tremendous food and brewery scene, and a vibrant downtown. This article discusses 6 of the best reasons to visit Bend in Central Oregon.
Table of Contents
Reasons to Visit Bend Oregon
1) A Plethora of Outdoor Activities
You’d be hard-pressed to find a town with more opportunities for outdoor activities than Bend. It’s the perfect home base for hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, or trail runners. Mountain bikers will love the Phils Trail Mountain Bike Area, a premier set of trails for single-track mountain biking. The nearby Smith Rock State Park has excellent rock climbing, including the ‘Monkey Face’ pillar, which is an epic and challenging climbing route (for experts!).
Water sports are a huge focus and opportunity for fun in the Bend area. The Deschutes River runs through downtown and north and south of Bend. Kayaking, tubing, and Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) are immensely popular on the river, and several outfitters make trips down the river accessible and fun.
The Cascade Lakes region just west of Bend is also a beautiful area to get in the water in a stunning setting. These series of lakes each have their own color profile, with the volcanic peaks (Three Sisters Mountains) in the background.
Mount Bachelor is a dormant volcano west of Bend and a premier winter skiing and snowboarding destination. The rest of the year, the lifts are used by mountain bikers to enjoy the trails down the mountain.
Even if you are mainly into just hiking, you’ll be in an outdoor paradise in Bend.
2) Unlimited Stunning Hikes
One of the best features of Bend is that it is situated in a beautiful and pristine natural setting. Bend lies on the Deschutes River, just east of the Cascades Range of mountains in Oregon. The Three Sisters Mountains and the surrounding forest are settled just beyond Mount Bachelor.
When you combine all these natural features (plus others like the Cascade Lakes mentioned above), you create an area with an unlimited number of amazing hikes.
Some favorite hiking areas and trails include the Cascades Wilderness Area (including the Pacific Crest Trail), the Deschutes River Trail, and hikes in the Newberry Volcanic Monument area.
Another prominent feature around Bend is the waterfalls. Hikes to Tumalo Falls, Benham Falls, and Steelhead Falls (which include an excellent swim option) are each different and beautiful.
3) One of the Best Brewery Scenes in the US
Somewhere along the way, Bend became the best brewery destination in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best in the US. One reason is the legacy of Deschutes Brewery, established in the 1980’s and was very early in the craft brew explosion across the country.
Since then, over 20 breweries have opened in and around Bend, including many downtown. The volcanic geography of the region creates a purified class of water that enables brew masters to create a wide variety of delicious craft beer.
Some, like Crux Fermentation Project and Cascades Lakes, have outdoor seating areas that take advantage of the views around Bend. Many offer food by taking advantage of another unique staple of the Bend vibe: food trucks!
4) Food Truck Lots
Bend has a sneaky good food scene, with some tremendous restaurants in the quaint downtown and more in the popular Old Mill shopping and dining district. But there is one unique food-related characteristic that Bend has become known for: Food Truck Lots.
What is a Food Truck Lot? Generally, it’s a semi-permanent area with a group of food trucks and an outdoor (or sometimes partially indoor) seating area. The food trucks can rotate during the seasons, but many remain permanent fixtures of the lot.
Food Truck Lots usually have a centralized beverage area or bar, pouring beers, wine, or other drinks that guests can enjoy with their meal. Since this is Bend, the emphasis is usually on craft beer!
It’s a simple concept that Bend has perfected that takes advantage of being outside, great beer, and the eclectic mix of food trucks that keeps diners coming back. A great food truck lot to visit in Bend is The Lot right in downtown off Galveston Street.
5) An Arts and Events Focused Downtown
Like many mountain towns with natural beauty, Bend attracts many artists. There are numerous downtown studios and galleries showcasing all kinds of mediums. Paintings are most notably of scenery, but you’ll also find artists working on sculptures, ceramics, and glassblowing.
The First Friday Art Walk in the Old Mill District runs most of the year and allows local artist to showcase their work in an event setting in Bend’s very walkable area. Local entertainers are also on hand to give the event a Friday night vibe.
The music scene is also alive in Bend, most notably as part of the Bend Summer Festival or the performances at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater, which brings many artists of all genres to Bend in the summertime.
6) Mountain Golf Courses
Bend flexes its scenery muscle once again when it comes to another outdoor activity: golf. There are multiple Bend area golf courses that are not only challenging and well-designed, but offer stunning views of the Cascade Mountains, Mount Bachelor, Three Sisters, and the surrounding forests.
Widgi Creek Golf Club is maybe Bend’s signature course, a public course located right on Cascades Lake highway just southwest of town. Its fairways are tree-lined with the local hard pinewoods. There’s lots of water in play and great views of the Cascades.
Lost Tracks Golf Club is a similar laid-back public course in a mountain setting. Tetherow Golf Club is a private course that, if you are lucky enough to play may very well end up in your Top 10 lifetime rounds; it’s that beautiful.
About the Author
Glenn VanLandingham and his wife Nicole are residents of Bend, Oregon, and Frederick, Maryland, and write about both places on their sites: EpicBend.com. You can also follow more about their Bend, Oregon adventures on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
